Ecosystems, as we learned last week, are comprised of everything living thing in a particular area. Elements of ecosystems include plants, insects, small animals, larger animals, and even humans. Whatever lives and needs sustenance is part of an ecosystem; small plants create food by photosynthesis, and then insects and small animals feed on these small plants. Larger animals, in turn, feed on plants and smaller animals, and then larger animals still feed on these smaller ones. Humans, at the top of the food chain, feed on all of the producers under them in various trophic levels, taking in all the vital necessities one needs to live powerfully.
This week's design project is going to be designing an ecosystem under a dome. What this means is to design an ecosystem that can be used for educational purposes, one that could be displayed in a museum, for example. If one searches the Internet, one can find mini-ecosystems that come in kits so people of all ages can learn how all of the members of an ecosystem interact.
I will provide you with pictures and examples so you may all design your ecosystems effectively beginning this week in class. Then we will present at the front of the room using the overhead camera, on which you can show your designs. Eventually I would like to incorporate this with your own visual material, shown on the computer, as well as power point presentations that can help in explaining your designs and ideas.
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