Role of a ladybug in an ecosystem<\/h4>\n
Purpose:<\/strong> As students have become more familiar with their schoolyard and ladybug identification in previous months, this month they will explore the role of ladybugs in an ecosystem<\/strong> by examining a ladybug\u2019s needs for survival, connect these needs with features in their schoolyards, and classify the role of ladybugs and other organisms in ecosystems.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.6em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”#338BC8″ custom_margin=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Although this activity is connected with the learning goals and vocabulary of fifth grade standards related to ecosystems, this activity can be completed independently of an ecosystems unit. If students have been introduced to ecosystems before this activity, help students make connections to what they already learned. If ecosystems will be covered later in the school year, help students understand that they will revisit these ideas of classification and interdependent relationships in ecosystems. When the ecosystem unit is taught later in the year, provide opportunities for students to make explicit connections for students between this activity and the unit. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#338BC8″ custom_margin=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Not finding ladybugs?<\/b><\/span> The<\/span> science content support<\/a> <\/span>this month has information about why it is important to submit a zero and tips for handling student disappointment. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjI5OCJ9fQ==@” button_text=”Previous: 2: October” button_alignment=”left” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_border_width=”0px” button_icon=”#||divi||400″ button_icon_placement=”left” button_on_hover=”off” custom_padding=”|20px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjUzNyJ9fQ==@” button_text=”Next: 4: December” button_alignment=”right” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_border_width=”0px” button_icon=”$||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” custom_padding=”|||20px|false|false” custom_css_main_element=”text-align:right !important;” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”14px” text_line_height=”1.3em” header_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” header_font_size=”56px” header_line_height=”1.3em” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_font_size=”26px” header_3_line_height=”1.4em” header_4_font=”|700||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#cc232f” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”||2px|||” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”13px” text_line_height=”1.3em” custom_margin=”||12px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Science Standards: <\/strong><\/p>\n LS.5.2.2 <\/b>Use models to classify the organisms within an ecosystem according to the function they serve: producers, consumers, or decomposers (biotic factors). <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0LS.5.2.3 <\/b>Use models to infer the effects that may result from the interconnected <\/span>relationships of plants and animals to their ecosystem.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”13px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||32px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]Science Practices<\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-23.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Overarching Questions<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-18.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]Mr. Jones’ Class Considers the Ladybug’s Food Chain<\/a>[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-20.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Not Finding Ladybugs?<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-29.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Roles in an Ecosystem<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-16.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Outdoor Search Tips<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-19.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]Exit Ticket Prompts<\/a>[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-28.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” global_colors_info=”{}”]December Preview<\/a>[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Objectives” module_id=”citscience” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”35px|||||” border_width_top=”8px” border_color_top=”#cc232f” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” admin_label=”Module Heading with Icon” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_css_main_element=”width: 15%!important;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-23.png” title_text=”Asset 23″ show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#454545″ header_font_size=”42px” header_line_height=”2.2em” header_3_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#454545″ header_3_font_size=”26px” header_line_height_tablet=”1.2em” header_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Citizen science relies on the data collected by everyday people, and your participation is key! Remember to collect, photograph, and upload ladybug data as often as possible with your class. Refer to the supports provided in August\/September for tips on photographing and recording your data.<\/p>\n To help students examine their predictions related to the two overarching questions, pose the following questions to the class:<\/p>\n Questions like these will help students consider the data most relevant to answering the overarching scientific questions posed in the August\/September supports.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Objectives” module_id=”narrative” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”35px|||||” border_width_top=”8px” border_color_top=”#cc232f” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” admin_label=”Module Heading with Icon” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_css_main_element=”width: 15%!important;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-18.png” title_text=”Asset 18″ show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#454545″ header_font_size=”42px” header_line_height=”2.2em” header_3_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#454545″ header_3_font_size=”26px” header_line_height_tablet=”1.2em” header_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Mr. Jones is getting ready to introduce the concept of a food web to his class and wants to incorporate what students have been learning about ladybugs. Typically, he uses an activity that focuses on feeding relationships and the roles of plants, grasshoppers, mice, and owls in an ecosystem. However, knowing that students are working with the Lost Ladybug Project throughout the year, he decides to adjust the activity to focus on ladybugs as consumers, with aphids as their prey and birds as their predators. Working with the Lost Ladybug project throughout the year provides a context for all students in his class to make meaning of interdependence concepts. The class discussed what living things need to survive the previous week, specifically, various ecosystems, including a forest and a pond. Mr. Jones shares that the areas they have been exploring as a class to look for ladybugs are also ecosystems. He asks students what organisms live in or near their school grounds and uses photographs that the class has taken to help students remember what they have observed over the past few months. Displaying pictures of plants that they have found, Mr. Jones asks how the plants get their food. Building on an earlier conversation about plants\u2019 needs, the class understands that plants produce their own food. Mr. Jones labels these organisms \u201cproducers.\u201d <\/p>\n Mr. Jones knows that ladybugs mainly eat aphids and other soft-bodied insects, but he realizes that many students think plants are ladybugs\u2019 primary food source because that is where they are found. (The squash ladybug does eat plants; Mr. Jones will later clarify this point with students, but for now he plans to focus on the food sources of the species the class has found most frequently: Asian multicolored and 7-spot ladybugs). He starts by showing photos that the class has taken of other insects, like aphids and other insect larvae, that mainly eat plants. He has not been able to capture a photo of a ladybug eating an aphid but uses photos sourced online to show students how both larvae and adult ladybugs prey on aphids. Similarly, students have not seen a bird preying on a ladybug, but Mr. Jones makes students aware of that relationship. The class uses these photographs to construct a food chain, and he labels the ladybugs \u201cconsumers.\u201d In later lessons, Mr. Jones plans to continue to build out this food chain as a food web, incorporating decomposers. The next time students go outdoors, they will look for evidence of feeding relationships in their schoolyard ecosystem.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Objectives” module_id=”orgroles” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”35px|||||” border_width_top=”8px” border_color_top=”#cc232f” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” admin_label=”Module Heading with Icon” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_css_main_element=”width: 10%!important;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-29.png” title_text=”Asset 29″ show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#454545″ header_font_size=”42px” header_line_height=”2.2em” header_3_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#454545″ header_3_font_size=”26px” header_line_height_tablet=”1.2em” header_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-27.png\")
Building on students\u2019 existing knowledge of ecosystems, engage the class in a food web activity to determine if a ladybug is a producer<\/strong>, consumer<\/strong>, or decomposer<\/strong>. After determining that a ladybug is a consumer, allow students time to research ladybugs as predators and prey using resources identified in the media guide<\/a>. As a class, create a chart of what ladybugs eat and what eats a ladybug. Discuss what other aspects of the ecosystem a ladybug needs for survival (e.g., water, shelter).<\/p>\nStandards + Practices<\/h4>\n
\nSP1: Asking questions (for science)
\nSP6: Constructing explanations [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”14px” text_line_height=”1.3em” header_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” header_font_size=”56px” header_line_height=”1.3em” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_font_size=”26px” header_3_line_height=”1.4em” header_4_font=”|700||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#cc232f” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”||2px|||” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nResources + Supports<\/h4>\n
Overarching Questions<\/h3>\n
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Mr. Jones’ Class Considers the Ladybug’s Food Chain<\/h3>\n
Roles in an Ecosystem<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-28.png\")
In next month\u2019s activities, students will infer the effects that result from a relationship between a ladybug\u2019s survival features and their habitats–a direct connection to NC Science Standard LS.5.2.3. Supports are provided for discerning between an observation and an inference, analyzing and interpreting data, what to do if ladybugs are not being found, and what might be a cause for a lack of ladybugs on your school campus (e.g., pesticide use, types and abundance of plants on your school grounds, etc).<\/p>\n