Ecological Succession
This kit provides an active learning alternative to passive methods of studying ecological succession. As succession is a slow process occurring in nature, it is difficult to study in the classroom. With this activity, students experience the stages of succession as they progress from bare rock to the climax community. Within each successional stage, students react to disturbance events and come to understand how disturbances affect the different communities in a successional series. The activity can be used as an introduction to ecological succession, a review of the topic, or both.
Details at a Glance
- 1-2 Days | 1-2 ~50 minute class periods
- 1 Activity
- Accommodates unlimited classes, each with 6 groups of 5 students
- Meets our criteria for supporting literacy
- All materials are non-consumable
- Includes digital resources
Scientific Concepts
•All populations living together and the physical factors with which they interact compose an ecosystem.
•The interrelationships and interdependencies of organisms may generate ecosystems that are stable for hundreds or thousands of years.
•Human destruction of habitats is threatening current global stability, and if not addressed, ecosystems will be irreversibly affected.
KEY VOCABULARY: ecological succession, pioneer community, primary succession, secondary succession
Guides & Student Sheets
Our kits and modules provide you with everything you need so you can open, review, and teach the material confidently the next day.
- Comprehensive Teacher Guide with background information, detailed instruction, example data and answers
- Student Sheets with age appropriate background information, full procedure(s), and analysis items
- Materials necessary for the investigation (beyond common classroom items)
- Safety Data Sheets
Kit Components
- 1 Teacher’s Guide
- 28 Student Worksheets and Guides
- 12 Community Events charts
- 6 Succession: The Journey game boards
- 6 Sets of 60 Event cards
- 6 Sets of four different color game pieces
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