Description

Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Unit

This Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Unit comes with hands-on science lessons and assessments! Everything you need for teaching about living and nonliving components and food chains in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems can be found here. Save time planning, and your students will love completing the hands-on activities found in this unit.

For a closer look at the activities in this unit, see the product preview at the top of the page!

What topics are covered in this Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Unit?

This Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Unit includes 8 detailed lesson plans. All lessons are hands-on and incorporate literacy skills. Students will investigate–

• Living and nonliving components in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and how those components interact
• Examples of aquatic (pond, lake, marsh, swamp, stream, river, ocean, and bay) and terrestrial ecosystems (forests, rainforests, grasslands, deserts, and the tundra)
• Examples of producers, consumers, and decomposers in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
• Examples of food chains in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
• How changes to one part of an ecosystem can affect the whole ecosystem

What types of resources are included in the unit?

A variety of no-prep activities are included in these unit plans.

• worksheets
• hands-on activities
• experiments and demonstrations
• foldables and sorts
• entry/exit tickets
• quiz
• test
• word wall cards
• timeline of suggested activities: Provides a timeline for using the activities included within this unit and provides links to websites featuring videos about concepts being taught.
• answer keys included throughout

Students will become fully immersed in learning about aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems as they conduct experiments, watch demonstrations, and make foldables!

Are digital resources included?

Most worksheets, sorts, the quiz, and the test within this Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Unit are also included in an interactive Google Slides format and can be shared with students using your Google Drive.

Video tutorials are included to help you share interactive Google Slides with your students.

What standards are covered?

This Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Unit is specifically aligned with the Virginia science SOL 3.5, although it closely matches most science standards related to living and nonliving components and food chains in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

This unit has been updated to align with the 2018 Science SOLs AND the 2025 Science Instructional Guides.

What are other teachers saying about this unit?

• “I love that this provided my students with fun and engaging activities to do along with our unit!” (Briana K.)
• “Very well organized and comprehensive resource that is engaging. Thank you!” (Annie C.)
• “This is such a great resource, I love that it covers all the topics needed and is fun for the kids at the same time. Thanks!” (Miranda S.)
• “Fantastic science resource. Lesson plans and activities are well explained. My students love the hands-on time!” (Lori A.)
• “This is an amazing resource! My students are engaged and having fun learning about ecosystems and animals. Thank you!” (Bridget G.)

Don’t Miss Out!

You don’t need to spend hours creating your Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Unit! These lessons require minimal prep work and are easy to implement, whether teaching in-person or virtually. Students will also enjoy learning about interactions and food chains within ecosystems through hands-on activities and experiments.

 

Want to save money?

This Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Unit is included in my 3rd Grade Science Unit Bundle for a discounted price!

 

More science resources:

• Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Task Cards
• Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Jeopardy Game
• Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Escape Room
• Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Study Guide
• Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems Slideshow

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Other Information:

©Meghan Vestal, Vestal’s 21st Century Classroom LLC. All rights reserved. This product is to be used by the original downloader only. Copying for teachers, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. Teachers may NOT upload the product to school/district servers, or to any website, or share digital or print copies. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All sales are final.