Ecosystem Engage -- Teacher Notes• Slides 2 – 11 are biotic specimens• Slides 12 – 25 are abiotic specimens• Slides 2 – 6, 12 - 14 are from a salt water ecosystem• Slides 7 – 10 are from a wetland ecosystem• Slides 15 – 25 are from land and wetland ecosystems• Slides 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 25 are based on fresh water

PROCEDURE:1. Print pictures as handouts (2 or 4 to a page) in color if possible. Cut pictures apart.

Laminate. 2. Hand a picture to each student as they enter the room. 3. At your signal, have students get up and without talking form 2 groups for Biotic and

Abiotic specimens. Tell them they have 2 minutes to do this. Emphasize that they are to do this without talking.

4. When complete, have students explain their reasoning for joining a particular group.5. Next, have students form groups based on specimens that belong in the same ecosystem.

DO NOT tell them how many ecosystems there are. Give them 3 minutes, and there should be no talking during this exercise as well.

6. When complete, have students explain their reasoning for the groups chosen.7. Students should now be able to come up with their own definitions of biotic, abiotic, and

ecosystems.

• Identification of each specimen is located as Notes under each slide.