Lafayette Township SchoolLafayette, New Jersey6th Grade 6 - 2

Ecosystem and Geography

The geography of our area features uplifted land, rolling hills and mountains. The region contains two national parks at its edges, 60,000 acres of state parkland, and a diverse geography filled with lakes, rivers and picturesque hills. We are surrounded by trees and farmland.

On any day we are likely to see white tailed deer, wild turkey, raccoons and even black bear in our back yard.

Our School’s Backyard

Exploring the Squares

Lafayette New Jersey and

San Marzano di San Giuseppe

The town of San Marzano di San Giuseppe is south east of Italy and located on the heel of the boot. Their region is Apulia which means that there ecosystem is Mediterranean Tropical dry weather.

The elevation is 0-60 meters. In other parts of the city there is agricultures type of landscapes.

One thing that is different between Lafayette and the Italian city is that there is a 6 hour time difference. When it is 12:00 p.m. here it is 6 p.m. there.

They are famous for their agriculture; olive trees, grapes, sunflowers, barley, and tobacco.

Biotic Comparisons: Animals

Italy and New Jersey have many differences and similarities because of our environments.

In New Jersey we have ants, beetles, ticks, fleas, slugs and much more.

In Italy, they have some things we don’t have such as lizards. We don’t have many lizards because it is usually cold here where the lizards can’t live. The lizards can’t live here because we live in a dense wooded area. They can live in Italy because they have a flat, hot area where the lizards can survive.

Biotic Comparisons: Plants

Italy and New Jersey have very different ecosystems, especially their plants. In New Jersey, there is a much greater variety of plants.

For example, in Italy they only recorded having bushes, grass, trees, and weeds. Some of the plants they recorded were agave, zangone, bear trees, yucca, and rosary.

Our class has recorded many more plants including dandelions, moss, lichen, and birch trees. New Jersey isn’t called the Garden State for nothing!

Abiotic Comparisons

In Italy there is a variety of litter. For example, there are pens, pencils, bottle caps and plastic cups. Other types of litter are metal bars, and sheets of paper.

They have small rocks, but no big ones. Also they say they have no soil, mud, and sand. Italy has no soil, but that is impossible. Their school is trying to clean up all the litter they have.

Compared to their school yard ours was much cleaner

San Antonio, Texas

Lafayette, New Jerseyand

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio, Texas The town of San Antonio, Texas is an urban ecosystem

with droughts, tornadoes, and is very hot. Their temperature is regularly 73 degrees.

It’s located in Bexlar County and is the fastest growing city from 2000-2006. They have a population of 1,327,407 people and most are girls and less are boys.

The school is named Castle Hills Elementary. San Antonio is famous for their art. On May 22, they had a tornado at 5:30. They usually

have tornadoes but this one was big and caused a lot of damage

San Antonio, Texas

The town of San Antonio, Texas is an urban ecosystem with droughts, tornadoes, and is very hot.

Their temperature is regularly 73 degrees. It’s located in Bexlar County.

The school is named Castle Hills Elementary. San Antonio is famous for their art. Yesterday, May 22, they had a tornado at 5:30. They

usually have tornadoes but this one was big and caused a lot of damage

Biotic Comparisons: Animals

Some of the similarities in the two places are ants, beetles, spiders, flying bugs, and worms.

Texas has a very dry and sandy ecosystem in some areas and humid in others. The animals have to adapt to the dry climate and hot weather.

In New Jersey, our school has dense forests and grassy wet lands.

In New Jersey, our state would probably get more rain than Texas.

Biotic Comparisons: Plants

Texas and New Jersey have very different ecosystems. Texas’ plants give them diversity and make them different.

Our class found out that they have grass, weeds, and many trees.

Some of the trees that are native to Texas are Aacaia greggii and Betula nigra. The students in Texas also recorded grass, trees, weeds, small flowers, moss, burrs, and seeds.

Abiotic Comparison

In San Antonio Texas they found litter in their square. We found litter also in our school yards.

Other abiotic factors they have are dew, and chewed gum. They also have soil, water, and mud.

In Texas, their area has both big rocks and small rocks. Their school area does not have any sand.

Lafayette

New JerseySan Antonio Texas

San MarzanoDi

San Giuseppe

We had a very educational experience with the “Square of Life Project.” We now know that there are many similarities and differences between New Jersey, Texas and Italy. We have learned about the climate and the ecosystems of these places.

We all have litter around us that we are working togetherto clean up and to make a better environment.