U4L01 How does our world work?

9.4 How does our planet work?

Year 9

Unit Introduction

​Statement of Inquiry

We develop our understanding of the natural world by discovering patterns and identifying relationships, giving us the opportunity to make a positive change in environments. 

Open Ended

What ecological RELATIONSHIPS do you know about already?

(Key concept)

Nutrient cycles involve the movement of nutrients between living organisms (biotic components) and the physical environment (abiotic components)

​Cycling between Living Organisms and the Environment:

Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. It is observed in various marine organisms, such as glowworms, fireflies, or certain species of fish. The patterns and rhythms of bioluminescent displays can be used for communication, attracting mates, or as a defense mechanism.

​Patterns of Bioluminescence:

Examples of Patterns in nature (our related concept)

Word Cloud

What other patterns in nature can you think of?

​Environment is our other related concept

The "environment" related concept refers to the living and non-living factors that act on an organism. It encompasses the physical and chemical aspects of the surroundings that can impact living organisms.

Word Cloud

What word comes to mind when you think of our global context: OPPORTUNITY?

​Prior learning...

What do you already know or remember from Year 7?

Multiple Choice

Which item would be classified as an "abiotic factor" in an ecosystem?

• Bird

• Fungi

• Ant

• Rock

Multiple Choice

A community is different from a population by having what?

• Communities have biotic and abiotic factors

• Communities have one species living together

• Communities have many different species living together

• Community begins with one individual

Multiple Choice

What would be a hawkbill's habitat?

• Who it lives with

• Where it lives

• What it eats

• When it migrates

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a hawksbill interacting with an abiotic factor?

• Hawksbill digs a nest in the sand

• Hawksbill eats a sea sponge

• Hawksbill mates with another hawksbill

• Hawksbill gets attacked by a shark

Multiple Choice

Put the levels of organization in order from smallest to largest:

• Population, organism, ecosystem, biosphere, community

• Ecosystem, population, organism, community, biosphere

• Organism, population, ecosystem, biosphere, community

• Organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere

True or False

Discuss the following with a partner/group

To do

In your notebooks:

Find and write down the definitions for the following terms that you learned in Year 7 in your workbooks:
Ecosystem, habitat, community, population, invasive species, native species, biotic, abiotic, biome, biosphere, producer, carnivore, omnivore, herbivore, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer