The Interdependence of Organisms (9-12)

* The atoms and molecules on the earth cycle among the living and nonliving parts of the biosphere.   * Energy flows through ecosystems; from photosynthetic organisms to herbivores to consumers and decomposers.   * Organisms both cooperate and compete in ecosystems.   * Living organisms have the capacity to produce populations of infinite size, but environments and resources limit this capacity.   * Increasingly, humans modify ecosystems as a result many factors. (NSES, 1996)

This "learning tool" is called Human Numbers Through Time. When you reach the page, just click on "Launch Interactive", which is on the left hand side. This web interactive lesson comes to us from the PBS series called World in the Balance.

The name of this elegant "learning tool" is Conservation Investigation: Seahorses. Students are assigned to investigate the sea horse situation. They travel to the Philippines and see seahorses and their habitat, interview local people, scientists, fishermen, traders, medicine users, and do library research for documents and statistics. Then write a balanced editorial that takes a point of view, respectfully and accurately represents the opposing or alternative attitudes. This wonderful interactive comes to us from the Shedd Aquarium.

Secrets at Sea is a “learning tool” that invites students to solve a mystery by tracking down ecological clues in an interactive story format. Topics woven into the mystery include food webs, bioaccumulations, killer whales, salmon, plankton, salinity, and others. Click on "Chapter 1: What's with those Whales?" to get started.

This "learning tool" is called Food Chain.   One of the most innovative science education companies is Explorelearning.com, they call their simulations, Gizmos. They are a subscription site, but they allow you to see this Gizmo for 5 minutes.   Shockwave is required.