Science 3: Interactions: Plants, Animals, & Ecosystems

Did you know that all living things change their environments? Humans change our environments in big, obvious ways. Learn more about it with Sabrina

We've talked about humans changing their environments, but all animals change their environments just by living in them

Have you ever heard of the peppered moth? It's a great example of how living things can change because their environment has changed.

(Re)making relationships with birds through observation and storytelling connects us with our ancestors. Download our bird arc to use with your students.

Paying attention to plant life helps us build relationships with land and waters, and deepens our place-based knowledge. Download our plant arc to use with your students.

Did you know that plants can change their environment? Take tree roots for example. They're so strong, they can even break apart concrete!

Through adaptations, organisms develop certain features that aid their survival. They pass these on to future generations through the process of natural selection.

Ecosystems are constantly going through gradual changes. Sometimes those changes are natural, and sometimes they are caused by humans.

Look outside your window. Ever wonder how all those things live and grow together in one place? That is an ecosystem, and it is a pretty amazing thing.

Watch this video about how plants adapt to different environments. After you watch the video, you can take the quiz to test what you have learned.

Wetlands may change from dry to wet to dry. The living things in wetlands must adapt to thesechanges. Many plants use amazing strategies that allow them to thrive.

This video teaches us how plants, animals, and people change the environment. Sometimes changes are obvious and other times they are subtle

Animals in winter face many challenge of how to survive winter cold and the lack of food. Sarah Armour discusses how different animals have adapted to these stresses

Beavers are natural ecosystem engineers that help the forests grow, help the soil retain water, mitigate floods and droughts, reduce forest fires, and create habitats for all kinds of animals.

This is a story that shows how all life is connected and any changes in the web of life effect all other species, even the way that rivers flow.

Population is not just for people. Plants and animals have populations, too! Limiting factors in an environment make sure the population does not get out of control.

Explore how beavers build their impressive dams, and what impact these structures have on the surrounding environment.

There are so many elements in ecosystems, that if just one leaves or gets out of whack, it can be terrible for the whole thing. But today, let's talk about spider monkeys!

Everyone eats, right? Sabrina talks about the way energy moves through an ecosystem and how that movement forms Food Chains!

Sabrina chats today about what living things eat to get energy. What makes something an omnivore, or a carnivore, or an herbivore? And how do plants fit into all of this?

We Indigenous people understand that we have responsibilities to foster balanced relations with those who share themselves so that we might maintain our health. Download our food arc to use with your students

How does a snail get its food? How about a tree? Find out all about the food chain, and you will know!

Did you know that organisms can be part of more than one food chain? It can get pretty complicated. That is where the food web comes in handy.

A wonderful online publication for children to learn about pollinators. (Alberta produced)

This 60 second video clip is a classic Hinterland Who's Who video about pollination.

A useful list of words to introduce students to as they learn about pollinators

Information from the National Park Service about pollinators

This video shows the world of pollen and pollinators and was inspired by the vanishing of one of nature's primary pollinators, the honeybee.

This 5-minute video discusses the importance of maintaining a healthy bee population and how humans can help with this.

(Re)making relationships with birds through observation and storytelling connects us with our ancestors. Download our bird arc to use with your students.

We Indigenous people understand that we have responsibilities to foster balanced relations with those who share themselves so that we might maintain our health. Download our food arc to use with your students

Paying attention to plant life helps us build relationships with land and waters, and deepens our place-based knowledge. Download our plant arc to use with your students.

This site has curriculum modules, posters and fact/activity sheets about pollinators, which include moths, butterflies and other small creatures as well as honey bees.