6th Grade Rocky Shore Species Lesson Plan Example (Science)

Topic: Rocky shore species

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify and describe three species that live on a rocky shore.
• Students will be able to explain how these species have adapted to their environment and the role they play in the local food web.

Materials

• Pictures or models of rocky shore species (e.g. sea snail, sea star, seaweed)
• Flashcards with information about the three selected species
• A map or image of a rocky shore

Warm-up

• Show students a picture or model of a rocky shore and ask them what they notice about the environment.
• Encourage them to think about how the organisms living there might need to adapt to their surroundings.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of a rocky shore and explain that it is a shoreline that is made up of rocky materials, such as rocks, boulders, and pebbles.
• Discuss the characteristics of a rocky shore, such as being exposed to strong waves and weather, being limited in space, and having little or no soil or vegetation.
• Explain that the organisms that live on a rocky shore have adapted to their environment in various ways, such as by having hard shells or spines to protect them from the waves, or by being able to cling to the rocks to avoid being washed away.
• Introduce the concept of a food web and explain that it is a way to show how organisms are connected and dependent on each other in an ecosystem.
• Use the handouts to introduce and discuss the various species that live on a rocky shore, their adaptations, and their roles in the food web.

Guided Practice

• Have students work in small groups to identify and draw the different species that live on a rocky shore.
• Have each group present their findings to the class and discuss the different adaptations of the species they have drawn.
• Use the handouts to introduce and discuss the different roles each species plays in the food web.
• Have students work in small groups to identify and draw the roles of the species they have drawn in the food web.

Independent Practice

• Have students work in small groups to create a set of cards that illustrate the different roles of the species in the food web.
• Each card should have a picture of a species, along with a short explanation of its role in the food web.
• Have students present their cards to the class and explain the roles of the different species.

Closure

• Review the main points of the lesson, including the functions of species in a food web and the different roles highlighted in the food web activity.
• Ask students to share one thing they learned about rocky shore species during the lesson.

Assessment

• Observe students during independent practice to assess their understanding of the functions of species in a food web.
• Have students complete a short quiz or written assignment on the main points of the lesson.