Eco Explorers
This course is intended to prepare students for the Exploring Grassland Ecosystems onsite program at Ecolinc. In this course, students will learn about grassland ecosystems, organisms that occupy them, interactions between the organisms and threats.
Background Information:
The Western Volcanic Plains is the third largest volcanic plain in the world. Less than 5% of the remnant grassland remains, occurring in mostly small, highly fragmented areas. Many native animals that inhabit these grassland are now listed as critically endangered or extinct in the wild. This ecosystem is classified as a critically endangered ecosystem.
Year Level: 9 – 10
Prior Knowledge:
No prior knowledge is necessary.
Course Connections:
Does this course link to other Ecolinc programs?
This course is an ideal introduction to attending the following on-site program:
or this course can stand alone as a learning experience.
Learning Intentions:
In this program students will:
- Define ecosystems and food webs
- Investigate the impact of introducing or removing a species to a grassland or grassy woodland.
- Understand how species are interdependent of each other and the ecosystem.
- Construct a grassland food web and explain how matter and energy flow through the system.
Estimated Duration: 30 minutes
Victorian Curriculum:
Science Scientific Understanding
- Ecosystems consist of communities of interdependent organisms and abiotic components of the environment; matter and energy flow through these systems (VCSSU121).
Course Creator: Jo Tate
