Memory Anchor:

• Super Challenge:

  Stretch:

  Challenge:

Key Questions:

1. What different parts of the ecosystem do materials cycle through?
   • Many different materials cycle through the abiotic and biotic components of an ecosystem.
2. Why is it important that carbon and water are cycled through the ecosystem.
   • It is important that carbon and water are cycled through the ecosystem because there is only a finite number atoms.
3. Why do materials need to be recycled?
   • Materials need to be recycled to provide the building blocks for future organisms.
4. What process are carbon to be cycled from A) carbon dioxide to producers, B) producers to consumers, C) Producers/consumers/decomposers to carbon dioxide and D) fossil fuels to carbon dioxide
   • A) Photosynthesis cycles carbon dioxide to producers. B) Feeding cycles producers to consumers. C) Respiration cycles producers/consumers/decomposers to carbon dioxide D) Combustion cycles fossil fuels to carbon dioxide.
5. How do microorganisms help to cycle material through an ecosystem?
   • Microorganisms help cycling material by returning carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and mineral ions to the soil.
6. Why is precipitation important for organisms in ecosystems?
   • Precipitation provides fresh water for plants and animals on land before it drains into the seas.
7. How does water get from the land to the air and the air back to the land?
   • water turns to water vapour in the air through evaporation and returns to the land through precipitation.