lesson 8
​nature breaks it down

Big Idea:

• The matter in nature's waste is broken down by various scavengers and decomposers.

Lesson Goals:

• Sequence the process of decomposition by arranging illustrations showing the progressive decomposition of organisms.
• Use data to evaluate claims about how organisms decompose after death.
• Describe what happens to the matter in dead organisms when they decompose.

Class Discussion:

• What evidence do you have that things are changing?
• What is the cause of these changes?
• What is the effect of these changes?
• What is the term for this process?

decomposition

• When do organisms or organic remains decompose?
• Why do things decompose?
• Do things disappear completely when they decompose?
• What happens to the matter in organic remains when they decompose?
• Is it possible to prevent something from decomposing?
• Wht affects how quickly something decomposes?

Student-Led Activity:

• With your partner, follow the directions on Tree Decomposition sheet
• With your partner, follow the directions on the Bison Decomposition sheet
• Find another group that has completed the activity and compare answers with them.
  
• Discuss any differences in opinion and come to an agreement
  
• Glue the illustrations, in sequence, into the second page of the worksheet.
  
• Open your Ecosystem's GoogleDoc
  
• Scroll to the bottom on the document and his enter twice
  
• Type:  "Lesson 8-Nature Breaks it Down"
  
• Hit enter twice
  
• Discuss the following questions with your partner and answer them in your own words.

1. How did the tree change during each stage?
2. What might have caused the changes to the matter in the tree?
3. How did the matter in the bison change during each stage?
4. What might have caused the changes to the matter in the bison?
5. What claim are you making about the matter in the tree and the bison?
6. What data might serve as evidence for that claim?
7. What is the effect of the decomposition?
8. If the matter in each organism continues to decompose, will it disappear?  Why or why not?
9. Where do you think the matter moved as each organism decomposed?
10. How long do you think it will take the matter to decompose completely?

• Read Nature's Waste Isn't Wasted from the student reader