5th Grade Science Name:____________________________

Ms. Whitfield Date:____________________________

Unit: Ecosystems Homeroom:______________________

Invasive Species

Objectives: By the end of class…

SWBAT explain the effects of introducing an invasive species to an ecosystem.
Do Now Commented [KW1]: Timing: 6 min
Scholars work independently for three minutes
Circulate and gather data about which examples are more
challenging
Discuss questions scholars struggled with

Brown bats

Directions: Based on the above table, create a food web that includes the sun and
at least five organisms.

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 Explore

The Fish of Lake Erie Commented [KW2]: Timing: 8 min

Scholars work in groups of three.
Scholar reads directions for round 1 – 2 min for the round
Reset and scholar reads directions for round 2 – 2 min for the round
Directions: The perch, walleye, trout, and bass will play round 1. They will have sixty 1 min for everybody writes – turn and talk
Complete sentence with “invasive species”
seconds to scoop up as many pompoms as they can. Record how many pompoms
each fish got in the space below.

Round 1: Perch (blue) ________ Walleye (green) __________ Trout (red) ____________

Directions: All fish will play round 2. They will have sixty seconds to scoop up as many
pompoms as they can. The goby can take any color pompom. The rest of the fish can
only take their assigned color. Record how many pompoms each fish got in the space
below.

Round 2: Perch (blue) _______ Walleye (green) _______ Trout (red) ________

Goby (any color) _________

How did the game change when the goby was introduced?

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

The goby is an example of an _________________________________________

in Lake Erie!

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 Explain

Commented [KW3]: Timing: 5 min

Scholars record definitions for native and invasive species
Native Species: Examine examples of each that can be found in lake erie

Lake Erie has many native species in addition to

perch, blue gills, and bass. Some examples include
northern water snakes and trumpeter swans.

Invasive Species:

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How do invasive species get into new ecosystems? Commented [KW4]: Timing: 5 min
Class brainstorms ways in which invasive species get into new
ecosystems (boats, released pets, importing
plants/fruits/vegetables)
2 min – everybody writes/ turn and talk: Why do invasive species
 threaten ecosystems?
CFU: Why do you think invasive species spread so quickly when
they get in a new environment?


How could invasive species be a threat to ecosystems?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

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 Elaborate

Invasive Species 1: Burmese Python Commented [KW5]: Timing: 12 min

Scholars work in groups to read each passage and record reasons to
keep or get rid of the species (at least 2 reasons for each)
In recent years, snakes from around the world have been turning up in and around Scholars use claim-evidence-reasoning format to write about
whether or not the species should be removed from the ecosystem
Everglades National Park in South Florida. Burmese pythons, one of the largest snake species Groups share out their paragraphs (one for and one against each
species – four total)
on Earth, are now known to be breeding in the park and spreading throughout south Florida.

The population of Burmese pythons presently in the park is the result of accidental and/or
intentional releases by pet owners. These introductions can have devastating consequences
to this ecosystem. Burmese pythons have been found to feed on a wide variety of mammals
and birds in the Everglades-even the occasional alligator! By preying on native wildlife, and
competing with other native predators, pythons are seriously impacting the natural order of
south Florida's ecological communities and causing some native species to become
endangered.

Reasons to keep the species Reasons to get rid of the species

Should the Everglades keep Burmese pythons or try to remove them?

Claim: ____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence: _________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Reasoning: ________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

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 Invasive Species 2: Wattle-necked softshell turtles

The wattle-necked softshell turtles came to Hawaii from China, starting in the
1850s, brought by sugarcane farmers who liked to eat them as soup. Today,
they're endangered in China because of hunting, but they are considered
invasive in Hawaii. Conservationists don't believe the animals are safe from
hunting in China, so there's little point in boxing them up and sending them
back. In Hawaii, they mostly eat other invasive species of fish instead of native
ones, so they do not change the natural environment much.

Reasons to keep the species Reasons to get rid of the species

Should Hawaii keep this species of turtle or try to remove it?

Claim: ____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence: _________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Reasoning: ________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

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 5th Grade Science Name:____________________________

Ms. Whitfield Date:____________________________

Unit: Ecosystems Homeroom:_______________________

Homework
Invasive Species

Invasive Species- Asian Carp

Many dangerous invasive species come by
water. Asian carp were brought to the United
States in the 1970s as live vacuum cleaners
meant to remove algae and other floating
matter from ponds. These fish can grow to 100
pounds and will eat just about anything,
adapting shockingly well to new environments.
They have taken over and now represent 90
percent of large organisms in the Illinois River.
Researchers worry that these ravenous,
opportunistic fish will reach the Great Lakes and
cause real problems to the fragile ecosystem—basically eliminating diversity in
the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Directions: Use the text about Asian Carp to answer the questions below.

1. Why were Asian carp brought the U.S.?

A. To eat all of the animals in the Illinois River.
B. To eventually reach the Great Lakes and cause problems.
C. To act as living vacuum cleaners in peoples’ ponds.
D. To live a better life and grow to be 100 pounds.
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2. Use the text on the front of your homework to complete the table and answer the
question below.

Reasons to keep the species Reasons to get rid of the species

Should the United States do something to remove Asian Carp from the Illinois River or
let them stay?

Claim: ____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Evidence: _________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Reasoning: ________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

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 Name:__________________________

Date: __________________________

Homeroom: ____________________

Exit Ticket

Directions: Use what you learned today to complete the following sentences.

Invasive species are a threat to an ecosystem because ______________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Invasive species are a threat to an ecosystem but ___________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Invasive species are a threat to an ecosystem so _____________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

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Circle how confident you feel about today’s lesson and objective.

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