Minds On

Connections and community

The word “connect” can mean different things to different people. Perhaps it means a connection with others around you or feeling a connection to a certain place.

Another type of connection is one with the natural environment. Humans may feel connected to nature.

Examine the following mind map and record a list of all the ways humans can connect with nature using a method of your choice. Think about ways that animals, plants, and trees interact with each other and how people interact with them.

Description

A mind map with Connecting with Nature at the centre and six branches with arrow endpoints pointing outwards. The branches starting from the top left are labelled: Nature's hidden services, looking after nature, benefits, how to connect, climate and avoid disconnecting. The branch labelled nature's hidden service divides into two arrows pointing to the label oxygen from trees with the top of a green tree and the label water we drink with a glass of water beside it. The branch labelled Looking After Nature also divides into an arrow with the label caring and aware with an image of a person planting a tree and another arrow with the label nondestructive with the image of a no symbol in front of a tree and an axe. The branch labelled benefits has an arrow labelled releases worry and stress with a smiling face emoji and another arrow labelled source of inspiration with an image of a mountainside landscape. The branch labelled how to connect has an arrow labelled grow a local plant with an image of potted plant and another arrow labelled go for a walk with a silhouette of person walking. The branch labelled climate has an arrow pointing to the word recycle along with an image of a recycling bin filled with recycled materials, and another arrow pointing the word conserve energy with an image of a hand turning off the switch on a light. The branch labelled avoid disconnecting has an arrow pointing to the label too much screen time with an image of a tablet and a phone.

Many organisms are connected by way of interdependence – which means that they depend on each other for survival. For example, trees provide food and shelter for birds and the birds eat insects that can harm the trees. The trees and birds are connected. They interact with each other to survive.

Brainstorm

Connections in natural environments

We can think about these important connections in natural environments using the terms habitat, community, and interdependence.

How might you describe connections in natural environments using these vocabulary terms?

Record your brainstorm using a method of your choice. If possible, share your thinking with someone else.

Press ‘Hint’ to remind yourself of the definitions of habitat, community, and interdependence.

Hint

Habitat	The place where an organism lives and that provides it with the food, water, shelter, and space that it needs to survive.
Community	Interdependent groups of plants and animals that live and interact together in a habitat.
Interdependence	How plants, animals, and humans rely on each other for survival within a common habitat.

Action

Global connection

The United Nations (UN) is a group of many countries from around the world that have come together to create a better future for people and the environment. They have created 17 goals called the Sustainable Development Goals.

This learning activity is connected to Goal #15: Life on Land. This means everyone should help protect earth’s ecosystem. An ecosystem is an area where plants and animals interact with non-living things like soil or water.

Interacting organisms

All of the living organisms that interact and depend on each other within a common habitat are part of a shared community.

All animals interact with their habitats by relying on it for food and shelter. There are many different types of habitats around the world that provide the basic needs for a range of different animal species, for example:

grassland habitats support certain carnivores like cheetahs and hawks
wetland habitats support certain omnivores like painted turtles and crayfish
desert habitats support certain herbivores like quails and camels

Press ‘Definitions’ to explore detailed descriptions of carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores.

Definitions

Carnivores	Carnivores are animals who eat only other animals. Some examples of carnivores from different habitats around the world are: lions, snowy owls, hyenas, and ferrets.
Omnivores	Omnivores are animals who have a diet of both plants and meat. Some examples of omnivores from different habitats around the world are: opossums, hedgehogs, bearded dragons, and black bears.
Herbivores	Herbivores are animals that eat only plants. Some examples of herbivores from different habitats around the world are: water buffalo, elk, camels, and beavers.

Another example of a habitat that can be found around the world and sustains specific species is the forest habitat.

Explore the following Finding Stuff Out with Zoey video entitled “Into the Woods” to learn more about how animals rely on forests for their survival.

Into the Woods

Joey finds out if we need forests.

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Zoey says ANIMALS DEFINITELY NEED FORESTS
FOR THEIR HOME.
AND AMANDA HAD A QUESTION
ABOUT THAT.

A girl with brown hair says HOW MANY KINDS OF LIVING THINGS
ARE IN THE FOREST?

Zoey says LIVING THINGS,
LIKE BIRDS, MAMMALS,
AMPHIBIANS,
REPTILES, INSECTS,
MICROBES,
BIG LIVING THINGS,
TINY LIVING THINGS,
THINGS THAT EAT PLANTS,
THINGS THAT EAT THE THINGS
THAT EAT PLANTS,
AND THERE ARE PLANTS TOO.
HEAD GETTING WARM.
BRAIN TRYING TO IMAGINE
ALL THOSE CREATURES.
THERE MUST BE A HUNDRED.
NO, A THOUSAND.
NO, TENS OF THOUSANDS.
CREATURES OVERLOAD!
AGH!

In animation, Zoe’s head explodes.

A caption reads "You’re gonna make my head explode."

Zoey says THEY'RE STILL DISCOVERING
NEW SPECIES ALL THE TIME.
AND NO ONE KNOWS
HOW MANY KINDS OF LIVING THINGS
ARE IN THE FOREST.
BUT THEY ALL NEED TO EAT.
AND WE'RE GOING TO MEET
SOME OF THEM RIGHT NOW.

She grabs her ukulele and sings SHE KNOWS ABOUT ANIMALS
THAT LIVE IN THE FOREST
SHE'S BRINGING SOME IN NOW
AND I KNOW THAT
THEY WON'T BORE US
HERE'S JENNIFER CYR-DEVINE.

Jen enters the attic. She’s in her thirties, with long straight brown hair and wears white trousers and a blue T-shirt. She carries a bird on her hand.

Jen says HI!

Zoey says HI!
THIS DOESN'T EAT PEOPLE,
DOES IT?

Jen says NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
DON'T WORRY. HA!
THIS IS ACTUALLY
AN AMERICAN KESTREL.

Zoey says WOW.

Jen says AND HER NAME IS SAPHIRA.

Zoey says WHERE DOES SHE LIVE?

Jen says WELL, THIS IS A TYPE
OF BIRD THAT LIVES
IN OPEN FIELDS AND MEADOWS
OFTEN CLOSE TO FORESTS,
SO THE FORESTS ARE A LITTLE BIT
LIKE A REFRIGERATOR,
WHEREBY SOMETIMES THE MICE
AND THE INSECTS ALL COME OUT,
AND WHEN SHE CAN SPOT THEM...
OH! SHE'S IN SEVENTH HEAVEN.
THAT WAY SHE CAN FIND ALL SORTS
OF YUMMY FOOD TO EAT.

Zoey says SO, WHAT DO YOU GUYS
FEED HER?

Jen says WELL, AT THE ECOMUSEUM ZOO,
WE FEED HER MICE,
AND WE SOMETIMES FEED HER
LITTLE BIRDS, BECAUSE
THAT'S SOMETIMES WHAT THEY'LL
BE EATING IN THE WILD AS WELL.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO GO
AND GET SOME MORE?

Zoey says SURE!

Jen says EXCELLENT.

Jen comes back with a snake.

Zoey says WOW. WHAT KIND
OF SNAKE IS THAT?

Jen says THIS IS WHAT WE CALL
A BLACK RAT SNAKE.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE REFER TO THEM
AS GREY RAT SNAKES.
HE LOVES TO CLIMB UP INTO TREES.
I KNOW IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE,
CONSIDERING HE DOESN'T HAVE
ANY ARMS OR LEGS,
BUT THESE GUYS CAN ACTUALLY
CLIMB VERY EASILY.

Zoey says DOES IT BITE?

Jen says THEY CAN BITE.
WOULD YOU STILL LIKE TO TOUCH?

Zoey says SURE.
(JENNIFER LAUGHS)

Zoey says WOAH. THAT'S LIKE SCALY.
THAT'S FUNNY.

Jen says THOSE ARE ALL SCALES.
THEY HAVE THEM
ALL OVER THEIR BODIES.

Now Jen holds a big frog.

Zoey says WOW!

Jen says THIS FROG IS HUGE!
IT'S ACTUALLY
WHAT WE CALL A BULL FROG,
BECAUSE THIS IS
A LARGE TYPE OF FROG,
JUST LIKE BULLS ARE
PRETTY LARGE.

Zoey says SO, WHY'S IT GOOD FOR THEM
TO LIVE IN THE FOREST?

Jen says IN THE FOREST WHERE THEY LIVE,
AS LONG AS IT'S NEAR WATER,
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO FIND ALL
SORTS OF INSECTS
AND ALL SORTS OF LITTLE
MICE TO EAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY LOVE.
THEY CAN EAT FISH THAT ARE
FOUND IN THE WATER
AS WELL AS A MAMMAL
THAT FLIES AT NIGHT - BATS!

Zoey says SERIOUSLY?

Jen says OH YEAH.
AND DO YOU WANT TO KNOW
HOW THEY EAT THE BAT?

Zoey says HOW?

Jen says WELL,
THEY HAVE TO LAUNCH TOWARDS IT
WITH THEIR BODIES,
THEIR MOUTHS OPEN, THEIR TONGUES
STICKING OUT LIKE THIS.
THEY CATCH THE BAT
IN THEIR MOUTHS,
WITH THEIR TEETH,
IT KEEPS THEM IN PLACE,
AND THEN THEY PUSH IT DOWN
WITH THEIR HANDS AND THE MUSCLES
IN THEIR THROAT.
THEY HAVE TO BRING THEIR EYES
INSIDE THEIR HEADS
AND PUSH THE FOOD
RIGHT DOWN THEIR THROAT.

Zoey says THAT'S SO COOL.

Jen says THIS IS WHAT
WE CALL AN OPOSSUM.
AND THIS IS FROM
THE MARSUPIAL GROUP,
SO IT'S THE SAME GROUP
AS KOALAS AND KANGAROOS.

Zoey says WHAT DOES SHE EAT?

Jen says SHE CAN EAT A LITTLE BIT
OF EVERYTHING, ACTUALLY.
SHE'S RATHER OMNIVOROUS,
SO SHE CAN EAT FRUIT,
SHE CAN EAT SEEDS AND NUTS,
SHE CAN EVEN EAT OTHER TYPES
OF ANIMALS, LIKE INSECTS, MICE.
SO YOU CAN SEE, LIKE
THE FOREST FLOOR, SHE'S TRYING
TO PUSH ALL THE LEAVES AROUND,
ALL THE PIECES OF WOOD,
AND SHE'S TRYING TO FIND
ALL SORTS OF FRUITS
THAT MIGHT HAVE
FALLEN FROM TREES,
AND INSECTS THAT ARE HIDDEN
UNDER ALL THESE BRANCHES,
JUST LIKE SHE'D BE DOING
IN THE FOREST.

Zoey says THANKS FOR BEING ON MY SHOW
AND HELPING ME FIND STUFF OUT.

Jen says THANKS FOR HAVING US.

In the video, Zoey met four animal species that live in forest habitats. Complete the following matching activity to check if you can identify who’s who! Click on the word that best fits the image:

Beginning of Matching 1 interactive activity.Enter interactive activity Matching 1 or press link to skip to end of activity.

a success bubble image with stars and a cloud

You did it! Way to go!

Press link to return to start of interactive activity Matching 1.End of Matching 1 interactive activity.

Habitats that animals live in provide them with food and shelter. Kestrels, opossums, snakes, and frogs all rely on the forest to provide them with their basic needs for survival and have even adapted to better meet the conditions of their habitat.

Consider some of the diets and adaptations discussed in the previous video clip, then record responses to the following questions using a method of your choice:

How might you describe the way the American kestrel finds food?
How does the black rat snake use trees in the forest habitat?
What flying animal does the bull frog eat? How?
What type of food does the opossum eat?

Press 'Answers' to access some possible answers.

Answers

The American kestrel finds food by flying above the trees and scouting for mice or smaller birds. These different prey gather in the forest, so the American kestrel can find food in this habitat as easily as a human opening a refrigerator!
In a forest habitat, even animals without arms or legs need to navigate many trees! The black rat snake “climbs” trees without arms or legs by wrapping its scaly body around the trunk and hoisting itself up or down.
The bullfrog hunts bats at night by lunging towards them with its mouth open and using its hands and throat muscles to push the larger animal into its body.
Opossums eat a wide variety of different foods – both plants and animals! They use their snout to scavenge the forest floor for insects, fallen fruit, seeds, nuts, and sometimes small mammals like mice.

Based on the diets of the animal species discussed in the previous video, complete the following multiple choice questions to classify two of these animals by their diets (i.e. as carnivores, herbivores or omnivores):

Beginning of Multiple Choice 1 interactive activity.Enter interactive activity Multiple Choice 1 or press link to skip to end of activity.

Which group does the opossum belong to, based on its diet of fruits, insects and mice?

Press link to return to start of interactive activity Multiple Choice 1.End of Multiple Choice 1 interactive activity.

Beginning of Multiple Choice 2 interactive activity.Enter interactive activity Multiple Choice 2 or press link to skip to end of activity.

Which group does the American kestrel belong to, based on its diet of mice and small birds?

Press link to return to start of interactive activity Multiple Choice 2.End of Multiple Choice 2 interactive activity.

Organisms in a food chain

Animals may not have the same diet as other living species in their habitat, but did you know that all of these eating habits – from carnivorous, to omnivorous, to herbivorous – work together? Each different kind of diet plays a role in a series of events that helps the habitat community stay on track that is called a “food chain”.

The three types of organisms found within a food chain are producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Producers are organisms that take energy from sunlight and turn it into the nutrients they need to survive. They produce new organic material from inorganic material with the help of sunlight.

Consumers do not produce their own nutrients and must eat or “consume” other plants or animals to survive. They are organisms that feed on other organisms.

Decomposers are organisms that break down the parts of dead plant or animal matter into smaller pieces (decay).

Based on the images and descriptions you just explored, record definitions for the following terms in your own words using a method of your choice. If possible, include an example for each definition:

producers	consumers	decomposers

Press the following tabs to access possible ways to describe each of the previous terms with examples.

Producers have this title because they are organisms that are able to produce what “food” they need to survive! Producers take energy from sunlight and turn it into the nutrients they need for survival. An example would be how trees use photosynthesis to produce oxygen from sunlight’s energy.

Consumers, unlike producers, are organisms that are unable to produce their own food or nutrient, so they must eat or “consume” plants or other animals in order to survive. An example of consumers would be how humans and animals need to either consume some form of plant or animal to live.

Decomposers are organisms that will break down or “decay” parts of dead plants or animals to turn it into nutrients for the soil that grows producers. An example of a decomposer at work would be how a snail feeds on dead animal or plant matter, or fungus decompose animal remains into nutrients for the soil.

Pause and Reflect

Classifying species

Based on your learning about the food chain of producers, consumers, and decomposers, which group could we classify the group of species from the video clip earlier?

Record your reflection using a method of your choice.

Press ‘Hint’ to access the answer.

Hint

Since the kestrel, snake, frog, and opossum are all examples of animal species, they are all considered consumers within their habitat!

Check your understanding

Beginning of Sorting 1 interactive activity.Enter interactive activity Sorting 1 or press link to skip to end of activity.

1 of 6

Producer

Consumer

Decomposer

Press link to return to start of interactive activity Sorting 1.End of Sorting 1 interactive activity.

Consolidation

Show what you know!

You have expanded your understanding of habitats and their communities by exploring the different roles that organisms can play in a food chain (i.e. producers, consumers, and decomposers).

You have also researched specific species supported within the forest habitat and explored some examples of those animals’ diets (i.e. carnivorous, omnivorous, or herbivorous).

A deer standing behind some tall grass and plants.

To put all of these concepts together, create a diagram or a written description of how consumers, producers, and decomposers contribute to the food chain within a forest habitat using a method of your choice.

Use the following checklist to help you create your habitat diagram or description.

Forest food chain checklist

Follow this checklist to create your representation of how consumers, producers, and decomposers contribute to the food chain within a forest habitat.

My response is based on the forest habitat. I have included one example of a consumer, producer, and decomposer. I have included one example of a carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore.

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel…

I have an excellent understanding of the concepts I have a very good understanding of the concepts I have some understanding but need to review some more my understanding of the concepts needs a lot more work

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.