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.
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.
| 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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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:
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.
- 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):
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.
Since the kestrel, snake, frog, and opossum are all examples of animal species, they are all considered consumers within their habitat!
Check your understanding
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).
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.
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…
Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.