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New Class Nature-inspired Lessons: Lesson 1

Class Ecosystem

Learning Objectives:

  • To understand that we all have important roles to play in creating a healthy class ecosystem, where everyone can achieve their best
  • To understand that we are all interconnected in our class ecosystem and that our actions affect others in both positive and negative ways

Did you know?

An ecosystem is an area of land or water, where living things (like plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms) and non-living things (like sunlight, water and soil) work together to create a ‘bubble’ of life. Everything in an ecosystem is connected, either directly or indirectly, so a change in one part affects the whole system.

Ecosystems can be small (like a rockpool, garden or sand dune) or large (like a forest, grassland or coral reef).

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Having watched the video clip, use the Time to Talk ‘Hands Down Class Discussion’ prompt below to discuss the following questions:

  • How are living and non-living things connected in an African grassland ecosystem?
  • In what ways is our class like an African grassland ecosystem?
  • In an African grassland ecosystem, are some creatures more important than others? How is this similar to or different from our class ecosystem?
  • What might happen to the African grassland ecosystem if elephants became extinct?
  • What could make a class ecosystem unhealthy and hard for everyone to do their best?

 – Hands Down Class Discussion (Click the 🗣️)

Recommended Activity

Our Healthy Class Ecosystem

We want the class to be a place where everyone can achieve their best.

Your Task

  1. Work with a partner or small group.
  2. Make two lists:

    List 1: Things we should all do to make our class a great place to learn

    List 2: Things we should all avoid because they make it hard to learn

    Click here for writing support resource.

Take it Further 

Make a Healthy Class Ecosystem display that can be referred and added to throughout the year.