What are biotic and abiotic resources

ACTIVITY #2: BIOTIC and ABIOTIC FACTORSOBJECTIVEStudents will identify the characteristics and interactions of biotic and abiotic components of several ecosystems, and describe the importance of these components in a sustainable ecosystem.SAFETYAs students will be moving around the class to use the SMART board, ensure that there are no tripping hazards. Bags and extra chairs should be place at the rear of the room.MATERIALSTeacher laptop with SMART software installedSMART boardStudent handout (attached)TEACHER NOTESPrior to beginning the SMART board portion of this activity, the STUDENT HANDOUT should be distributed, one per student. The teacher should read through the handout along with the class, and explain the activity to come. After resolving another questions about the procedure, students should be instructed to complete Question 1.The teacher should now split the students into groups of five. In this activity, small groups of students will approach the SMART board and classify factors as either biotic or abiotic. Each factor will be listed as a picture, with an appropriate descriptive caption. Each student will drag one factor to the side of the board corresponding to either “BIOTIC” or “ABIOTIC”.After each student in the group of five has identified a factor, they should go back to their seats, and the next group of five should approach the board. This is to avoid congestion at the front of the class, and to help keep each student focused and on-task.When all the factors for an ecosystem have been placed, the decisions should be analyzed and discussed briefly with the class. When the factors for the Tundra ecosystem have been placed, proceed with the Pondand, finally, the Forest ecosystem. Students should be completing the table in thehandout as the activity progresses.Upon completion of the activity, the teacher should ask students the following question:“How does human activity affect each biotic or abiotic factor?”While answers may vary, if students require assistance, proceed with a few scaffolding questions:“Which biotic factor in a forest ecosystem serves as a habitat for many animals?” Trees“How are trees affected by human activities?”“How does this impact the animals in the ecosystem that rely on those trees?”The teacher should go around the classroom and check for completion of the student handout. Note that this activity should not be evaluated, but used as an assessment forlearning, and the handout should remain in each student’s binder of notes.