Journal #5: Class Content-Ecosystems

One class topic that I recently become more educated about is ecosystems. Prior to this semester, I feel that I fell into the trap of only thinking of ecosystems as these complicated life cycles that only take place out in "the wilderness." I believe many young students are affected by this myth as well. However, ecosystems are present everywhere in the world, including right in your own backyard. Whether it be on a local playground, or out in the rain forests, ecosystems are the product of animals, plants, and humans each playing a specific role.

Another aspect of ecosystems that I learned more about during our recent class unit was the effect that humans have on ecosystems. Although many people may have the belief that "what can I do to effect an ecosystem?", humans do have a huge effect on individual ecosystems. For instance, people littering and leaving trash behind can negatively effect the plants and animals of an ecosystem. Another example would be cutting down trees in a forest. As a result, I think it is important for classroom teachers to educate their students on how their personal actions can impact ecosystems.

I feel a great way to further educate students about ecosystems is through a real-world approach. A teacher could start by selecting a local location, such as a nearby park, grassy area, or even the school playground. Getting up and out of the classroom will excite the students and enable them to see the environment in a hands-on fashion, rather than the traditional in-class routine. In addition to witnessing the role that the organisms in an ecosystem play, students will be able to understand the role that humans play as well. Another key concept that can serve as learning outcome is pollution. Whether this activity is conducted at a local park, or on the playground, students are most likely to see litter from humans, or human footprints. If I were to conduct this activity, I would make sure to debrief this activity upon returning to the classroom, allowing students to share their thoughts and reactions.