Symbiosis Slideshow Presentation
Symbiosis Scenarios
Who Benefits? Who Loses? Who Doesn't Care?
6th Grade Ecology
Think-Pair-Share
"Have you ever helped someone and got nothing in return? Or helped someone and they helped you back?"
Discuss:
How do these human experiences relate to animals living in nature?
Ecological Interactions
2:08 - 3:27
Embedded media
PARASITISM
Harmful (+ / -)
MUTUALISM
Helpful (+ / +)
COMMENSALISM
Neutral (+ / 0)
Check for Understanding
Butterfly & Flower
The butterfly gets nectar for food. The flower gets its pollen spread to other plants.
Which type is it?
- A) Parasitism
- B) Commensalism
- C) Mutualism
Symbiosis Charades
1
Work in pairs to act out an animal relationship.
2
No talking! Use only movements and expressions.
3
The class must guess the relationship type.
Can you guess who benefits?
Exit Ticket
Think of one new example of a symbiotic relationship that we didn't see in the video or play today.
Extension
Deep Sea Dive: Research one unique symbiotic relationship found in the ocean.
Example: Pistol Shrimp & Goby Fish
Symbiosis Charades Role Play Cards
Symbiosis Charades
Teacher Resource: Relationship Role-Play Cards
How to Use
Cut out these cards and distribute them to pairs of students. Students should act out the interaction without speaking. The class must guess the Relationship Type (Mutualism, Parasitism, or Commensalism).
Tick & Dog
Parasitism
A tiny tick bites a dog and drinks its blood to get food. The dog gets itchy and might get sick.
Cut Here
Clownfish & Anemone
Mutualism
The clownfish hides in the stinging anemone for protection. In return, it cleans the anemone and scares away predators.
Cut Here
Bird & Tree
Commensalism
A bird builds a safe nest high in the branches of a tree. The tree is not hurt and doesn't get anything back.
Cut Here
Barnacles & Whale
Commensalism
Barnacles attach to a whale's skin to ride through the ocean and filter food. The whale isn't affected at all.
Cut Here
Bee & Flower
Mutualism
The bee drinks sweet nectar from the flower. While doing so, it picks up pollen to help the flower reproduce.
Cut Here
Mosquito & Human
Parasitism
A mosquito bites a human to get a blood meal. The human gets a red, itchy bump and could get a disease.
Cut Here
Remora & Shark
Commensalism
Remora fish attach to sharks to eat leftover scraps of food. The shark is neither helped nor harmed.
Cut Here
Cuckoo & Warbler
Parasitism
A Cuckoo bird lays its egg in a Warbler's nest. The Warbler raises the bigger cuckoo chick, often losing its own chicks.
Cut Here
Symbiosis Scenarios • Ecology Unit • 6th Grade Science
Nature Partners Exit Ticket
Nature's Partners
Exit Ticket
Name
Date
Think about what we learned today. Describe one new example of a symbiotic relationship that we did NOT discuss in class or see in the video.
The Organisms Involved:
Relationship Type (Mutualism, Parasitism, or Commensalism):
Why? (Explain who benefits and how):
Bonus: Can you name an ocean example for extra credit?
