Wild Web Lesson Plan Wild Web Balance
Teacher Lesson Plan
Duration: 90 Minutes
Grade Level: 5th - 8th Grade
Subject: Life Science / Ecology
Learning Objectives
Trace energy flow from the sun through producers to apex predators.
Analyze how limited resources (water) impact population stability.
Predict the effects of invasive species on a balanced food web.
Model human interference in natural ecosystems.
Materials Needed
Wild Web Slides & Field Notes
Resource Runner Activity Sheet
Chain Reaction Graphic Organizer
Simulation Tokens & Role Cards
Lesson Sequence
0-10 min
Engage: The Energy Spark
Display a photo of a lion and a blade of grass. Ask: "How does the sun get into the lion's stomach?"
10-30 min
Explore: Guided Instruction
Present slides and complete "Field Notes Guided Notes." Cover 10% rule and roles.
30-60 min
Explain & Elaborate: Simulation
Conduct "Resource Runner" game. Round 1: Balanced. Round 2: Water Diversion. Round 3: Invasive Species.
60-80 min
Evaluate: Impact Analysis
Pairs complete the "Chain Reaction Graphic Organizer" to predict ecosystem outcomes.
80-90 min
Wrap Up: Exit Ticket
Individual "Balance Check" to assess mastery of energy flow concepts.
Key Discussion Questions
"Why are there always more plants than apex predators?"
"If humans divert a river, which level is hit hardest?"
"How does an invasive species act like a 'glitch'?"
Simulation Guide: Resource Runner
Energy Source
Water Tokens
Invasive Species
Setup & Roles
Assign roles: 60% Producers, 30% Primary Consumers, 10% Secondary Consumers.
Simulation Scenario Breakdown
Round 1: Balanced Web
Plenty of resources. Population remains stable or grows slightly.
Round 2: Human Water Diversion
Remove 75% of water tokens. Observe the bottom-up collapse of the food web.
Round 3: The Invasive Species
Introduce "Mystery Predators" with no predators of their own. Native populations crash.
Wild Web Slides Wild Web
The Flow of Energy & The Balance of Life
The Power Source
Every food chain on Earth begins with Sunlight.
Plants (Producers) turn light into chemical energy.
Without the sun, the entire web collapses.
Think of the sun as a cosmic battery!
The Energy Pyramid
Apex
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers
The 10% Rule: Only 10% of energy moves up!
Water Diversion
Humans divert water for farming, cities, and dams.
The Ripple Effect:
1. Less water = Fewer plants.
2. Fewer plants = Starving consumers.
3. No consumers = Predators die out.
"Water is the foundation of the energy web."
The "Glitch" Species
Invasive Species
Organisms introduced to a new home where they don't belong.
NO natural predators.
Outcompete native animals.
Rapid overpopulation.
Case Study: Pythons
In the Everglades, invasive pythons have wiped out 90% of native mammals. They have no natural predators here!
Field Notes Guided Notes Field Notes
Energy Flow Investigation
Agent:
Date:
1. The Energy Origin
The ultimate source of energy is ________________________. Plants (also known as ________________________) use ________________________ to convert this energy into food for the rest of the web.
2. The Energy Hierarchy
Sketch a 4-level energy pyramid here.
The 10% Rule Observation:
Only ________% of energy is passed to the next level. The rest is lost as ________________.
This is why predators are more rare than plants.
3. Ecosystem Glitches
Water Diversion
How does this crash the pyramid?
Invasive Species
Why is this a "glitch" in the system?
Post-Simulation Reflection:
When the "Invasive Species" entered the game, what happened to the native consumers? Why?
Chain Reaction Graphic Organizer Chain Reaction
Food Web Impact Analysis
Analyst ID: ____________
Shift: ____________
1 Healthy Ecosystem Mapping
Map a food web using: Sun, Grass, Cricket, Frog, Snake, Hawk, Mouse, Rabbit.
Construct Food Web Here
2 Impact Assessment
Scenario: Water Diversion
Humans drain the local marsh to build a factory.
Impact on Producers:
Impact on Apex Predator:
Scenario: Invasive Species
A non-native snake is released that eats primary consumers.
Primary Consumer Count:
System Prediction:
Final Summary Analysis
Explain why a change at the VERY BOTTOM of the web is more dangerous than a change at the VERY TOP.
Balance Check Exit Ticket Balance Check
Exit Ticket • Wild Web Balance
Student Name
Score
1. Look at this food chain: Corn → Mouse → Snake → Eagle. If the Corn level has 5,000 units of energy, how much energy roughly reaches the Snake?
A) 500 units
B) 50 units
C) 5 units
D) 0.5 units
2. Why does water scarcity impact the Apex Predator even if that predator doesn't drink much water?
3. Which of the following is the MOST common reason invasive species cause a "glitch" in the energy flow?
They produce too much energy for the ecosystem to handle.
They have no natural predators to keep their population in check.
They transform into producers through photosynthesis.
"Ecosystems are like giant puzzles; every piece matters for the picture to stay whole."
Resource Runner Activity Sheet Resource Runner
Simulation Survival Log
Role Identity:
________________________
Survival Requirements:
Plants: Need 2 Water + 1 Sun.
Primary: Tag Plants. Need 3 Energy.
Secondary: Tag Primaries. Need 5 Energy.
Field Observation Data
Scenario Energy Count Survival Web Status 1. Balanced Web Thriving 2. Water Crisis 3. Invasive Glitch
Post-Game Debrief
1. When water was diverted, what was the "domino effect" on the higher levels?
2. Why did the invasive species survive more easily than the native animals?
3. PROPOSAL: What human action could restore balance?
Teacher Toolkit Answer Key Teacher Toolkit
Answer Key & Teacher Guide
1. Field Notes Key
The Source Level
Primary Source: Sun / Sunlight
Energy Process: Photosynthesis
First Level Role: Producers
The 10% Rule
Energy Passed Up: 10%
Energy Lost as: Heat / Metabolism
2. Chain Reaction Key
Food Web Analysis Predictions
Water Diversion Impact:
Producers perish without hydration → Primary consumers starve due to lack of foliage → Apex predators vanish. Entire bottom-up collapse.
Invasive Species Impact:
Non-native species eats primary consumers → native apex predators starve due to lack of prey → invasive species explodes (no natural predators).
3. Balance Check Key
Q1
Answer: B (50 units)
Calculation: 5000 (Corn) → 500 (Mouse) → 50 (Snake).
Q2
Interdependency
Predators need prey energy; prey needs plant energy; plants need water.
Q3
Predation Balance
Lack of natural predators causes uncontrolled population spikes.
Instructional Pro-Tips
01
Visualizing Scarcity
During the simulation, use a timer. When it hits 0, any student without enough tokens must "sit" in the graveyard. This makes the population crash highly visible.
02
Human Connection
Challenge students to find one real-world invasive species in their local ecosystem (e.g., Kudzu, Lanternflies, Asian Carp) and research why it spreads so fast.
03
The 10% Math
Remind students that energy is lost as "heat." Ask them to jog in place for 30 seconds—then ask where they think that energy went (body heat)!
