Decomposers: Nature's Recyclers!

Science Grades 5th Grade 3:19 Video
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Lesson Description

Explore the fascinating world of decomposers and their vital role in ecosystems. Learn how these organisms break down waste, recycle nutrients, and keep our planet clean!

Video Resource

The Dirt on Decomposers: Crash Course Kids #7.2

Crash Course Kids

Duration: 3:19
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Decomposers are organisms that break down dead plants and animals.
  • Decomposers recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.
  • Decomposers play a crucial role in the food chain and the balance of ecosystems.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define decomposers and give examples of different types.
  • Students will be able to explain how decomposers contribute to the recycling of nutrients in an ecosystem.
  • Students will be able to describe the importance of decomposers for the health and balance of an ecosystem.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what happens to fallen leaves, dead insects, and animal waste in nature. Introduce the concept of decomposers as nature's clean-up crew.
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Play the Crash Course Kids video: 'The Dirt on Decomposers'. Encourage students to pay attention to the definition of decomposers, their role in the food chain, and their importance to the ecosystem.
  • Discussion (10 mins)
    After the video, lead a class discussion using the discussion questions below. Encourage students to share their thoughts and connect the video content to their own experiences.
  • Interactive Activity: Decomposer Food Web (15 mins)
    Engage students in creating a food web that includes decomposers. They can draw a diagram or use provided cut-outs of different organisms (plants, animals, decomposers) and arrows to show the flow of energy and nutrients.
  • Wrap-up and Assessment (8 mins)
    Review the key concepts of the lesson. Administer the multiple-choice and/or fill-in-the-blank quiz to assess student understanding.

Interactive Exercises

  • Decomposer Food Web
    Students create a food web diagram showing the role of decomposers. They can use drawings, cut-outs, or online tools to represent different organisms (plants, animals, decomposers) and arrows to show the flow of energy and nutrients. Encourage them to label the roles of each organism.

Discussion Questions

  • What are some examples of decomposers?
  • How do decomposers get their energy?
  • Why are decomposers important for plants?
  • What would happen if there were no decomposers in an ecosystem?

Skills Developed

  • Critical Thinking
  • Scientific Reasoning
  • Model Development
  • Collaboration

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is a decomposer?

Correct Answer: An organism that breaks down dead things

Question 2:

Which of these is an example of a decomposer?

Correct Answer: A mushroom

Question 3:

What do decomposers do for an ecosystem?

Correct Answer: Recycle nutrients

Question 4:

Where do decomposers get their energy?

Correct Answer: From eating dead plants and animals

Question 5:

What happens to the nutrients released by decomposers?

Correct Answer: Plants use them to grow

Question 6:

Why are decomposers important for plants?

Correct Answer: They provide plants with nutrients

Question 7:

If there were no decomposers, what would happen?

Correct Answer: There would be a lot of dead stuff piling up

Question 8:

Which of the following helps keep waste from piling up in ecosystems?

Correct Answer: Decomposers

Question 9:

Decomposers have a spot in the food chain because they need ____ to live.

Correct Answer: Energy

Question 10:

Decomposers break down things into smaller parts, like ____ and other chemicals.

Correct Answer: Nutrients

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

Organisms that break down dead plants and animals are called _________.

Correct Answer: decomposers

Question 2:

___________ recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Correct Answer: decomposers

Question 3:

Decomposers get their energy from dead _________ and animals.

Correct Answer: plants

Question 4:

Nutrients released by decomposers help _________ grow.

Correct Answer: plants

Question 5:

Without decomposers, there would be a lot of _________ stuff piling up.

Correct Answer: dead

Question 6:

Worms, fungi and some bacteria are examples of _________.

Correct Answer: decomposers

Question 7:

Decomposers keep the __________ in our ecosystems balanced.

Correct Answer: waste

Question 8:

Plants use _________ to make more energy.

Correct Answer: nutrients

Question 9:

An example of a simple food chain is apple, mouse, and _________.

Correct Answer: owl

Question 10:

Decomposers can live and work in more than one spot in a _________ chain.

Correct Answer: food

Educational Standards

5-LS2-1:Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on the idea that matter that is not food (air, water, decomposed materials in soil) is changed by plants into matter that is food. Examples of systems could include organisms, ecosystems, and the Earth.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include molecular explanations.]

Teaching Materials

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