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Can you identify a mysterious ingredient?

Material Properties
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DISCUSS:
What are some ways these living things might interact with salmon?
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DISCUSS:
What ideas do you have about how matter from a salmon could get to a tree?
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Step
01/20
You’ll work with a partner.
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Step
02/20
Get your supplies.
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Step
03/20
Make your Matter Journal.
First, fold along the thick black line.
Then, fold along the thin black line.
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Step
04/20
Lay out your Forest Ecosystem pages. Make sure they look like this,
with the tree on the left and the bear on the right. Then, use a sticker
at the top and a sticker at the bottom to connect the pages.
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05/20
You’ll use beans as a model for matter. Work with your partner to
add matter pieces to represent the soil, the water in the soil, and
the gasses in the air.
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06/20
Here’s what our model looks like.
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07/20
Read the Trees part of the Matter Journal aloud with your partner.
Look for clues about where matter travels. Use your pencil to
underline any clues you find.
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08/20
With your partner, move the matter pieces to show where the
matter travels on its journey through the ecosystem.
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Use your marker to show the path that you just moved the matter
pieces.
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Here’s what our model looks like.
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Discuss.
Then, record your answer for question 1 on your Matter Journal.
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Step
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Open your Journal and read the Bears paragraph aloud with your
partner to find clues about where matter travels. Look for clues
about where matter travels. Use your pencil to underline those clues.
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With your partner, first DRAW any parts that are missing from your
forest ecosystem model. Then, move the matter pieces to show
where matter travels. Draw arrows to show the path.
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Discuss.
Then, record your answer for question 2 on your Matter Journal.
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Here’s what our model looked like.
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Step
15/20
Read the Mushrooms paragraph aloud with your partner
to find clues about where matter travels. Look for clues about
where matter travels next. Use your pencil to underline those clues.
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Step
16/20
With your partner, first DRAW any parts that are missing from your
forest ecosystem model. Then, move the matter pieces to show
where matter travels. Draw arrows to show the path.
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Step
17a/20
Discuss.
Then, record your answer for question 3 in your Matter Journal.
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Step
17b/20
Here’s what our model looked like.
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Discuss.
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Step
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Work with your partner to move the matter pieces back to the
trees. Add arrows to show the path of the matter.
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Step
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Put all your matter pieces back into the cup.
Discuss with your partner. Then, record your answer to
question 4 on the back of your Matter Journal.
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DISCUSS:
Where could the carbon that’s part of the tree move next?
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organism


1 of 14

any living thing
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environment


2 of 14

a living thing’s surroundings, including other living things and non-living parts like soil, water, and air
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soil


3 of 14

found on Earth's surface; made of tiny rocks and material from dead plants and animals

matter


4 of 14

anything that takes up space and has weight; can be in different forms such as solid, liquid, or gas
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model


5 of 14

a pretend version of something that scientists use when the real thing is too big, small, or complicated to work with
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evidence


6 of 14

information that can be used to support or reject an idea
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microscope


7 of 14

a tool used to see very tiny things up close

decompose


8 of 14

the process of breaking down dead plants, dead animals, or animal waste
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decomposer


9 of 14

a living thing that can break down dead plants, dead animals, or animal waste
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fungus (fungi)


10 of 14

a living thing that is a decomposer, such as a mold or mushroom
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mold


11 of 14

a type of fungus that often decomposes food
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mushroom


12 of 14

a type of fungus that usually has a stalk and cap
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bacteria


13 of 14

an organism that is usually a decomposer; some cause illness
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compost


14 of 14

decomposed material that can be used as fertilizer
Can you identify a mysterious ingredient?
Material Properties

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students explore the mystery of how the matter from salmon eventually ends up in spruce trees. In the activity, Matter Movers, students develop a model of a forest ecosystem to describe how matter cycles between living things and the environment to explain this phenomenon.
Preview activity
Prep Instructions

This activity does not require supplies.

We suggest students work in pairs.

Prepare Cups

In each cup, place at least 15 beans or beads.

Standards

Jump to

Exploration

10 mins

Hands-On Activity

30 mins

Wrap-Up

15 mins

Extend this lesson

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Chemistry Lesson 1: Can you identify a mysterious ingredient?

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