12

Lesson 12 of 84 ยท Ecosystems

Experimentโญ 30 XP๐ŸŒฟ Wild Jungle

Predator and Prey Relationships

๐ŸงชLab Brief #12

Ecosystems.

๐ŸŽฏ Your mission

Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.

โšก The twist

Every species solves the same problem differently.

๐Ÿคฏ

Mind = Blown

๐Ÿ™ An octopus has 9 brains and 3 hearts.

๐Ÿ”ฎ

Make a hypothesis first

Before you watch: what do you think it'll do?

What You'll Learn

Predator-prey relationships help keep ecosystems balanced. When prey populations increase, predator populations grow too. When predators reduce prey numbers, predator populations then decline.

Key Words

  • adaptation
  • metamorphosis
  • germination

Materials Needed

  • soil
  • cups
  • water
  • plastic wrap

Safety First

  • Handle glass items carefully to avoid breakage.
  • Do not mix unknown chemicals together.

Steps

Step 1 โ€” Read

Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.

Step 2 โ€” Do

Set up a composting experiment: place food scraps in one sealed bag and leaves in another. Observe decomposition over two weeks and record changes.

Step 3 โ€” Observe

Draw a detailed diagram of what you observe.

Step 4 โ€” Record

Write a conclusion: what did your results show? Did they match your prediction?

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is the difference between a predator and prey?

๐ŸŒ

Where you see this in real life

This is why plants grow toward windows and why scabs form.

๐Ÿ†

Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Watch a plant or pet for 5 minutes today and write down what you noticed.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง

For the dinner table

โ€œTell me something you noticed about your own body today.โ€

๐ŸŽฏ

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

๐Ÿ”ฌShare card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

๐Ÿ–จ๏ธ

Checkout complete lesson on Ecosystems for 3rd Grade

Get the full Ecosystems track as a printable PDF โ€” all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.

View in Shop

Your Cart (0)

Your cart is empty

Browse our shop to find activities your kids will love