Lesson 34 of 84 · Structure and Function
Experiment⭐ 30 XPHow Trees Make Oxygen
Structure and Function.
🎯 Your mission
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
⚡ The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
What You'll Learn
All living things share basic characteristics: they grow, reproduce, respond to their environment, and need energy to survive. Plants make their own food through photosynthesis, while animals must eat other organisms.
Key Words
- community
- environment
- nutrients
Materials Needed
- markers
- tape
- small pots
- cotton balls
- zip-lock bags
Safety First
- Handle glass items carefully to avoid breakage.
- Do not mix unknown chemicals together.
Steps
Review the background information on Structure and Function before starting.
Create a detailed food web for a local ecosystem. Include at least 8 organisms and use arrows to show energy flow from producers to top predators.
Compare the before and after states.
Write your conclusion: did the results match your hypothesis? What would you change next time?
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What is the main source of energy for most food chains?
Where you see this in real life
This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
“What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Checkout complete lesson on Structure and Function for 4th Grade
Get the full Structure and Function track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.