ACTIVITIES
- Exploring symbiosis: Students get into groups and based on their group title (either parasitism, commensalism, or mutualism) must find their symbiotic partner according to descriptions on their picture card. Students then check with teacher and if they have made correct matches can write their pair on the board. After everyone has done so, students continue the game and guess which type of symbiotic relationship the various pairs are exhibiting.
- Classroom walk around: Have stations set up with various picture and descriptions of symbiotic relationships. Students walk around and fill in their chart with descriptions on these interactions.
- Mix and Match Ecology: Symbiosis activity. This lesson is designed to reinforce students’ understanding of the three types of symbiotic relationships (mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism) as well as predator/prey relationships which are taught previous to this lesson. Using the list of requirements on the worksheet attached to the following source, students creatively suggest a way in which two imaginary creatures could form a symbiotic relationship.
- Problem Based learning: Students are faced with various environmental issues that involve some form of symbiotic relationship. In groups they must formulate a proposal that would fix or better this issue while being environmentally cautious.