8th Grade
Lesson: Michigan Ecosystems

Objective: The learner will (TLW) show knowledge of the Michigan ecosystems
and what an ecosystem is.
TLW… take a pretest on MI ecosystems.
TLW… work to gain knowledge of appropriate vocabulary.



Anticipatory Set: “How many people have taken a short trip somewhere in
Michigan before? Where did you go? What did you do there?
Michigan is unique and has many special places. Today we
are going to talk about some of those places.”


Materials:
Journals
Pencil
Pretest
CPS system
Powerpoint from DEQ, Lesson 1 “What Makes MI a Special Place?”
Overhead projecter
Extra screen
Word Boxes Paper
Dictionaries

Procedure:
1) Go over norms for taking a pretest on CPS system. Give students the pretest.
2) Show Powerpoint on “What Makes MI a Special Place?” and with overhead, help students to take notes in traditional method in their journals. Discuss each Powerpoint slide with students and help them to bring their personal experiences into the lesson.
3) Collect journals.
4) Give students paper and show them how to divide the paper into 1/6ths. Show students the Word Door and review the vocabulary words for this week. Demonstrate how they will make Vocabulary boxes.
Guided Practice:
5) Allow students to work on the Vocabulary boxes the rest of the period while
the teacher monitors and assists.
Independent Practice:
6) Advise students that their Word Boxes will be collected on Friday and they
will have a short vocabulary quiz that same day.


Closure: “Who can tell me one thing that is special about MI?” Students respond. “Please be sure to work on your Vocabulary Boxes for Friday. Tomorrow people will be going outside for an Ecosystem Scavenger Hunt so please dress for the weather.”

Extension/Enrichment: Students can research the MI ecosystems and create a collage of them to present to the class.