Defining 'ecosystem'

Today LH3 put their thinking caps on and investigated the meaning of 'ecosystem' - this is some of the information we found from the internet which we're now going to combine with our other findings and write our own definitions.  Have a look at our 'comment's below.

...in the hub we Built Knowledge = Found Out and Brainstormed.
At home we're Making Meaning = Considering and Knitting Together.
Then we're going to Apply Understandings together.

(We haven't yet discussed the importance of referencing our work so please excuse us this once!)

Blog Bus Stop: Week 5, Term 2 - Mind Mapping

This week, I'd like you to add anything you think is relevant to our Ecosystem Popplet (a neat mind mapping tool).  This might be an idea or thought you think you know about ecosystems, something you've found out recently or a link to a relevant picture etc.

Go for it!

Click here to go through to make additions.

(I've sent you all requests to join which will allow you to log in and add your ideas.  Simply click one of the little circles that appears on the edges of each popple to add the popple off to the side.)


... and while you're thinking about ecosystems, have a look at this video made by Junior G (Year 1 and 2 students in Melbourne, Australia) - they are beginning to understand hte interconnectedness of ecosystems.  This might help you to add to our Popplet.  (Be sure to pop through to their site and give them feedback on this video and their other minibeast learning - hard to believe they're a junior class!!)

We are Guardians!

This term we're going to be learning about ecosystems!  We've already shared our prior knowledge (we call this bringing what I know, which is at the building knowledge stage of the Inquiry rocks) and now we're about to hit our new learning.

Today in LH3 the learners each selected a word from the list of content specific vocab to explore.  Each student is becoming a Word Guardian (to a few words) and are responsible for becoming the experts of their words, providing us with a student-friendly definition and preparing any posters, images or short video clips that we might need to develop our understanding (which we'll share when we come across those words in our learning).  When each of us clearly understands a few challenging words, we can teach each other and understand them all!

The students were presented with a list of words to choose from and they selected their first word to investigate using dictionaries, the internet and the science books in the library (we have a huge collection right now to read.)  It was our first go at using Google Docs today and many had a go at logging in without any problems.  As we progress, the definitions will be updated and loaded to our blog!

(Click the image above to see how we're getting on with our definitions)