5th Grade Students Use Investigative Skills to Study Ecosystems

Mrs. Yarman's 5th graders recently stepped into the role of ecological "investigators" as they dove into our Life Science unit on ecosystems and energy flow!

Building on their earlier biome research, students took part in an interactive gallery walk to investigate how invasive species disrupt local environments. Using a fun detective theme, students examined 3D-printed models and analyzed "Suspects" (invasive species) and "Victims" (native species) to see how energy transfer in food chains gets impacted.

After gathering evidence around the room, students moved seamlessly into digital research—using AI-prompting techniques to explore how these invasive species affect their own "desk pet" biomes. It was incredible to see 100% of our young scientists actively moving, analyzing data, and connecting their learning to the real world!