Shoebox Ecosystem Final Assignment: Construct a three-dimensional model of an ecosystem in a shoebox format.

There will be a one page typed component describing the intricacies of the ecosystem. Depending on time, this project will be presented to the class. Requirements: 1) Choose and research a biome to represent in a diorama. (For example: rain forest, desert, coral reef, arctic, etc) The top side of the box will have the name of the ecosystem. 2) Draw, cut out (magazines), or print off (Internet) pictures of the physical features in the ecosystem. For example: soil, sand, rocks, trees, bush, swamp, snow, etc. 3) Your shoebox ecosystem must show producers, consumers, and decomposers 4) Your shoebox ecosystem must show interactions in the ecosystem. For example, abiotic/abiotic, biotic/biotic, abiotic/biotic, etc 5) You must include the habitat of at least one of your animals, this means that if one of your animals is a bird, include its nest. 6) You must also include the predator-prey relationship for that animal. This means that if your animal is a predator, include its food; if its prey, include its predator(s). 7) Show the food web/food chain using arrows to show energy flow and the interconnectedness of the organisms. Remember the source of all energy begins with the sun. 8) EVERYTHING must be fully labeled so there is no confusion about what each part is. 9) The bottom of this box will have the students name, websites, and references used in this project. Materials you may need: One shoe box, Scissors, rulers, markers, glue, Sand, dirt, potato flakes (snow), potting soil (dark rain forest soil), Magazine pictures (check for bad language) or toys, plastic animals, play dough, Clumps of grass, branches (trees), rocks (tundra & desert), Small Dixie cups (for bodies of water), Colored paper, Or anything else you need to make it look real and believable! Written assignment Minimum 1 full-page document typed and single-spaced with subtitles. Introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, and conclusion paragraph Introduction: The intro will have a thesis statement that tells what ecosystem you chose and why. The intro will also include an overview of what you will be discussing in the following paragraphs. Include the location and biome of your ecosystem and why you chose it. Body paragraphs: One paragraph for each topic. Include a sub title for each.

Geographic info and climate data Landscape (describe physical features)

Plants and Animals Interactions Food web/food chain and Predator-prey relationships

Conclusion: Summarize your whole presentation; tell your audience why your ecosystem needs all the components you discussed to be sustainable. A rubric will be provided.