All organisms interact with abiotic factors and/or biotic components of their environment. Species interactions may be beneficial, harmful or have no affect on an organism(s). The PowerPoint presentation “Yucatan Interactions” models several examples of biotic interactions. In this lesson plan, students will gain and reinforce their understanding of how organisms interact with each other in their environment by viewing this PowerPoint and filling out a data chart about organisms.

Created by April Grady, September 2007

Science concepts. The student knows that the responses of organisms are caused by internal or external stimuli. The student is expected to:

• identify responses in organisms to internal stimuli such as hunger or thirst;
• identify responses in organisms to external stimuli such as the presence or absence of heat or light; and
• identify components of an ecosystem to which organisms may respond.

Building Vocabulary: Discuss/Review the meaning of the following words: abiotic factors, biotic components, interaction, and ecosystem.

Optional: Print out a copy of the PowerPoint or create a chart for students to have a visual to use for note-taking (see sample below).

Student Activity: Read the clue on the slide and decide if the interaction described is beneficial, harmful, or has no affect on the organisms listed. Draw a (+) if the organism is benefited, a (-) if the organism is harmed, or a (0) if the interaction has no affect on the organism. (For fun, the student may use smiling, frowning and straight faces instead.)

This lesson may be used as an independent activity, pair work, or an oral review/discussion.

Sample Data Chart:

“Yucatan Interactions” PowerPoint presentation (Right click to save as PowerPoint)
Data charts