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Abiotic and Biotic Factors Activities for
Middle School Science

The resources below will provide students a comprehensive understanding of biotic and abiotic factors. All of the following lessons are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

The Biotic and Abiotic Factors 5E Lesson includes materials for every "E" phase, including the Biotic and Abiotic Factors Station Lab for Exploration and an interactive PowerPoint with digital INB templates for Explanation. 

The lesson also includes introduction materials for Engagement, student-choice project ideas for Elaboration, and assessments for Evaluation.

After completing the Biotic and Abiotic Factors 5E Lesson, students will be able to describe biotic and abiotic parts of an ecosystem in which organisms interact, and diagram the levels of organization within an ecosystem, including organism, population, community, and ecosystem.

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The Biotic and Abiotic Factors Inquiry Lab is a hands-on activity that is differentiated for advanced, on-level, and modified middle school students. 

Students will classify and compare abiotic and biotic factors from two different biomes: the hot desert of Death Valley National Park and the deciduous temperate forest of Harpers Ferry, WV. They will “build” one or both biomes from resource tiles, then use continuous line transects to identify the abiotic and biotic factors.

The Biotic and Abiotic Factors Inquiry Lab includes a brief reading passage, comprehension checks, hands-on activities, reflection questions, and a CER conclusion.

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The Biotic and Abiotic Factors Sub Plan is a complete lesson that takes students through a warm-up, reading passage, independent activity, extension activities, and an assessment.

The worksheets are designed to make your sub day a breeze for you, your students, and the substitute teacher. They are also perfect for distance learning.

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Biotic and Abiotic Factors Classroom Experiences

Create a powerful student experience to help solidify students' understanding about biotic and abiotic factors. All of the following experiences are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Escape Rooms

The Biotic and Abiotic Factors Escape Room is an immersive experience for your students. It allows them to demonstrate their knowledge of the biotic and abiotic factors through interactive puzzles and challenges.  

Students must use what they have learned about biotic and abiotic factors to get the superhero to turn off the electric fences and allow the animals to get their water to complete the escape room.  


Year-Round Resources

These year-round activities will increase your students' understanding of many middle school science topics. All of these activities are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Visual Data & Graphing

You're not alone if your students struggle with understanding graphs, charts, and tables. It's a skill that takes an enormous amount of practice. This resource will help students build a strong foundation in analyzing data and creating their own data visualizations.

Bell Ringers and Warm-Ups

These middle school science bell ringers are an excellent way to engage your students as soon as they walk into your classroom. This comprehensive FULL YEAR resource includes everything you need to start off each science class with an interesting warm-up activity.

Review Board Games

Each game board has been carefully designed to keep students engaged. There are 10 different action spaces on each board and dozens of question cards. All of the actions are related to science concepts and keep the students motivated throughout the game.

Each game is ready to play. Simply print out the board and the cards and let the students enjoy reviewing nine different units.


Essential Questions and Standards

Below are the essential questions and standards associated with the lessons and activities included in the biotic and abiotic factors unit. This topic is only one of more than 100 middle school science topics included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Essential Questions
  • What are the biotic and abiotic parts of an ecosystem?
  • How do organisms and populations in an ecosystem depend on and compete for biotic and abiotic factors?
Standards
  • TEKS Science 6.12 E - Describe biotic and abiotic parts of an ecosystem in which organisms interact
  • TEKS Science 8.11 A - Investigate how organisms and populations in an ecosystem depend on and may compete for biotic factors such as food and abiotic factors such as quantity of light, water, range of temperatures, or soil composition
  • NGSS: MS-LS2-1 - Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms of an ecosystem

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Kesler Science Membership

Imagine never having to search for another middle school science lesson again. The membership gives you access to ALL of the Kesler Science products in one place (Yes, including everything above).

Say goodbye to long hours of lesson prep.