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Energy Pyramids Activities for Middle School Science

The resources below will provide students a comprehensive understanding of energy pyramids. All of the following lessons are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

The Energy Pyramids 5E Lesson includes materials for every "E" phase, including the Energy Pyramids 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 Energy Pyramids 5E Lesson, students will be able to diagram the flow of energy through living systems using energy pyramids.

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

In this lab you will assign students an ecosystem, and they will create a energy pyramid to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy between biotic and abiotic parts of the ecosystem.

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

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Energy Pyramids Classroom Experiences

Create a powerful student experience to help solidify students' understanding about energy pyramids. The following experience is also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Escape Rooms

The Food Webs Escape Room is an immersive experience for your students. It allows them to demonstrate their knowledge of food webs, food chains, and the transfer of energy in an ecosystem in a fun and engaging way.

Students must use what they have learned, including to recognize that radiant energy from the Sun is transformed into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis, and to diagram the flow of energy through living systems, including food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids. They will analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem, and construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems. Students will also construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that shows changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations, and evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services. They should be able to construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms 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 energy pyramids unit. This topic is only one of more than 100 middle school science topics included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Essential Questions
  • How is the flow of energy through an energy pyramid diagrammed?
Standards
  • MS LS1-6 - Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms
  • MS LS2-3 - Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts 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.