Science·Ecosystems & Habitats·conceptual
Matter Cycling in Ecosystems
Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment in an ecosystem
Suggested ages 10–11
Learning journey
Your child is learning how scientists classify living things into groups based on their characteristics and understanding how matter moves through ecosystems as plants, animals, and decomposers interact with their environment.
Evidence of understanding
- Describe the role of decomposers (fungi, bacteria, worms) in breaking down dead matter
- Trace the movement of matter: plant grows using soil nutrients → animal eats plant → animal dies → decomposers return nutrients to soil
- Create or interpret a simple diagram showing matter cycling through an ecosystem
Assessment prompt
Can Matter Cycling in Ecosystems explain what happens to a fallen leaf on the forest floor — how tiny organisms break it down and the nutrients go back into the soil to help new plants grow?
Standards alignment
5-LS2-1US · ngss-k5
5-LS2-1
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) K-5