Detailed Lesson Plan in Science 7

Prepared By: Melinda B. Bonita

I. Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
a. differentiate the different ecological relationships ;
b. identify the ecological relationship shown by the different organisms;
c. appreciate the importance of interactions of organisms; and
d. answer at least 7 out of 10 items correctly.
II. Subject Matter:
Unit: Interactions
Topic: Ecological Relationships
Concepts:

ECOLOGICAL
RELATIONSHIPS

SYMBIOTIC NONSYMBIOTIC
RELATIONSHIPS RELATIONSHIPS

Parasitism Mutualism Commensalism Competition Predation

1. Parasitism: One organism (the parasite) takes food (energy) from another (the
host) without killing it.
2. Mutualism: A relationship involving two organisms in which both organisms
benefit.
3. Commensalism: An ecological relationship between two organisms in which one
benefits and the other is not affected.
4. Competition: Two or more organisms competing for the same food source or
energy source. Competition can be inter-specific (between individuals of
different species) or intra-specific (between individuals of the same species).
5. Predation: One organism (the predator) kills and consumes another (the prey)
for food (energy).
References:
 Ferido, M., et. al. (2010). Science 7 Learner’s Material. pp. 127 – 129.
  n.a., (n.y.). Tortoise Tales. Retrieved from
http://www.nsta.org/publications/interactive/galapagos/activities/tortoise.h
tml; Retrieved on September 3, 2016.
 n.a., (n.y.). Ecological Relationships. Retrieved from:
http://www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us/avhsweb/thiel/apbio/labs/eco_relationshi
ps.pdf; Retrieved on September 3, 2016.
 n.a., (n.y.). Symbiotic Interactions. Retrieved from
http://media.nationalgeographic.org/assets/file/Symbiotic_Interactions_1.pd
f; Retrieved on September 3, 2016.
Materials:
Worksheets for the five groups, laptop, projector

III. Learning Strategies:

a. Daily Routine
b. Recall: NOTE: ANG PREV LESSON AY ABOUT COMPONENTS OF ECOSYSTEM
Name five food chains from the food web below.

c. Motivation:
4 PICS 1 WORD: pictures will be shown and the students will guess the terms.
After the students guessed the terms, the meaning of those terms will also be
introduced.
Benefit
Harmful
Prey
Predator
Host
Parasite
Relationship
 d. Lesson Proper:
Pre-Activity:
The students will be grouped and each group will be assigned to
answer/perform different activities. The groups will be given 15 minutes to finish
their tasks and they will discuss their answers in front of the class.

Activity Proper: The groups will have different activities. (see attached
worksheets)
GROUP 1: WHO WANTS TO BE BENEFITTED?. They will determine the
symbiotic relationship of the different organisms.
GROUP 2: FIND THE PAIR. They will name the ecological relationship of
the different pictures of interactions of organisms.
GROUP 3: GAME OF SIGNS. They will determine if the organisms of
different relationships are benefited, harmed, or neither harmed nor
benefited.
GROUP 4: YOURS IS MINE!. They will determine if the following group of
organisms is predation or competition.
GROUP 5: PARASITE PANIC!. The group will perform a skit or short role
playing that shows parasitism.

Post-Activity:
The groups will show/discuss their works.
One correct answer corresponds to one point.
For the role playing group the rubric below will be followed.
Role was related/correct to the ecological relationship given. 10pts.
Role-play was well prepared and organized. 5pts.
Speech was clear with appropriate volume and inflection. 3pts.
Role-play captured and maintained audience interest. 2pts.
e. Generalization:

ECOLOGICAL
RELATIONSHIPS

SYMBIOTIC NONSYMBIOTIC
RELATIONSHIPS RELATIONSHIPS

Parasitism Mutualism Commensalism Competition Predation

f. Values Integration:
Let the students answer the following questions:
a. Why do we need to wash hands before eating?
b. Why do we need to cook food well before eating?
c. Why do we need to use slippers?
g. Assessment:
I. Determine the Ecological Relationship of the following situations.
1. Nematodes (a round worm) live in plants and gain nourishments
from the plants but do not seem to harm it.
2. A pot contains three different plants.
3. A leech sucks blood from a man.
4. Monkeys groom each other.
5. A bear catches a fish in a river.
II. Determine the Ecological Relationship shown by the following organisms.
6. Caterpillar on a plant.
7. A shark kills and eats a seal.
8. Two tigers having
rivalry.
 9. A butterfly gets nectar from a flower and its pollens are being
carried by the butterfly.

10. A plant clings on a tree.

IV. Assignment:
1. Name two other examples for each
of the Ecological Relationships.
2. What is trophic level? Draw one
trophic level on your notebook.
Ref: Any Science Book

ANSWERS FOR THE ASSESSMENT:

I. Determine the Ecological Relationship of the following situations.

1. Nematodes (a round worm) live in plants and gain nourishments from the
plants but do not seem to harm it. COMMENSALISM
2. A pot contains three different plants. COMPETITION
3. A leech sucks blood from a man. PARASITISM
4. Monkeys groom each other. MUTUALISM
5. A bear catches a fish in a river. PREDATION
II. Determine the Ecological Relationship shown by the following organisms.
6. Caterpillar on a plant. PARASITISM
7. A shark kills and eats a seal. PREDATION
8. Two tigers having rivalry. COMPETITION
9. A butterfly gets nectar from a flower and its pollens are being carried by the
butterfly. MUTUALISM
10. A plant clings on a tree. COMMENSALISM
GROUP 1: Who Wants To Be Benefited?…
Objective: At the end of the activity, the students are expected to:
 Determine the symbiotic ecological relationships given the organisms and the
description of the relationships;
Materials:
 Cartolina and marking pen
Procedure:
1. Fill out the blank spaces on the cartolina by determining the symbiotic relationships
given the organisms in the relationships.
2. Answer the guide questions below.
Symbiotic relationships are identified by how they affect the organisms involved. The three
types of symbiotic relationships are listed below
• Mutualism: Both organisms benefit from the relationship.
• Parasitism: One organism benefits and the other is harmed.
• Commensalism: One organism benefits and there is no effect on the other.
Label each of the relationships in the box as mutualism, parasitism or commensalism.

Organism 1 Organism 2 Description of the Relationship Symbiotic

Relationship
Dog Flea The flea feeds on the blood from the Parasitism
dog. There is no benefit to the dog
and the itching and bites may lead to
infection
Fungus Algae The photosynthetic algae provide Mutualism
food for the fungus, which in turn
provides a suitable living environment
for the algae
Shark Remora The Remora fish swims alongside the Commensalism
shark and take scraps of food that the
shark drops during feeding. The shark
does not eat the Remora and appears
unaffected by its presence.
Cattle Cattle Egret The cattle egret follows herds of Commensalism
cattle and eats the insects that the
cattle stir up as they move through
the grassland. The cattle appears to
 be unaffected by the egrets.
Human Tapeworm The tapeworm lives in the small Parasitism
intestines where it feeds and grows,
robbing the essential nutrients of
human.

Q1. Refer to the dog and flea relationship.

a. In the dog and flea relationship, who benefits in these two, the dog or the flea? FLEA
b. Who is harmed by this relationship, the dog or the flea? DOG
Q2. Refer to the fungus and algae relationship.
a. Who benefits in this relationship, the fungus or the algae or the two of them? TWO OF THEM
b. Who is harmed by this relationship, the fungus or algae, or none? NO ONE IS HARMED
Q3. Refer to the shark and remora relationship.
a. Who benefits in the two, the shark or the remora? REMORA
b. Is the shark harmed by this relationship? NO

NOTE: THE ANSWERS ARE WRITTEN IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

GROUP 2: FIND THE PAIR…

Objectives: At the end of the activity, the students are expected to:
 Match the organisms that live together; and
 Determine the Ecological Relationship of the organisms that they matched
Materials:
 Power point presentation for the game
 Cartolina and marking pens
 Pictures of organisms
Procedure:
1. Drag the pictures on the game to find the partner of the organisms in column 1.
2. After the game, determine the Ecological Relationship of the organisms you matched.
Predation Commensalism Parasitism Competition
Mutualism

Group 1 Group 2

Sea Anemone Hummingbird

 Flower Clownfish

Cat Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus Rat

Mosquito Human

GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. Which Ecological Relationships have at least one benefited organism? PREDATION,
COMPETITION, PARASITISM, MUTUALISM, COMMENSALISM (ALL)
2. Which Ecological Relationships have at least one harmed organism? PREDATION, COMPETITION,
PARASITISM
3. Which Ecological Relationship has one organism being neither harmed nor benefitted?
COMMENSALISM
NOTE: THE ANSWERS ARE WRITTEN IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

ANSWERS:

Clownfish living in a sea anemone. COMMENSALISM

Mosquito biting a hand. PARASITISM

Hummingbird gathers nectar and spread pollen from a flower

MUTUALISM
 A cat eats rat
PREDATION

Two Hippopotamus compete for food or territory. COMPETITION

GROUP 3: GAME OF SIGNS…

Objective: At the end of the activity, the students are expected to:
 Determine the effect of the different ecological relationships to its organisms
Materials:
 Power point presentation for the game
 Cartolina and marking pens
 Sign cards
Procedure:
1. From the game, determine the sign of the organisms in a given pair of organisms
2. Answer the cartolina asking for the signs in the pairs of organisms/ Ecological Relationships

• Mutualism: Both organisms benefit from the relationship.

• Parasitism: One organism benefits and the other is harmed.
• Commensalism: One organism benefits and there is no effect on the other.
 Predation: One organism (predator) benefits and the other is killed/harmed (prey).
 Competition: Two or more organisms compete for one organism that is harmed/ killed.
 If the organism is neither be harmed or benefited

If the organism is benefited by the other organism

If the organism is harmed by the other organism

ECOLOGICAL
ORGANISM 1 ORGANISM 2
RELATIONSHIP
Bear Fish
Predation
Lion and hyena Water buffalo
Competition
Human Fungi (Athlete’s foot)
Parasitism
Bee Flower
Mutualism
Tree Orchids
Commensalism

GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. Which Ecological Relationships have at least one benefited organism? PREDATION,
COMPETITION, PARASITISM, MUTUALISM, COMMENSALISM (ALL)
2. Which Ecological Relationships have at least one harmed organism? PREDATION, COMPETITION,
PARASITISM
3. Which Ecological Relationship has one organism being neither harmed nor benefitted?
COMMENSALISM

NOTE: THE ANSWERS ARE WRITTEN IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

GROUP 4: YOURS IS MINE!!!
Objectives: At the end of the activity, the students are expected to:
 Differentiate predation and competition
 Describe competition and predation
Materials:
 Aquarium with different fishes
 Worksheet
Procedure:
 1. Observe the behaviour of the fishes inside the aquarium
2. Put small amount of fish food on the aquarium
3. Observe the behaviour of the fishes
 Predation is a relationship in which members of one species (the predator) consume
members of another species (the prey).
 Competition: Two or more organisms competing for the same food source or energy
source. Competition can be:
o interspecific (between individuals of different species) or
o intraspecific (between individuals of the same species).
Activity 1: Aquarium and Fishes…
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. What are the fishes do when you have not yet put the food in the aquarium?
2. When you put the food on the aquarium/fish bowl, what happened to the fishes? How do
they behave?
3. Is it a Competition or Predation? If it is a competition, what kind of competition it is?
Activity 2: 10 Amazing Animal Predator…
Procedure:
1. Watch the video about the 10 Amazing Animal Predator.
2. Take note of the animals shown in the video and answer the guide questions.
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. Name three predators on the video
2. How do you call the victims of the predators?
3. Is it predation or competition?
4. What is the use of the other animal/s to the predators?
5. Which is harmed in the relationship, the predators or the prey?
6. Which is benefitted in the relationship, the predator or the prey?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffcyVpqn9ng

GROUP 5: PARASITE PANIC!!!

Objectives: At the end of the activity, the students are expected to:
 Make a skit that shows parasitism or situation related to it
 Show/cite things that will prevent/avoid parasitism
Procedure:
1. Let the group discuss first what is parasitism
2. Think of a situation that shows or reflect parasitism
3. Make a short skit/ role playing about it
4. Make the role playing lasts for 3 to 4 minutes
Parasitism
Parasitism: One organism (the parasite) takes food (energy) from another (the host)
without killing it. A tick feeding on a host is a good example of parasitism. The host is not
directly killed by the tick, which benefits from the relationship while the host is adversely
affected, as it feeds on the host's blood.

Rubric for Scoring:

Role was related/correct to the ecological relationship given. 10pts.

Role-play was well prepared and organized. 5pts.
Speech was clear with appropriate volume and inflection. 3pts.
Role-play captured and maintained audience interest. 2pts.

Role was related/correct to the ecological relationship given. 10pts.

Role-play was well prepared and organized. 5pts.

Speech was clear with appropriate volume and inflection. 3pts.

Role-play captured and maintained audience interest. 2pts.

Ecological relationships describe the interactions between and among organisms
within their environment. These interactions may have positive, negative or neutral
effects on either species' ability to survive and reproduce, or "fitness." By classifying
these effects, ecologists have derived five major types of species interactions:
predation, competition, mutualism, commensalism and amensalism.

Predation: One Wins, One Loses

Predation includes any interaction between two species in which one species benefits
by obtaining resources from and to the detriment of the other. While it's most often
associated with the classic predator-prey interaction, in which one species kills and
consumes another, not all predation interactions result in the death of one organism.
In the case of herbivory, a herbivore often consumes only part of the plant. While this
action may result in injury to the plant, it may also result in seed dispersal. Many
ecologists include parasitic interactions in discussions of predation. In such
relationships, the parasite causes harm to the host over time, possibly even death. As
an example, parasitic tapeworms attach themselves to the intestinal lining of dogs,
humans and other mammals, consuming partially digested food and depriving the host
of nutrients, thus lowering the host's fitness.

Competition: The Double Negative

Competition exists when multiple organisms vie for the same, limiting resource.
Because the use of a limited resource by one species decreases availability to the
other, competition lowers the fitness of both. Competition can be interspecific,
between different species, or intraspecific, between individuals of the same species. In
the 1930s, Russian ecologist Georgy Gause proposed that two species competing for
the same limiting resource cannot coexist in the same place at the same time. As a
consequence, one species may be driven to extinction, or evolution reduces the
competition.

Mutualism: Everyone Wins

Mutualism describes an interaction that benefits both species. A well-known example
exists in the mutualistic relationship between alga and fungus that form lichens. The
photsynthesizing alga supplies the fungus with nutrients, and gains protection in
return. The relationship also allows lichen to colonize habitats inhospitable to either
organism alone. In rare case, mutualistic partners cheat. Some bees and birds receive
food rewards without providing pollination services in exchange. These "nectar
robbers" chew a hole at the base of the flower and miss contact with the reproductive
structures.

Commensalism: A Positive/Zero Interaction

An interaction where one species benefits and the other remains unaffected is known
as commensalism. As an example, cattle egrets and brown-headed cowbirds forage in
close association with cattle and horses, feeding on insects flushed by the movement
of the livestock. The birds benefit from this relationship, but the livestock generally do
not. Often it's difficult to tease apart commensalism and mutualism. For example, if the
egret or cowbird feeds on ticks or other pests off of the animal's back, the relationship
is more aptly described as mutualistic.

Amensalism: A Negative/Zero Interaction

Amensalism describes an interaction in which the presence of one species has a
negative effect on another, but the first species is unaffected. For example, a herd of
elephants walking across a landscape may crush fragile plants. Amensalistic
interactions commonly result when one species produces a chemical compound that is
harmful to another species. The chemical juglone produced in the roots of black
walnut inhibit the growth of other trees and shrubs, but has no effect on the walnut
tree.

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TEACHER-CREATED LESSON PLAN

Symbiotic Relationships
Students will learn about the 3 types of symbiotic relationships and how populations of
organisms are affected by symbiosis.

Jamie K.
Classroom teacher
Highlander Way Middle School (Howell, MI)

OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to...

describe the 3 types of symbiotic relationships.

provide examples of each type of symbiotic relationship.

describe how common patterns of relationships among populations of organisms are

affected by symbiosis.

SUBJECTS

Science
GRADES6 – 7

STEPS

1 Hook2 Direct instruction3 Direct Instruction: Video clips on symbiotic relationships4 Independent

Practice5 Homework review-vocab cards for each type of relationship6 Gathering new
information7 Assessing prior knowledge8 Performance Task

ALL NOTES
 

TEACHER NOTES
 

STUDENT NOTES

1 HOOK

Activity:Exploring

Each student is given a picture of a symbiotic relationship.  They are asked to observe
the picture, think about and record your ideas on the following questions: 

1) What organisms are interacting in the picture?

2) How are the organisms interacting?

3) Is the relationship positive or negative?  How do you know? What can you infer from
the picture?

4) How do you think the relationship affects the populations of organisms?

After students record their ideas about their picture, they switch with a partner and
repeat the procedure with the new picture.

When students have observed both pictures they compare their ideas.

2 DIRECT INSTRUCTION
Activity:Conversing

Bring students back together as a whole group.  Ask volunteers to share their picture
and how they answered the questions.

Select students who have different types of symbiotic relationships. (parasitism,

commensalism, and mutually beneficial)

Ask students how the relationships were the same/different.  Why did organisms
interact?  Were all of the relationships postitive? Negative?

Ask students if anyone knows what the word symbiosis means.  Have we ever heard of
the terms parasitism, mutualism or mutually beneficial, or commensalism?  What do we
know about the concepts?

Place charts with the following symbols in 3 different areas of the room: (++)   (+0)   (+-).
Walk to the ++ sign.  Explain to students that one type of symbiotic relationship is one
that allows both organisms to benefit.  Walk to the +0 sign.  Explain to students that one
type of symbiotic relationship has one organism benefit and one is not affected.  Walk to
the +- sign.  Explain to students that the last type of symbiotic relationship has one
organism benefiting and one is harmed.  Ask students to look at their pictures. Which
relationship is yours?  Ask students to place their picture under the heading they think
represents their picture.  

3 DIRECT INSTRUCTION: VIDEO CLIPS ON SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS

Activity:Assessing

Ask students to divide their journal page into 3 columns. Ask students to title the page
symbiotic relationships. Ask them to label one column ++ both organisms benefit, label
the second column; +0 one benefits and one is not affected, and the third column label
+- one organism benefits and one is harmed. 

Explain to students that they will be observing videos of the 3 different types of
symbiotic relationships.  In their journal, explain to them that they should record at least
1 example for each of the different relationships they observe.  Note which organism
benefits, is harmed or is unaffected.

Use the classroom computer to project the following

site: http://www.vtaide.com/png/symbiosis.htm

Ask students to take a minute to read through the paragraph at the top of the site and
the headings for each of the sections present on the site. Ask students to give a brief
definition for the word symbiosis and have them place a new term at the heading of
each section of their journal that identifies each of the 3 relationships: mutualism,
parasitism, commensalism. Ask a few volunteers how they identified each section.

Select one video from each section to share with students. Take time after the clip to
see under which heading they classified the relationship and why.

4 INDEPENDENT PRACTICE

Activity:Reading

Send students home with the edhelper.com article titled, Symbiosis.  Ask students to
read through the article and answer the questions that follow.  Remind students that we
will be discussing the article when they come back the next day.

5 HOMEWORK REVIEW-VOCAB CARDS FOR EACH TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP

Activity:Creating

Journal write: when students come into class ask them to take out their edhelper article,
'Symbiosis'.

Ask students to review the term symbiosis, mutualism, commensalism, parasitism with a

partner.

Students will be creating Frayer models for each of the terms.  Have students draw a
large box in their journal.  Ask them to divide the box into 4 parts.  Ask students to write
the name of the term in the center of their box. In the top left corner they will be
describing the concept.  In the top right corner they will be adding something that will
help them remember the concept.  In the bottom left corner, students will draw a picture
to help them remember the concept, and in the bottom right corner they will give an
example of the term.

With a partner have students complete the description for each concept.

6 GATHERING NEW INFORMATION

National Geographic Education

Free

Show video clips on the different symbiotic relationships.  Stop and discuss the
relationship, if it is mutualism, parasitism, or commensalism.  Have students add new
information to their Frayer models.

Other video links can be found at: http://www.vtaide.com/png/symbiosis.htm

Have students complete their Frayer Models on each of the terms: symbiosis,
mutualism, commensalism and parasitism.

7 ASSESSING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Activity:Assessing

Review the terms symbiosis, mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism with students.
Have a few volunteers provide examples and descriptions from their Frayer models.

Have students take a walk around to their original classification of the pictures of the
symbiotic relationships.  Ask them to check the pictures to make sure they are placed
under the correct heading.  If they think their picture needs a new location have them
post it under the heading that best fits that relationship.

Debrief the classification with students.

8 PERFORMANCE TASK

Activity:Assessing

Provide students with a set of 6 cards.  Each card has a picture and a description of the
relationship.  Ask students to classify each of the pictures and give evidence as to why
they believe that picture represents that symbiotic relationship.  Ask students to
describe one example of how populations of organsims are affected by symbiosis.

site: http://www.vtaide.com/png/symbiosis.htm

Symbiotic Relationships
In a symbiotic relationship, two different species of organisms live close together
and one member always benefits from the relationship. The other member may
also benefit, or it may be harmed or unaffected by the relationship. There are
three main forms of symbiosis: (1) mutualism, (2) commensalism and (3)
parasitism. MOUSEOVER the pictures to learn more …
MUTUALISM:

SEA ANEMONE AND CLOWN FISH

The sea anemone and clownfish are a great example of mutualism, meaning both species benefit
from having the other around. The anemone protects the clownfish by concealing it within its
poisonous arms, as well as leaving scraps of its meals for the clownfish to consume. In return, the
clownfish rids the anemone of parasites, wards away predators, and even offers nutrients by way of
its excrement.