Ecology 3-9
Life in the Soil – Wooden Puzzle and Labels 
Life in a Pond – Wooden Puzzle and Labels
By studying ecosystems, children will think critically and form their own conclusions when seeing the evidence that living organisms are dependent and interdependent on their environment. What is an ecosystem? An ecosystem is smaller than a biome. It hosts interactions that occur between biotic and abiotic factors. Biotic factors are all living things’ activities, whereas abiotic factors are non-living things’ activities that may affect the functioning of living organisms (temperature, light, water, soil, atmosphere.)
At Alison’s Montessori, you will find Montessori-aligned materials that have been specifically designed to serve this field of science. Children will witness several phenomena in ecosystems that are familiar to them: Life in the Soil and Life in a Pond. As always, we strive to provide a variety of components to our materials so as to appeal to a variety of learners. For instance, younger learners (ages 3-6) may benefit from working with large charts and cutouts. This practice encourages them to use gross motor movements and memory muscles by fetching pieces and by confirming their location on the large Control Chart, then by placing them on the Mute Chart. See the list of materials below:
Materials
- Life in the Soil (Complete Set) (Puzzle, Charts, Research Cards, and Cutouts)
- Life in the Soil Puzzle (with Control Chart and Wooden Arrow)
- Life in the Soil Chart (with Mute Chart, Research Cards, and Cutouts)
- Life in a Pond (Complete Set) (Puzzle, Charts, Research Cards, and Cutouts)
- Life in a Pond Puzzle (with Control Chart and Wooden Arrow)
- Life in a Pond Chart (with Mute Chart, Research Cards, and Cutouts)
Related materials: Parts of a Fish Puzzle (Elementary), Parts of a Frog Puzzle (Elementary), Parts of a Turtle Puzzle (Elementary), Parts of a Mushroom Puzzle, Internal Parts of a Mollusk Puzzle, Parts of an Annelid Puzzle, Life Cycle of a Beetle Puzzle, Life Cycle of a Centipede Puzzle, Life Cycle of a Dragonfly Puzzle, Life Cycle of a Frog Puzzle, Life Cycle of a Goose Puzzle, Life Cycle of a Spider Puzzle, Life Cycle of a Snail Puzzle, Life Cycle of an Ant Puzzle, Life Cycle of an Earthworm Puzzle
Life in the Soil Puzzle, Arrows, Control Chart 
Life in a Pond Puzzle, Arrows, Control Chart
How to Use the Materials
Ponds are bodies of fresh water, similar to lakes but smaller. Many living organisms can only survive in ponds thanks to the excellent living conditions that ponds provide. Animals and plants can form symbiotic relationships, while other microorganisms such as algae use photosynthesis as energy. Amphibians tend to stay by the water to lay their eggs. Birds build their nest near ponds, which is an abundant source of food. Other invertebrate animals such as mussels serve a natural water purifier by removing some of the microorganisms out of circulation.
Similar to ponds, the soil is home to a multitude of living organisms that rely on environmental factors or contribute to them. In the soil, you will find bacteria, protozoa, invertebrates, and vertebrates. Earthworms are probably the most beneficial animals to have in the soil. They aerate the soil, decompose dead plant matter, and form tunnels that allow water to move down to where the roots of plants need it. Mammals such as field mice and chipmunks burrow through the soil creating extensive tunnels where they remain for the day. Other living organisms in the soil contribute to its good functioning by decomposing organic matter and making them accessible for plants. You will find much more information in our Research Cards, which are provided in the Science Charts!
Before inviting children to the lesson, prepare the working space. Place the Control Chart above the Mute Chart. Place the Cutouts along the left side of the charts. Have the Research Cards in a pile in front of you. Ask children what they know about Life in a Pond/Life in the Soil. Can they name the living organisms that are represented on the chart? Do these organisms contribute to the environment? Elicit questions that will activate their prior knowledge. It is best that you read the Research Cards to children so that they can observe the chart, focus on the descriptions, and hear how to pronounce some of the scientific terms. As you read the Research Cards, have children take turns placing the Cutouts on the Mute Chart. Allow time for questions and discussions. When the introduction is over, offer children some suggestions for follow-up activities such as creating a diorama, researching an animal or plant of their choice, or drawing and writing in their science notebook. Invite children to put away the materials together and show where the material is located. Remind children that when working independently, they need to display the control chart out of sight, and check it for control of errors. This is a form of self-assessment.
Life in a Pond – Research Cards and Cutouts 
Life in a Soil – Research Cards and Cutouts
Children can also work with wooden puzzles. The wooden puzzles offer different benefits. Due to their smaller scale, they allow children to work quietly, using smaller motions. They can focus and integrate the knowledge by deconstructing the puzzle, isolating the parts, reconstructing the puzzle, and labeling it using wooden arrows. All our science puzzles come with a Control Chart to check for errors.
We hope to have inspired you to introduce ecology materials to children. These occurrences are readily available to children and can make perfect field trips and outdoor nature classes!
For more ecology materials, visit our website Ecology Puzzles.
