Module 9 The Biosphere of Life
| Site: | MoodleHUB.ca 🍁 |
| Course: | Science 20 RVS |
| Book: | Module 9 The Biosphere of Life |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Monday, 3 November 2025, 1:24 PM |
Description
Explore the chapters to learn the unit 1 content.
Unit 4 - Changes in Living Systems
Unit Introduction
Living systems are in a constant state of change. In this unit we will be investigating some of the various types of changes that occur in living systems. Changes in the molecular configuration of organic compounds, changes in the composition of forest ecosystems, changes in populations and in individual organisms are all types of changes we will look at in this unit.
Unit Organizer
Module 9 -The Biosphere of Life
In This Module
Life requires an interaction between living and non-living components in an environment that is condusive to life called the biosphere. In this module we will investigate these interactions and discover how different organisms are interdependent in the web of life.
Module 9 __The Biosphere of Life
Lesson 1__Water : An Essential Abioitic Factor
Lesson 2__Biotic Factors
Lesson 3__The Web of Life
Lesson 4__Conducting a Field Study
Lesson 5__The Recycling of Matter
Lesson 6__Biodiversity
Once you have completed these lessons you will complete an assignment for each lesson.
Big Picture
Big Picture
By understanding the interrelationships between living things and their environment we can apply that knowledge to maintaining the appropriate balance between human needs and sustaining the Earth's natural systems. In this module we will learn about the sub-components of the biosphere and investigate the role of mankind in maintaining a balance between them.
Module 9 Inquiry
Here you can note the questions for the module and note any assignments or things the students need to pay attention to.
- What are the unique characteristics of water that make it valuable for living things ?
- What are biotic factors ?
- How do you conduct a field study ?
- How do living systems recycle the matter required for life processes ?
Lesson 4.9.1
Lesson 1 - Water : An Essential Abiotic Factor ?
Get Focused
Water is one of the most unique substances in the universe. It's unique characteristics make it very well suited to support various processes associated with living systems. In this lesson we will investigate some of them.
Consider the following essential questions as you complete Lesson 1:
- What is an abiotic factor ?
- What is a nutrient ?
- What is an ecosystem ?
- How is an algal bloom caused
Vocabulary
Below is the link to the Science 20 glossary. Make sure you can define the terms associated with this lesson from the glossary
Read
Read pages 406 - 412 in the Science 20 textbook
Watch and Listen
Video or multimedia content
Self Check
Try the knowledge questions on page 412 of your text book to check your comprehension
Reflect and Connect
Algal blooms have be connected with run off from fertilized crops. What are some possible solutions to this problem that still allow agricultural operations to be conducted in a cost effective manner? Post your answer to the discussion forum.
Module 9 : Lesson 1 Assignment.
Once you have completed all of the learning activities for this lesson, you can complete the online assignment.
Lesson Summary
In this lesson you learned about the importance of water to living systems.
Lesson 2 will look at the biotic factors of ecosystems.
Lesson 4.9.2
Lesson 2 - Biotic Factors
Get Focused
The living components of an ecosystem are it's most dynamic component. In this lesson we will look at the structure of living communities and the subcomponents of those communities.
Consider the following essential questions as you complete Lesson 2:
- What is a population ?
- What is a habitat ?
- What are the different types of symbiosis ?
- What are other relationships that exist between living organisms in an ecosystem
Vocabulary
Below is the link to the Science 20 glossary. Make sure you can define the terms associated with this lesson from the glossary
Read
Read pages 413 - 422 in the Science 20 textbook
Self Check
Try the knowledge questions on page 422 of your Science 20 text book to check your comprehension.
Watch and Listen
Reflect and Connect
Are inter-specific relationships discussed in this lesson analogous to human interactions ? Post your answer to the discussion forum
Module 9 : Lesson 2 Assignment.
Once you have completed all of the learning activities for this lesson, you can complete the online assignment
Lesson Summary
In this lesson you learned about the biotic components of an ecosystem.
Lesson 3 will look at the web of life.
Lesson 4.9.3
Lesson 3 - The Web of Life
Get Focused
Energy flows through living systems. In this lesson we will investigate how energy flows through living systems and the roles of certain organisms in that flow of energy.
Consider the following essential questions as you complete Lesson 3:
- What is an energy pyramid ?
- What is a producer ?
- What is a consumer ?
- What is a food web
Vocabulary
Below is the link to the Science 20 glossary. Make sure you can define the terms associated with this lesson from the glossary
Read
Read pages 423 - 432 in the Science 20 textbook
Self Check
Try the knowledge questions on page 432 of your Science 20 text book to check your comprehension.
Watch and Listen
Reflect and Connect
What is are the advantages and disadvantages of being a vegetarian from an energy consumption point of view ? Post your answer to the discussion forum.
Module 9 : Lesson 3 Assignment.
Once you have completed all of the learning activities for this lesson, you can complete the online assignment.
Lesson Summary
In this lesson you learned about how energy flows through biological systems and the biosphere.
Lesson 4 will look at how to conduct a field study.
Lesson 4.9.4
Lesson 4 - Conducting a Field Study
Get Focused
Field studies are necessary for scientist to know what changes are happening in specific ecosystems and habitats. In this lesson we will investigate how to conduct a field study.
Consider the following essential questions as you complete Lesson 4:
- How do you identify the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem ?
- What evidence of animals do scientists look for ?
- Why is it important to be aware of the different plants in an area ?
- What is a transect
Vocabulary
Below is the link to the Science 20 glossary. Make sure you can define the terms associated with this lesson from the glossary
Read
Read pages 433 - 439 in the Science 20 textbook
Self Check
Try the knowledge questions on page 439 of your Science 20 text book to check your comprehension.
Watch and Listen
Video or multimedia content
Reflect and Connect
Pick an area that you believe would be a good area to conduct a field study and explain why. Post your answer to the discussion forum.
Module 9 : Lesson 4 Assignment.
Remember to submit your properly labelled assignment to the appropriate drop box.
Lesson Summary
In this lesson how to do a field study and why they are useful.
Lesson 5 will look at how the biosphere recycles necessary matter components.
Lesson 4.9.5
Lesson 5 - The Recycling of Matter
Get Focused
Energy continuously enters the Earth's biosphere from the sun but matter does not ? Why don't living systems run out of the matter that makes up the organic molecules necessary for life processes ? In this lesson we will look at the cycling of matter and investigate why it is important for living systems.
Consider the following essential questions as you complete Lesson 5 :
- What are the compounds necessary for life processes on Earth ?
- How are these compounds replenished ?
- What is a cycle ?
Vocabulary
Below is the link to the Science 20 glossary. Make sure you can define the terms associated with this lesson from the glossary
Read
Read pages 440 - 452 in the Science 20 textbook
Self Check
Try the knowledge questions on page 452 of your Science 20 text book to check your comprehension.
Watch and Listen
Reflect and Connect
Of the cycles that you learned about in this lesson, which one do you think is the most sensitive to disruption. Explain your answer and post it to the discussion forum.
Module 9 : Lesson 5 Assignment.
Once you have completed all of the learning activities for the lesson, you can complete the online assignment.
Lesson Summary
In this lesson you learned about the various matter cycles.
Lesson 6 will look at biodiversity.
Lesson 4.9.6
Lesson 6 - Biodiversity
Get Focused
A variety of organism are required for an ecosystem to work properly. What happens when some of those organisms are lost ? In this lesson we will learn about the importance of biodiversity and investigate some of the things that threaten biodiversity.
Consider the following essential questions as you complete Lesson 5 :
- What is an endangered species ?
- What is habitat fragmentation ?
- What is habitat destruction ?
- What are invasive species ?
Module 9: Lesson 6 Assignment
There is no assignment for this lesson.
Vocabulary
Below is the link to the Science 20 glossary. Make sure you can define the terms associated with this lesson from the glossary
Read
Read pages 453 - 462 in the Science 20 textbook
Self Check
Try the knowledge questions on page 462 of your Science 20 text book to check your comprehension.
Watch and Listen
Reflect and Connect
Much of the Earth's naturally occurring plants have been replaced with food crops used for human consumption. What is the danger to mankind associated with the growing and being dependent on a limited number of plant species. Post your answer to the discussion forum.
Lesson Summary
In this lesson you learned about the importance of biodiversity and some things that threaten biodiversity.
Module 10 will look at changes in populations
Module Summary and assessment
Module Summary and Assessment
Water is a very unique molecule that many life processes rely upon. In this module we will investigate water and other molecules that life is dependent upon and learn how these molecules are cylced through the biosphere. We will also learn about biotic and abiotic factors that are related in an intricate fashion in ecosystems.
Module Assessment
In this module you should have completed the following assignments.