Ecology and Food Chains Unit for Special Education PRINT and DIGITAL

This unit on Ecology and Food Chains contains almost 300 pages and 70 google slides of material specifically designed for students with special learning needs, especially autism.

This unit addresses the main characteristics of ecology and how plants and animals are in balance with the environment. There is also a separate book and activities that specifically address biomes and food chains.

All the information is presented in a simplified but rigorous way for students with diverse learning needs to make meaningful and authentic connections to the material. There are many opportunities for students to engage in repeated information on the importance of maintaining this ecological balance.

In addition, many of the activities and assessments include more than one version, suggestions for differentiation, and options for presentation.

✩✩✩ This unit now includes digital versions of the activities. There are 70 google slides (includes a differentiated set) and a movie version of the book.

See the preview for a more detailed look at the contents.

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Ecology and Food Chains Unit Includes:

⭐ This unit comes in 2 complete files. One is in color and one is in black and white.

In the zipped folder you will find:

• 17days of lesson plans
• Ecology and Food Chains activities in color
• Ecology and Food Chains activities in black and white
• Voice-recorded PowerPoint show
• Ecology book (PowerPoint) to use with activities
• Biomes and Food Chains book (PowerPoint) to use with activities
• Links and directions to digital activities

Ecology and Food Chains Activities:

• Vocabulary board
• 30 Vocabulary cards and cut/paste activities (includes digital version)
• 3 Circle maps (includes digital version)
• Differentiated labeling activity (includes digital version)
• 3 Sorting activities (includes digital version)
• Identify what changes have occurred (3 practice worksheets) (includes digital version)
• 5 worksheets that practice reading food chains (includes digital version)
• 4 Cut and paste close worksheets (includes digital version)
• 2 Sudoku puzzles (includes digital version)
• Word search
• Assessments (3 versions) (includes digital version)

Most activities (not book) are in color and BW.

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Much of what I have learned about curriculum development is incorporated in these units. For example, do not be afraid of repetition. It is critical that students with significant disabilities get to experience material over several days to be able to fully assimilate what is being taught. Also, adding visual supports to your printables and class activities helps students be able to pay more attention to the content you are presenting rather than the mechanics of what is expected. Finally, ask questions. Good questions!! Regardless of the material, if we can ask students good questions it will push them to think more deeply than before.