Diagram Trophic Levels Station Lab - New TEKS 7.12A

This modular, student-led activity aligns with TEKS 2021 standard 7.12A and keeps your middle school students engaged while exploring energy flow through trophic levels. With everything included, you’ll save a ton of prep time while empowering students to take ownership of their learning.

In this interactive station lab, students will diagram the flow of energy within trophic levels and describe how available energy decreases at each level of an energy pyramid. Perfect for in-class or virtual learning, this resource helps students connect the relationships between producers, consumers, and decomposers in a clear, visual way.

Differentiated, Modular, and Student-Led

Each lab features nine differentiated activities that allow students to create a personalized learning experience. In this student-centered approach, the teacher facilitates rather than directs, promoting independence and collaboration.

All signage, task cards, and resources are included. The Explore It! station may require a few simple materials you already have in your classroom.

The Stations

Input Stations – Build Understanding

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or digital drag-and-drop activity in PowerPoint or Google Slides

• Watch It! – Short video with guided reflection or comprehension questions

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) with vocabulary and comprehension checks

• Research It! – Facts, visuals, and graphs that connect to real-world examples of energy flow

Output Stations – Show Understanding

• Organize It! – Printable or digital card sorts/manipulatives for energy pyramid classification

• Illustrate It! – Student-created sketches or diagrams showing energy movement between trophic levels

• Write It! – Short-answer prompts that help students explain and apply new concepts

• Assess It! – Task cards + vocabulary-in-context paragraph to demonstrate mastery

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
Engaging extension activities like crosswords, games, and mini-projects for early finishers and advanced learners

Virtual & In-Class Flexibility

This station lab is fully compatible with Google Slides and PowerPoint, making it easy to integrate into both traditional and digital classrooms.

Why Teachers Love It

• Differentiated for all learners

• Multimodal learning for engagement and comprehension

• Flexible for print or digital use

• Minimal prep—maximum student ownership

This resource is also part of the Diagramming Trophic Levels 5E Lesson Plan, which includes editable presentations, interactive notebooks, student-choice projects, assessments, and more.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.