Disruptions in Ecosystems Station Lab -New TEKS 8.12A

This modular, student-led activity aligns with TEKS 2021 standard 8.12A and keeps your middle school students actively engaged while exploring how disruptions—such as population changes, natural disasters, and human intervention—impact the transfer of energy in ecosystems. With everything included, you’ll save a ton of prep time while giving students the opportunity to take ownership of their learning.

In this interactive lab, students will analyze how energy flow and ecosystem stability are affected when natural or human-caused disruptions occur. Perfect for in-class or virtual learning, this hands-on, inquiry-based activity helps students make real-world connections to environmental change and sustainability.

Differentiated, Modular, and Student-Led

Each lab includes nine differentiated activities that help students build a personalized learning experience. In this student-centered format, teachers guide and facilitate while students work independently or collaboratively to explore and apply concepts.

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

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 comprehension and reflection questions

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

• Research It! – Facts, visuals, and data-based tasks that help students connect human and natural disruptions to energy transfer

Output Stations – Show Understanding

• Organize It! – Printable or digital card sorts/manipulatives for cause-and-effect mapping

• Illustrate It! – Students create sketches or diagrams showing disruptions in food webs or ecosystems

• Write It! – Open-ended prompts to explain and support their understanding

• Assess It! – Task cards + vocabulary-in-context writing to evaluate mastery

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

Virtual & In-Class Flexibility

This lab is fully compatible with Google Slides and PowerPoint, making it easy to use for both traditional and digital classrooms. Students can explore concepts at their own pace, in small groups, or independently.

Why Teachers Love It

• Differentiated for diverse learners

• Multimodal learning keeps students engaged

• Flexible design for print or digital use

• Minimal prep—just print or assign digitally!

This resource is also part of the Disruptions in Ecosystems 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.