Ecological Succession Station Lab - MS

This modular, student-led activity keeps your middle schoolers engaged and learning throughout this ecosystems lesson. Students will explore how ecological succession transforms ecosystems over time, comparing and identifying the characteristics of primary and secondary succession.

These comprehensive, ready-to-use materials will save you hours of prep while allowing students to take ownership of their learning. Perfect for in-class or virtual instruction, this resource combines structure and flexibility to meet every learner’s needs.

Differentiated, Modular, and Student-Led

Each station lab includes nine differentiated activities, creating a personalized learning experience that encourages critical thinking and independence. In this student-centered approach, you guide learning rather than direct it.

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

The Stations

Input Stations – Build Understanding

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

• Watch It! – Students watch a short video and answer questions about succession

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

• Research It! – Students analyze facts, images, and data to explore real-world examples of primary and secondary succession

Output Stations – Show Understanding

• Organize It! – Printable or digital card sorts/manipulatives for sequencing ecological changes

• Illustrate It! – Students sketch or model stages of succession to reinforce key ideas

• Write It! – Open-ended prompts for students to describe, compare, and explain succession in their own words

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

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
Engage early finishers or advanced learners with fun extension activities like crosswords, games, and mini-projects

Ready for In-Class or Virtual Learning

This lab is fully compatible with Google Slides and PowerPoint, making it easy to implement in both digital and traditional classrooms. Students can collaborate in small groups or work independently to master ecological succession concepts.

Why Teachers Love It

• Differentiated for diverse learners

• Multimodal learning keeps students engaged

• Flexible—works digitally or in print

• Minimal prep with maximum impact

This resource is also part of the Succession 5E Lesson Plan, which includes editable presentations, interactive notebook activities, student-choice projects, assessments, and more!

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