Succession & Species Diversity Complete Science Lesson - New TEKS 8.12B

Everything you need for an engaging middle school ecosystems unit on how primary and secondary succession affect populations and species diversity after ecosystems are disrupted by natural events or human activity. This resource includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, and assessments—everything you need for a multiday lesson with minimal prep time.

Differentiated, student-led learning keeps your students engaged while giving you time to focus on their success.

Essential Questions

• What is primary and secondary succession?

• How does succession affect populations and species diversity?

What Makes This Kesler Science Complete Lesson Stand Out

• Differentiated materials for students who need more support

• Multimodal learning to engage all types of learners

• Maximum flexibility—use it digitally or in print

• Editable PowerPoints to customize for your classroom

• Spanish translations for vocabulary, a station lab reading passage, and interactive notebook pages

• Aligned with 2021 TEKS Standard 8.12B

Built on the 5E Model

Each lesson follows the well-researched 5E Model—Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, and Evaluation—for a complete, student-centered learning experience.

Engagement

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher guide with discussion ideas, class activities, and common misconceptions

Exploration

The student-led station lab is differentiated for all learning levels and styles. With nine engaging stations, students explore the processes of primary and secondary succession, how they differ, and how they contribute to species diversity.

Input Stations – Learn the content

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment introduces new ideas

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

• Research It! – Online exploration with guided tasks

• Watch It! – Short video with reflection questions

Output Stations – Show understanding

• Organize It! – Card sorts or digital manipulation activities

• Write It! – Open-ended writing prompts with complete-sentence responses

• Illustrate It! – Visual models that strengthen recall and comprehension

• Assess It! – Vocabulary-in-context and mastery questions

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
Fun extension activities for early finishers and advanced learners—crosswords, games, or mini-projects.

Explanation

• Editable PowerPoints in standard and interactive formats

• Interactive notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Note-taking guides for students to follow along during instruction

Elaboration

Student-choice projects let students demonstrate their understanding of how ecological succession affects species diversity following an ecosystem disruption—ideal for in-class or at-home learning.

Evaluation

• STAAR 2.0–style assessments in both standard and modified versions

• Review worksheets for discussion, test prep, or homework

Perfect for In-Class or Virtual Learning

All materials—including station labs, PowerPoints, and interactive notebooks—are designed for both traditional and virtual classrooms, ensuring seamless use across learning environments.

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.