Sustainability of an Ecosystem Complete Science Lesson - New TEKS 8.12C

Bring ecosystems to life in your classroom with this complete, ready-to-use unit that explores how biodiversity supports the balance, stability, and health of ecosystems and the organisms within them.

This resource includes presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, and assessments—all fully editable and designed for low- to no-prep, multiday instruction.
With differentiated, student-led activities, you can focus on what truly matters: helping your students succeed.

Essential Question

How does biodiversity contribute to the stability and sustainability of a healthy ecosystem?

Why Teachers Love This Kesler Science Complete Lesson

• Differentiated materials to meet every learner’s needs

• Multimodal learning experiences that keep middle schoolers actively engaged

• Flexible format options—printable, digital, or both

• Editable PowerPoints you can easily adapt to your classroom

• Spanish translations for key vocabulary, reading passages, and interactive notebook pages

• Fully aligned with 2021 TEKS standard 8.12C

Built on the proven **5E Instructional Model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—**this lesson guides students through every phase of meaningful, inquiry-based learning.

What’s Included in Each 5E Stage

Engage

Start your unit strong with:

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards in English and Spanish

• A teacher guide filled with discussion ideas, activity options, and notes on common misconceptions

Explore

The student-led, differentiated station lab gives learners hands-on opportunities to investigate how biodiversity strengthens ecosystems and promotes resilience.
With nine interactive stations, students can explore content in multiple ways.

Input Stations help students absorb information:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment to connect with key concepts

• Read It! – Short reading passage with comprehension questions (English and Spanish)

• Research It! – Online exploration with guided tasks and questions

• Watch It! – Video-based learning paired with discussion

Output Stations help students demonstrate understanding:

• Organize It! – Sort and categorize information using print or digital tools

• Write It! – Respond to open-ended questions in complete sentences

• Illustrate It! – Create visuals or diagrams to reinforce understanding

• Assess It! – Apply vocabulary and demonstrate mastery through targeted questions

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
Extension activities for early finishers or enrichment opportunities for deeper learning.

Explain

Deepen comprehension with:

• Editable PowerPoints in standard and interactive formats

• Interactive notebook templates (digital and printable, English and Spanish)

• Note-taking guides to keep students organized and focused

Elaborate

Encourage independent thinking with student-choice projects that explore how biodiversity contributes to ecosystem stability and sustainability. These projects can be completed in class or as extended learning at home.

Evaluate

Assess understanding and reinforce key concepts with:

• STAAR 2.0–style assessment questions in both standard and modified versions

• Review worksheets for discussion, practice, or homework

Perfect for In-Class or Virtual Learning

Whether you’re teaching in person or online, the station lab and presentation materials are fully adaptable for any learning environment. Engage students wherever they are with meaningful, standards-aligned science instruction that’s easy to implement and fun to teach.

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.