Sustainability of an Ecosystem Station Lab - New 2021 TEKS 8.12C

This modular, student-led activity on ecosystem sustainability aligns with TEKS 2021 standard 8.12C and will keep your middle school students engaged in hands-on learning from start to finish. These comprehensive materials save you a ton of prep time while allowing students to explore concepts independently or in small groups.

In this station lab, students will describe how biodiversity contributes to the stability and sustainability of an ecosystem and how it supports the health of organisms within that system. This flexible resource works perfectly for both in-class and virtual learning.

Differentiated, Modular, and Student-Led

Each station lab includes nine differentiated activities that promote personalized, student-centered learning. Teachers facilitate the experience rather than direct it, creating opportunities for students to explore concepts through multimodal, inquiry-based activities.

All signage, resources, and task cards are included for easy implementation. The Explore It! station may require a few simple materials already available in your classroom or lab.

The Stations

Input Stations – Build Understanding

• Explore It! – A hands-on activity or demonstration connects students with key concepts through direct application. (Digital version available in PowerPoint or Google Slides.)

• Watch It! – Students view a short video about ecosystem sustainability and answer comprehension questions.

• Read It! – Students read a short, differentiated passage (available in English and Spanish) and respond to vocabulary and comprehension prompts.

• Research It! – Students analyze facts, images, and graphs to deepen their understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem balance.

Output Stations – Show Understanding

• Organize It! – Students use printable or digital manipulatives to sort, categorize, and reinforce key ideas.

• Illustrate It! – Students draw or model their understanding of ecosystem sustainability, helping to strengthen recall and retention.

• Write It! – Students respond to open-ended prompts in complete sentences to explain their learning using evidence-based reasoning.

• Assess It! – Students apply what they’ve learned through task cards and short written responses using vocabulary in context.

Bonus Station – Challenge It!

This enrichment station offers crosswords, games, and mini-projects for early finishers or advanced learners to extend and apply their understanding.

Flexible Implementation

Designed for in-class or virtual learning, this resource is fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making it easy to integrate into any teaching environment. Whether students are working hands-on or digitally, they’ll explore biodiversity and ecosystem stability through interactive, meaningful experiences.

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.