Grade Level: 7-9
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Subjects: Science, Art
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Define ecological niche and explain how it differs from habitat.
- Identify the niche of several local species.
- Understand how overlapping niches can lead to competition.
- Recognize how each species plays a unique role in maintaining ecosystem balance.
Materials
- Photos or cards of local species (plants, animals, fungi, etc.)
- Chart paper or whiteboard
- String or yarn
- Sticky notes or index cards
Curriculum Connections
- Science: Interactions within ecosystems, biodiversity, adaptations, food webs.
- Visual Arts: Use visual representation to convey statistics and facts about species.
Terms
- Habitat: The natural environment where an organism lives.
- Niche: The role or job an organism plays in its ecosystem, including how it gets food, interacts with others, and contributes to the environment.
- Competition: When two or more species use the same limited resource.
- Adaptation: A trait that helps an organism survive in its niche.
- Biodiversity: The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
Instructions
Introduction – Who Does What
Show a photo of a local ecosystem, such as a forest, pond, or seashore.
Ask students:
- Who lives here?
- What do you think each organism does here?
- If one species disappeared, what might happen?
Lead into the idea that each species fills a niche – a unique role that helps the ecosystem function smoothly.
Explore – What is a Niche
Explain: Every species has a habitat(where it lives) and a niche(what it does).
Use an example: A beaver’s habitat is rivers and wetlands.
Its niche is to build dams, create ponds, prevent flooding and provide homes for fish and insects.
Compare overlapping niches (e.g., red squirrel vs. chipmunk – both eat nuts but have slightly different strategies).
Show visuals or short videos of local species fulfilling their roles.
Activity – Build a Balanced Ecosystem
Option 1 – Classroom Food Web
Give each student a species card (with info on diet, predator/prey, and habitat).
Use yarn to connect who eats whom, forming a web.
Remove one species and discuss what happens (what connections break?).
Relate this back to niches (remember – every role matters!)
Option 2 – Design-a-Species
Students invent a new species that could live in a local ecosystem.
They must describe its habitat, food source, adaptations, and niche.
Create a stat card for the species. Along with the habitat, food source, adaptations and niche, add fun fact similar to the Nature and Urban BioKit stats on the red fox and the beaver.
Present to class: How does it fit without disrupting the balance?
Option 3 – Bird Observation Activity
Go outside and find a bird – any bird! You can look in your backyard, at school, or in a nearby park. If you have a bird feeder, try attaching a ruler to it so you can estimate the size of the birds that visit.
Watch the bird carefully. Notice:
- The shape and size of its bill (beak). What might it eat?
- Any markings, such as lines through the eye, a stripe above it, or a pale ring around it.
- The colour of its throat, wings, or chest.
Use what you see to classify the birds based on bill shape and what they likely eat.
If possible, visit a shoreline, pond, or marsh to observe wading birds. You could also observe birds at a zoo. Pay attention to their bills and feet. These features tell you a lot about what they eat and where they live. For example:
- Common egrets have long legs that help them wade in deeper water to catch bigger fish.
- Snowy egrets are smaller and have bright yellow feet, which they wiggle to attract fish before catching them.
Watch for any special behaviours, like tail wagging or head bobbing. These can help identify certain species.
Check a range map to see if your bird is known to live in your region
Think about each bird’s ecological niche – its job – in the ecosystem, including what it eats, where it lives, and how it interacts with others.
Record all your observations.
Reflect
Ask:
- How does a niche help reduce competition?
- Why is biodiversity important for ecosystem stability?
- What human activities can disrupt niches (e.g., invasive species, habitat destruction)?
Extensions
- Indigenous Studies: Discuss how local Indigenous peoples understand species’ roles through traditional stories or ecological knowledge (e.g., the salmon’s role in feeding forests).
- Art: Have students illustrate a niche map showing how various species interact in one ecosystem.
