Major themes or topics: Ecosystems, matter cycles, energy flow, interdependence, environmental interactions, biodiversity, sustainability, ecosystems, decomposers, food chains, energy pyramids.

Key content: Students will explore the critical role that plants play in the cycling of matter and energy within ecosystems. Students will also examine how energy flows through these systems, sustaining life and maintaining balance within ecosystems. This exploration will deepen their understanding of how plants, through their adaptations and interactions, are essential for the continuous flow of matter and energy that supports all living organisms.

Focus questions: What is the role of plants in the cycling of matter and energy within an ecosystem? Why are plants essential for maintaining the balance of matter and energy in an ecosystem? How do plants, through their adaptations, influence the flow of matter and energy in different ecosystems?

DCPS alignment: Grade 5 Science, Unit 2 - Interactions in Matter