--- title: 7-LS2-4 description: 7-LS2-4 Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations. image: https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Right%20Image.png --- [![Teacher Login](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b) [Teacher Login](https://app.knowatom.com/signin) [![KnowAtom Logo](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KnowAtom%20Logo.svg "KnowAtom Logo")](https://www.knowatom.com/) # 7-LS2-4 Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations. [![Download a Sample Unit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6) Science & Engineering Practices - [Developing and using models](https://www.knowatom.com/developing-and-using-models) - [Planning and carrying out investigations](https://www.knowatom.com/planning-and-carrying-out-investigations) - [Constructing explanations and designing solutions](https://www.knowatom.com/constructing-explanations-and-designing-solutions) - [Engaging in argument from evidence](https://www.knowatom.com/engaging-in-argument-from-evidence) - [Obtaining evaluating and communicating information](https://www.knowatom.com/obtaining-evaluating-and-communicating-information) Disciplinary Core Ideas - [Weather and Climate](https://www.knowatom.com/weather-and-climate) - [Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer](https://www.knowatom.com/conservation-of-energy-and-energy-transfer) Crosscutting Concepts - [Patterns](https://www.knowatom.com/patterns) - [Cause and Effect](https://www.knowatom.com/cause-and-effect) [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f) ## Browse 7-LS2-4 Lesson Plans Grade Ranges All K-2 3-5 6-8 [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-07-2023-03-19-53-3179-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/food-webs) ## [Food Webs In this unit, students focus on the biosphere and how living things depend on their environment and one another for survival. In this first lesson of the unit, they explore the science phenomena of the flow of energy through a food web. This page outlines key parts of the lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/food-webs) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/food-webs) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-09-2023-07-19-57-9333-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/food-webs) ## [Food Webs In this unit, students focus on animal populations, studying how all living things interact with and depend on other living things and the environment for survival. For this lesson, students explore how energy and matter move through a particular ecosystem’s food web and can be disrupted by the introduction of invasive species. This page highlights key components of this lesson.  ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/food-webs) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/food-webs) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-09-2023-07-19-54-4087-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/photosynthesis-and-oil-spills) ## [Photosynthesis and Oil Spills In this unit, students are introduced to the dynamic nature of ecosystems and how disturbances affect them. In this lesson, students observe the effects of an oil spill on the ability of plants to photosynthesize, which can harm an entire ecosystem. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/photosynthesis-and-oil-spills) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/photosynthesis-and-oil-spills) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(53).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/rocky-shore-ecosystems) ## [Rocky Shore Ecosystems In this unit, students explore the phenomena of rocky shore ecosystems, studying the interactions between living things and the environment. In this lesson they focus on the science phenomena of how organisms interact with one another in an ecosystem. This page showcases key elements from this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/rocky-shore-ecosystems) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/rocky-shore-ecosystems) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(55).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/sea-star-structures) ## [Sea Star Structures In this unit, students focus on the phenomena of rocky shore ecosystems and the science phenomena of how organisms interact. For this lesson, students analyze how adaptations allow for the survival of different organisms, specifically sea star structures. This is a high-level extract of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/sea-star-structures) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/sea-star-structures) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(54).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/intertidal-zone-temperature-change) ## [Intertidal Zone Temperature Change In this unit, students explore the interconnectedness of the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem phenomena. In this lesson, they design an experiment to test how heat is transferred in different materials found on the rocky shore. This page provides a brief overview of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/intertidal-zone-temperature-change) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/intertidal-zone-temperature-change) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-08-2023-09-44-55-1622-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/drought-and-tree-growth) ## [Drought and Tree Growth In this unit, students explore forest ecosystem phenomena, investigating the science phenomena of interactions between living things and the environment. In this lesson students discover the phenomena of tree rings and analyze how resource availability affects the ability of different organisms and populations to grow. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/drought-and-tree-growth) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/drought-and-tree-growth) Standards citation: NGSS Lead States. 2013. *Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By State*s. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 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