---
title: Lessons for Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, & Resilience | K-8 Grade
description: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience Disciplinary Core Ideas
image: https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Right%20Image.png
---
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b)
[Teacher Login](https://app.knowatom.com/signin)
[](https://www.knowatom.com/)
# Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
Disciplinary Core Ideas
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6)
Science & Engineering Practices
- [Asking questions and defining problems](https://www.knowatom.com/asking-questions-and-defining-problems)
- [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)
- [Analyzing and interpreting data](https://www.knowatom.com/analyzing-and-interpreting-data)
- [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
- [Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems](https://www.knowatom.com/interdependent-relationships-in-ecosystems)
-
- [Ecosystem Dynamics Functioning and Resilience](https://www.knowatom.com/ecosystem-dynamics-functioning-and-resilience)
Crosscutting Concepts
- [Cause and Effect](https://www.knowatom.com/cause-and-effect)
- [Energy and Matter](https://www.knowatom.com/energy-and-matter)
- [Stability and Change](https://www.knowatom.com/stability-and-change)
- [Patterns](https://www.knowatom.com/patterns)
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f)
## Lessons for Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
Grade Ranges All K-2 3-5 6-8
[
](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/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)
[.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/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. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.
Quick Links
Resources
Sign Up for Our Blog
### Sign Up for Our Blog
Connect with Us
-
-
-
-
© 2026 KnowAtom LLC • 10 Brady Drive Unit 3 • Ipswich MA • 01938 USA
[DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION](https://www.knowatom.com/do-not-sell-my-personal-information) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.knowatom.com/privacy-policy) | [Terms of Use](https://www.knowatom.com/terms-of-use)
```json
{
"@context" : "http://schema.org",
"@type" : "Organization",
"address" : {
"@type" : "PostalAddress",
"addressCountry" : "USA",
"addressLocality" : "Salem",
"addressRegion" : "MA",
"postalCode" : "01970",
"streetAddress" : "27 Congress Suite 410"
},
"alternateName" : "KA",
"areaServed" : {
"@type" : "GeoCircle",
"geoMidpoint" : {
"@type" : "GeoCoordinates",
"latitude" : "+42.5182274",
"longitude" : "-70.8877569"
},
"geoRadius" : "150 km"
},
"description" : "Next Generation Science STEM Curriculum",
"email" : "fvigeant@knowatom.com",
"image" : "https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KA-GSD.png",
"logo" : "https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Knowatom-2017/Image/logo-1.png",
"mainEntityOfPage" : {
"@id" : "https://www.knowatom.com/ecosystem-dynamics-functioning-and-resilience",
"@type" : "WebPage",
"description" : "Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience Disciplinary Core Ideas"
},
"name" : "KnowAtom",
"sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/KnowAtom", "https://twitter.com/KnowAtom", "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0rbN0RfqaU1xaISrdVpTA", "https://plus.google.com/110709105138117096940" ],
"telephone" : "(617) 475-3475",
"url" : "https://www.knowatom.com"
}
```