--- title: "Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy and Dynamics 9" description: "Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy and Dynamics 9 Construct an illustration to explain how plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into a storable fuel, carbohydrates, and a waste product, oxygen, during the process of photosynthesis." 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/) # Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy and Dynamics 9 Construct an illustration to explain how plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into a storable fuel, carbohydrates, and a waste product, oxygen, during the process of photosynthesis. [![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 - [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) - [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 - [Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life](https://www.knowatom.com/energy-in-chemical-processes-and-everyday-life) - [Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems](https://www.knowatom.com/cycles-of-matter-and-energy-transfer-in-ecosystems) Crosscutting Concepts - [Energy and Matter](https://www.knowatom.com/energy-and-matter) - [Systems and System Models](https://www.knowatom.com/systems-and-system-models) [![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) ## Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy and Dynamics 9 Grade Ranges All K-2 3-5 6-8 [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-07-2023-12-00-33-1835-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/energy-from-the-sun) ## [Energy from the Sun In this unit, students are introduced to the interdependence of living things and their environment as they analyze how individual organisms are suited to their particular environment, but all organisms require energy and nutrients to survive.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/energy-from-the-sun) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/energy-from-the-sun) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image2-Oct-07-2023-03-20-03-7546-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/plant-structures) ## [Plant Structures In this unit, students analyze how living things have specific structures that allow them to function in different environments. They trace how energy flows through a tropical wetland food web, and then test how temperature affects a plant’s ability to transpire through its leaves, affecting its ability to grow. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson on plant structures. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/plant-structures) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/plant-structures) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-09-2023-07-36-44-6688-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/engineering-shoreline-barriers) ## [Engineering Shoreline Barriers In this unit, students learn about science phenomena related to ecosystems, studying how all living things interact with and depend on other living things and the environment for survival. In this lesson, students explore how humans can create solutions to protect ecosystems by designing an engineering solution for coastal erosion.This page provides an overview of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/engineering-shoreline-barriers) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/engineering-shoreline-barriers) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(57).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/engineering-water-filtration-devices) ## [Engineering Water Filtration Devices In this unit, students focus on interactions between the hydrosphere and the geosphere as they explore the phenomena of groundwater in human development. For this lesson, they engineer a water filtration device to treat samples of simulated polluted stormwater runoff. This page highlights key components of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/engineering-water-filtration-devices) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/engineering-water-filtration-devices) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-08-2023-11-39-01-7984-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/plant-growth) ## [Plant Growth In this unit, students focus on the biosphere, analyzing how living things interact with one another and their environment for survival. In this lesson, students figure out the science phenomenon of how plants gather energy and nutrients. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/plant-growth) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/plant-growth) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image2-Oct-08-2023-11-39-02-1427-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/energy-and-matter-in-food-webs) ## [Energy and Matter in Food Webs In this unit, students analyze how matter cycles between the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem. They compare plant and animal cells, figuring out how internal structures help an organism get energy. Then, in this lesson, students figure out how energy flows and matter cycles through a food web, and investigate the phenomena of how plants convert non-food sources, such as light, air, and water, into food sources. This page showcases key elements of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/energy-and-matter-in-food-webs) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/energy-and-matter-in-food-webs) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-08-2023-12-34-51-8368-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/plant-growth-and-acid-rain) ## [Plant Growth and Acid Rain In this unit, students focus on how environmental changes impact the ability of organisms to survive, grow, and reproduce, passing their traits on to future generations. In this lesson, students continue their analysis of how a plant’s structures allow it to grow and develop, focusing on how a change in the environment such as pollution can impact a plant’s ability to complete its life cycle. Specifically, students investigate how acid rain affects the external structures of aquatic plants. This page provides an overview of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/plant-growth-and-acid-rain) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/plant-growth-and-acid-rain) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-08-2023-12-34-24-7924-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/ecosytem-dynamics) ## [Ecosystem Dynamics In this unit, students evaluate the science phenomena of how a change to an ecosystem can impact the living things that make it up. In this lesson, students explore how a change to the kind of plants in an environment results in a ripple effect phenomena on predation in the area. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/ecosytem-dynamics) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/ecosytem-dynamics) 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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