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Ecocolumn Project for the Elementary Science Classroom

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Ecocolumn project pinterest pin shows a close up of an ecocolumn with a cricket and germinated plants
I wanted to share with you the ecocolumn project that we have been working on in our science class for a while now.  This project is a great culminating activity for a life science unit.  These are a great tool to use when learning about biomes.  It took FOREVER to collect 2 liter soda bottles from the kiddos.  We needed three bottles per group.  I teach 70 kids science each day, so I did groups of 4 or 5.
 
EcoColumns are a fantastic way to bring environmental science to life for students! An EcoColumn is a mini-ecosystem made of stacked plastic bottles, representing different habitats—like a terrarium and aquarium. Students can observe the interdependence of plants, animals, water, and soil, providing an up-close look at ecosystem dynamics.
 
When I finally gathered enough bottles we cleaned and cut them.  Then it was time to assemble the column and start to plant in the terrarium part.  We covered the bottle opening with mesh and filled the top with a cup of gravel and 3 cups of soil.  Then we planted and watered our seeds.  For this ecocolumn, we had mustard, rye, and alfalfa seed.  We added some moss for good measure.  The seeds germinated very quickly!  I planted the seeds on a Friday and set up the aquariums on a Monday.  The aquarium is the bottom part of the ecocolumn.  Into that, we added a cup of gravel and five cups of water.  We added Elodea, duckweed, and algae as our aquatic plants and let them do their work.
Next, we added our animals!  We have guppies and snails in the aquarium and crickets in the terrarium.  This was such a neat project and the students loved it!  I will add pictures of their notebooks and labs in my next post!
 
This image shows a close-up of the ecocolumn.  In the image you see a guppy and a snail.
 Here is a close-up of our fish and snail.
There are 7 ecocolumns in this image sitting on a windowsill.
 These are the completed ecocolumns!
The ecocolumns are sitting in a soda bottle holder to keep them sturdy.
 I put some in a soda container to keep them from tipping.
This is a closeup of the terrarium part of the ecocolumn and shows the plants and cricket.
 Cricket!
These are germinated terrarium plants in the ecocolumn.  The top of the column shows condensation raining down into it.
 The germinated terrarium plants
This image shows the elodea and snail in the ecolumn
Here is the Elodea and a snail.

Why Use EcoColumns?

  1. Hands-On Learning: Students build and maintain their ecosystems, which promotes active engagement and responsibility.
  2. Cross-Curricular Connections: EcoColumns tie into life science, earth science, environmental studies, and even math (data collection).
  3. Real-Time Observation: As students monitor their EcoColumns, they can observe changes in plant growth, decomposition, and even the water cycle over time.

How to Set Up an EcoColumn

To make your EcoColumns:

  1. Gather Materials: Plastic bottles, soil, plants, water, gravel, aquatic organisms (small fish, snails), and terrestrial organisms (worms, insects).
  2. Build the Column: Stack the bottles, with the top serving as a terrarium and the bottom as an aquarium.
  3. Monitor and Record: Have students check water levels, plant growth, and animal behavior. They can track changes and discuss the factors affecting the ecosystem.

Teaching Tips

  • Encourage Inquiry: Ask students to hypothesize how changes in one part of the ecosystem affect the others.
  • Record Data: Incorporate journaling or graphs to monitor temperature, water clarity, or plant growth.
  • Relate to the Environment: Discuss how the EcoColumn mimics real ecosystems, emphasizing environmental responsibility and the impact of human activities.

EcoColumns provide an interactive way for students to observe and understand ecosystems, while also fostering inquiry-based learning and critical thinking skills. They’re a perfect addition to any science classroom!

 

My name is Jen and I’m the face behind Endeavors in Education.

I have a passion for ELA and science. I am even STEM certified. Now I spend my time hanging with my kids, blogging (endeavorsined.com), and creating for my TpT store Endeavors in Education.

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