The interdependence of biotic and abiotic components in cold environments
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how biotic and abiotic components in a cold environment such as soil, climate, animals, plants and people are interdependent.
Key learning points
- Cold environment ecosystems exhibit interdependence of climate, water, soils, plants, animals and people.
- Food chains and food webs show how biotic and abiotic components are interdependent in a cold environment.
- Nutrient cycles show how biotic and abiotic components are interdependent in a cold environment.
Keywords
Biotic - the living elements of an ecosystem (e.g. plants, animals)
Abiotic - the non-living elements of an ecosystem (e.g. water, nutrients)
Interdependence - the connections between different components of the environment, where each component depends on or influences the others
Evapotranspiration - the transfer of water to the atmosphere through evaporation from surfaces and transpiration from plants
Common misconception
Soil is a biotic component of ecosystems because it contains living organisms.
Soil is classed as an abiotic component because soil itself is non-living.
Teacher tip
If pupils have a good understanding of nutrient cycles from studying ecosystems earlier in the course, then it is appropriate to challenge them to explain how the nutrient cycle of cold environments change in response to environmental change, such as a reduction in rainfall or removal of vegetation.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How much precipitation do cold environments typically receive?
Q2.How does ice and snow help regulate Earth’s temperature?
Q3.Which of the following is a large cold environment in Asia?
Q4.What is the main difference between a food chain and a food web?
Q5.What is the main difference between tundra and polar environments?
Q6.Where are polar environments found?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is the biotic component of an ecosystem?
Q2.How is soil an abiotic component in an ecosystem?
Q3.Why do cold environments have low biodiversity?
Q4.What is evapotranspiration?
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: The interdependence of biotic and abiotic components in cold environments, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: The interdependence of biotic and abiotic components in cold environments, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 geography lessons from the Cold environments unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.