Ecological Foundations

Understanding how life on Earth is connected from soil microbes to apex predators.

Your Learning Map

(BE) Ecological Foundations)

Decomposers & Soil Life

Without decomposers and healthy soils, nutrients would remain locked inside dead material, plant growth would stop, and food webs would collapse.

Ecosystems & Biomes

Understanding ecosystems and biomes helps explain why rainforests flourish near the equator, why deserts form in dry zones, and why tundra dominates polar regions.

Nutrient Cycles: How Matter Moves Through Living Systems

Three of the most important cycles for life are the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and water cycle.

Trophic Levels & Keystone Species

Understanding trophic levels explains how energy moves.
Understanding keystone species explains why ecosystems stay balanced (or collapse).

Primary Producers & Photosynthesis

These organisms, called primary producers, form the foundation of ecosystems on land and in water. Without them, there would be no animals, no decomposers, and no energy flow at all.

Energy Flow & Food Webs

Understanding how energy moves helps explain why biodiversity matters, why removing one species can ripple across an ecosystem, and how humans fit into the natural world.

Learning ecology doesn’t happen best on a screen; it happens outside, where patterns, species, and systems come to life. These field trip worksheets are designed to guide you through real-world observation, helping you explore ecosystems, track species interactions, map food webs, and notice seasonal changes wherever you are. Whether you’re visiting a nature center, hiking a trail, or observing your own backyard, these tools turn everyday nature experiences into hands-on ecology lessons that build curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

Ecological Foundations

Feild trip Work Sheets