Mississippi Science L.6.3.1

Science6th GradeLife Science

The Standard

L.6.3: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between survival, environmental changes, and diversity as they relate to the interactions of organisms, populations, and the environment.

Use scientific reasoning to explain differences between biotic and abiotic factors that demonstrate what living organisms need to survive.

2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Ecology and Interdependence

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify biotic factors, like grass, and abiotic factors, like water and sunlight. They explain how each affects an organism’s survival using observations as evidence.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a meadow picture, students label grass and rabbits as biotic, and water and sunlight as abiotic. They explain that rabbits eat grass and drink water, then predict how losing either could affect them.
Common Misconceptions: Students may call water biotic because animals drink it, or sunlight biotic because plants need it. They may think plants need only water and light, leaving out nutrients.
How to Assess It: Show a picture of a rabbit beside grass and a puddle. Ask students to name one biotic and one abiotic factor, then explain how each helps the rabbit survive.

Lesson moves

Give pairs a potted plant, a rock, and a cup of water; have them sort the factors and explain what the plant needs.
Ask: If a pond loses sunlight, what might happen to the algae and the fish that eat it? Explain each link.
Use picture cards of grass, rabbits, rain, and sunlight; teams label each factor biotic or abiotic and explain one survival link.
Read a local drought notice; students explain how less rain could affect garden plants and the insects that eat them.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to L.6.3.1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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