Summary
A rainforest and a cornfield both have lots of plants, but only one bounces back easily from trouble. Kim Preshoff explains how biodiversity — the variety of living things in an ecosystem — makes that ecosystem stronger and better able to survive change.
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Ages 7+
TED-Ed lessons move quickly and use rich vocabulary — best for grades 5–6 (some grade 4 with support). No content concerns; preview once for pace.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
This lesson explains why the variety of life in a place keeps that place healthy.
- What does 'biodiversity' mean in your own words?
- Why is an ecosystem with many kinds of living things stronger than one with few?
- What can happen to an ecosystem that loses its variety?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: biodiversity, ecosystem, species, stability.
Try it: Compare a forest and a mowed lawn. Which has more kinds of living things, and why does it matter?