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UNIT 2 : INTERDEPENDENCE

Grade 5
UNIT 2: INTERDEPENDENCE

Interdependence:
Interdependence means when two or more things relate to each other. This means
plants and animals in a habitat depend on each other.
Plants and animals, humans, rivers, mountains - everything is connected in one
way or another. All living and non-living things depend on each other.

Ecosystem:
An ecosystem includes all of the living things (plants, animals and organisms) in a
given area, interacting with each other, and also with their non-living environments
(weather, earth, sun, soil, climate, atmosphere).

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UNIT 2: INTERDEPENDENCE

Relationships between plants and

animals as well as other things
(non-living materials, air, water, etc.)
in their habitat are important for
their survival

We call this
Interdependence
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UNIT 2: INTERDEPENDENCE

We can group interdependence into two main groups:

1. The interdependence in an ecosystem between living things: when we talk about how
animals and plants are interdependent.
2. The interdependence in an ecosystem between living and non-living things.
Interdependence between living and non-living things. Living things are also depend on
non-living things in an ecosystem. Living things depend on their environment for:
• Air (oxygen and carbon dioxide)
• Water
• Soil
• Food
• Shelter and a place to safely have their young.
• Places to hide from danger.
Water and oxygen are extremely important for all living things.
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UNIT 2: INTERDEPENDENCE
Interdependence and feeding
Animals depend on each other and on plants for
food.
Animals can be divided into the following groups,
according to what they eat:
Let's have a look at some of these:
Herbivores eat plants
Carnivores eat the animals that eat the plants
Omnivores eat plants and animals
Decomposers eat and break up the dead plants
and animals. They put the chemicals from their
bodies (carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen) back
into the soil to feed the plants.
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UNIT 2: INTERDEPENDENCE

Plants depend on animals for pollination

Plants depend on animals for pollination. Animals that pollinate
flowers are called pollinators. Plants use different methods to
attract pollinators. This includes producing nectar, special
smells or having brightly coloured flowers. Some plants even
make their flowers look like female wasps to attract male
wasps.
Plants and animals depend on each other. Many flowering
plants depend on bees to pollinate them. Bees depend on
flowers to provide them with nectar. Without nectar, bees
cannot make honey. Without bees, most flowers cannot be
fertilized. If flowers are not fertilized, they cannot produce
seeds and will not be able to reproduce.
Bees, other insects and birds assist with pollinating plants

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UNIT 2: INTERDEPENDENCE
Interdependence and seed dispersal 
• Plants need to have their seeds spread over a wide area. If all the
seeds fall in one spot, the plants that grow will not have enough
water, soil or sunlight to grow properly!
• That is why plants make their fruit sweet and tasty. In this way they
attract animals who will eat the fruit, walk a long way off and excrete
the seeds.
• Where the seeds fall, they will then have a rich, fertile soil (from the
animal excretion) to grow in!
• Animals also assist with spreading seeds through eating and
excreting them or transporting them on their fur.
They might not even know it's there!
When they brush against a tree for example, the seed will just fall off.
Plants depend on animals for seed dispersal.
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UNIT 2: INTERDEPENDENCE
A perfect example of interdependence is an ecosystem were the sun starts the cycle.

Here is a video to explain:

//youtu.be/YuO4WB4SwCg

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 UNIT 2: INTERDEPENDENCE

Another example of
interdependence:

Explaining the
ecosystem:
https://youtu.be/sKJoXdr
OT70

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 Acknowledgments
and
Additional Resources:

Acknowledgments:

• Platinum: Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 5

• https://app.oncoursesystems.com/school/webpage/460486/1516138
• https://www.ck12.org/biology/interdependence-of-living-things/
• http://www.thunderboltkids.co.za/

Additional Resources and videos:

• https://study.com/academy/lesson/interdependence-lesson-for-kids.html
• https://youtu.be/7oRHpu_YoXI
• https://youtu.be/YuO4WB4SwCg
• https://youtu.be/sKJoXdrOT70

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