Observations on the micro-ecosystems occur over the school year, and the tanks are left until fall for initial study by a new class. The organisms and materials from the previous year's projects are recycled in the new projects. The micro-ecosystems also include time capsules. The outside designs that students paint also help control light levels. It is possible to stack the tanks with boards and cement blocks or on aquarium stands.
Students first study the mocro-ecosystems from the previous year's classes.
Groups are assigned complete clean-up and cataloging of the available resources. They must propose a design for their own micro-ecosystems and justify their design in terms of matter and energy requirements, trophic levels and population interactions. Students continue to make observations on the ecosystems during the year. The purpose of this project is the construction of functional micro-ecosystems that model naturally occurring ecosystems. The underlying principles of the structure and function of ecosystems will be studied and explored in class.