---
title: "Matter Cycling in Ecosystems"
description: "Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment in an ecosystem"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/matter-cycling-in-ecosystems-mt_0ajzcoKAKw
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/matter-cycling-in-ecosystems-mt_0ajzcoKAKw.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Matter Cycling in Ecosystems

Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment in an ecosystem

Subject: Science · Area: Ecosystems & Habitats · Ages 10 to 11
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/matter-cycling-in-ecosystems-mt_0ajzcoKAKw

## Ready when they can

- Describe the role of decomposers (fungi, bacteria, worms) in breaking down dead matter
- Trace the movement of matter: plant grows using soil nutrients → animal eats plant → animal dies → decomposers return nutrients to soil
- Create or interpret a simple diagram showing matter cycling through an ecosystem

## Lesson: Matter Cycling in Ecosystems

You already know that energy flows through a food chain and leaves as heat. Matter works differently. The atoms in a leaf, a mouse, or a fox never disappear. They get passed around and used again and again.

*(drawing: Matter moves in a circle: soil to plant, plant to animal, animal to decomposers, and back to soil again.)*

**Example.** A leaf falls onto the forest floor. Worms chew it into tiny pieces. Bacteria and fungi break those pieces down even further until the nutrients mix into the soil. Next spring, a new plant's roots soak up those same nutrients and use them to grow.

**Tip.** Fungi, bacteria, and worms are nature's recyclers. Without them, dead leaves and animals would just pile up, and plants would run out of nutrients to grow.

**Recap.** Matter cycles from soil to living things and back again through decomposers; it never disappears.

## Practice

24 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Ecology Vocabulary](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/ecology-vocabulary-mt_M7XhBBzYof)
- [Biodiversity](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/biodiversity-mt_NDZYiLvApW)
- [Food Chains & Energy Transfer](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/food-chains-and-energy-transfer-mt_oB-L8EVdIP)
- [Energy from Food & the Sun](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/energy-from-food-and-the-sun-mt_PYPs2yD2sn)
- [Ocean Ecosystems](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/ocean-ecosystems-mt_w4OYcWJs6H)

## Opens up

- [The Carbon Cycle](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/the-carbon-cycle-mt_Be1A88GUpu)