Regular ecology lessons are given to fosterlings of the social shelter for minors in Nizhnekamsk municipal district. At the lessons children are introduced to the study of ecology. Concepts learned are reinforced with class discussion, group work, and culminating activities. At the last lesson the children defined 'ecology' and related key terms, listed biotic and abiotic factors in an environment and diagramed relationships between organisms in an environment by creating a detailed food web.