Science

Habitats

 Unit 4b

Identify some local habitats; name some of the organisms that live there; state the food source of some animals ; distinguish between those which eat plants and those which eat other animals.

Powerpoint Resource (Greenwich ICT)

Habitats in Google Earth
Tom Barrett, a teacher in Nottinghamshire, has created a Google Earth resource which maps the locations of selected clips with information about nine major habitats.
Click here to find out more

Direct2U Lesson Plan (Pond Life)
Children build a branching database to identify all the animals found in the local pond.
 Direct2U

Direct2U Lesson Plan (Habitats)
In the context of a unit of study on Habitats, children collect specimens and study them carefully. They use an activity from the RSPB website to identify minibeasts using a branching database. A supporting file of information for teachers is supplied W60 Science Y4X.
The children will learn that different organisms are suited to different habitats and how to use a branching database as an identification key
 Direct2U

Direct2U Lesson Plan (Food Chains)
Children use a website to consolidate knowledge and understanding of food chains. A worksheet is provided for this activity. A second website is used by the teacher in a plenary session to draw the learning together.
 Direct2U

Children create a powerpoint on the different types of habitats.
Example powerpoint from Kent NGfL Habitats and food chains (920K)

Lesson Ideas from Naturegrid.com

Use the Intel Microscope for time lapse photography of e.g. woodlice in a choice chamber.

Look at minibeasts and classify using a key (links to ICT QCA 4c – branching database).

Time lapse of an ant with a blob of strong sugar solution. Watch what the ant does.

Children create a database to identify animals and their habitats. Online animal database (ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk)

Children use a branching database to sort animals into their habitats.
ICT link (Handling Data)
Show the children some simple keys and ask them to identify organisms from these. Demonstrate how to create a branching database. For example, make a poster showing the branching structure, so that children can see how the computer version is constructed. Tell the children they are going to work in pairs to produce a branching database to identify living organisms. Remind the children of the need to construct yes/no questions, and discuss the sort of questions that might be asked, e.g. Does it have six legs? Has it got a tail? Is it a vertebrate? Is its habitat the sea?

Present the children with pictures of about six living organisms. Include some vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as living organisms found in different habitats.

Then ask the children to work in pairs to create a branching database that identifies each living organism. Ask each pair to test the others’ databases.

Learning Outcomes

• create a branching database which identifies different living organisms, both vertebrates and invertebrates, some of which are found in different habitats

ARKive - Images of Life on Earth
The site contains films and images of the world's bio diversity. Think of an organism, then use the search facility to find facts, movies and images about it. When you have found your animal look on the right hand side of the page for the video. The materials could be used for pupil research, including habitat studies and learning how to use databases.
Although the materials are not copyright-free teachers may use them for 'internal educational use' - for example, in lesson plans, presentations, worksheets and projects.
www.arkive.org

Photographs of Plants - Sebastian Swan website

Photographs of Animals - Sebastian Swan website

Planet Archive ARKive planet, designed for 7 - 11 year olds aim is to make life science learning and environmental education a widely enjoyable experience. It fits in especially well with learning about living things in their environment, the habitats and ecosystems of the world. It is interactive and includes fun animals facts, habitat information, creature features, videos and games. www.planetarkive.org The main site is www.arkive.org which is crammed full of videos. There is a teachers site containing lesson plans and activites to go with the sites. www.arkiveeducation.org

Science Display Resources
www.schoolslinks.co.uk

Websites

Acquatic Ambush - A fun way to learn about camouflage

National Parks - River Habitats
A complete unit of work which covers habitats, making and using identification keys, water quality, life cycles, adaptation, food chains and conservation.

BBC Science Clips	Science Essentials Channel 4	Habitats habitats.freeserve.co.uk
Woodlice Identification Natural History Museum	naturegrid.org.uk	naturegrid.org.uk

naturegrid.org.uk	naturegrid.org.uk	sebastianswan.org.uk

Food chain Quiz zephyrus.co.uk	Grouping Animals and Plants kineticcity.com	IWB Activity Minibeasts www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk

Habitat Activities crick.northhants.sch.uk	Food chain Activities crick.northhants.sch.uk	Virtual fish tank fossweb.com

Explore Gardens around the World show.me.co.uk	Environments fossweb.com	Virtual Pond - Life Cycles BGfL.org

Pest Detective National Trust	UK Safari uksafari.com	Plant Life Activities catie.org.uk

Find out about Habitats planetarkive.com	Virtual Rocky Shore kscience.co.uk	Design a Habitat planetarkive.com

Seed growth bgfl.org	Seed Dispersal countrysideinfo.co.uk