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Biodiversity Investigation Lesson Aims To appreciate the importance of biodiversity and to investigate the biodiversity in the school grounds by undertaking a habitat audit and a bug survey Students will be able to: • understand what biodiversity means and its value to people • investigate biodiversity in the school playground and value natural habitats • devise ways to encourage greater biodiversity in the school playground Syllabus Links HSIE ENS3.6 Explains how various beliefs and practices influences the ways in which people interact with change and value their environment Science and Tech LT S3.3, Identifies, describes and evaluates the interactions between living things and their effects on the environment Lesson Outline – 45 mins Activities 1 What is biodiversity? (15 minutes) Discuss what biodiversity means and why is it important to have biodiverse school grounds Bodiversity Definition; The term biodiversity describes the immense variety of all living things: ‘bio’ = living; ‘diversity’ = variety. Biodiversity is the variety of plants, animals and microorganisms, the genetic information they contain and the ecosystems they form. It is usually considered at three interconnected levels: a. genetic diversity,b. species diversity and c. ecosystem diversity. Biodiversity stresses the connectedness of the living world.Watch the introductory film clip from the Wild Classroom series at: http://www.thewildclassroom.com/home/ecogeeksvideos/biodiversit y.html 2. Habitat Scorecard (15 minutes) Demonstrate how to use Habitat Scorecard. a. Distribute Habitat Scorecard to pairs and evaluate garden area from perimeter to limit disturbance. 3. Bug survey (15 minutes) WARNING Students will be warned not to collect spiders. If any student observes a spider, they are to notify the teacher immediately. Conduct a bug survey to identify as many types of bugs in each study area. Finding lots of bugs is an indicator of the amount of biodiversity in that area of the school. Method: i Leaf litter survey – students in groups mark out approx 30 - 50 cm square with orange pegs along the perimeter of the garden . Students sift through leaf litter with the pointy end of their brush and collect bug specimens . Observatory Hill EEC – NSW Department of Education and Communities Equipment/ Resources 1 Interactive white board with internet connection (& one thumb drive) 2 Specimen jars (15) with magnifying glasses 3 paintbrush per student set (15 -1 between 2 ) 4 4 white sheets (tree shake) . 5 Orange pegs (4 per pair) 6 Habitat Scorecard (2x) 7Bug classification sheet (x2) 8 Bio Survey Data Sheet (one per pair) Students are not to touch any bugs but use the paint brushes provided to gently brush any bugs into the magnifier containers provided. Students classify and record examples of bugs they find using the Bug classification sheet. Students record these on the Bio Survey Data Sheet. As a follow-up all survey sheets can be collated in the Bio Survey Data collation sheet. ii Tree shake ( 4 sheets will be used so the class needs to be divided into 4 locations reacsonably close for supervision by the teacher.– The teacher will lay a white sheet around the base of a tree , students are to keep clear and a teacher will shake the tree to loosen any bugs in the foliage. This activity does not harm the bugs. Students collect the bugs using the brushes provided and carefully brush them into the specimen jars (with magnifying glasses) and then try to identify them using the Bug classification sheet. Students record these on the Bio Survey Data Sheet. A wide variety of bugs are an indicator of a more biodiverse playground. Follow up 1 Collate all Bio Survey Data Sheets into a database 2 Estimate from a school map how much of the school grounds contributes to biodiversity 3 What action could the school take to increase the area of biodiversity? Observatory Hill EEC – NSW Department of Education and Communities Bio Survey Data Sheet database STUDENT ACTIVITY SHEET Biodiversity Investigation Name: _____________________________ Watch the introductory clip from the Wild Classroom series (6mins) and answer the following questions: Q1 What does Biodiversity mean? Definition 1 – Total number of species in the world - How many species are there? _____________________________________________________________________ Definition 2 – What does genetic diversity mean? Definition 3 Ecosystem diversity - What does ecosystem diversity mean? Q2 Why is it important to protect biodiversity? . . . Q3 What is threatening biodiversity? . . . Q4 What can we do about biodiversity loss? . . . . . Q5 After you investigate your schools grounds, what conclusion can you make about it’s biodiversity? Q6 What suggestions can you make that would provide a better habitat for native organisms Observatory Hill EEC – NSW Department of Education and Communities TEACHER ANSWER SHEET Grow Plus - Stage 3 Biodiversity Investigation Version 1:/12 Name: _____________________________ Watch the introductory clip from the Wild Classroom series (6mins) and answer the following questions: Q1 What does Biodiversity mean? Definition 1 – Total number of species in the world How many species are there? Scientists are still not sure but more than 100 million Definition 2 – What does genetic diversity mean? The variety of characteristics within species Definition 3 Ecosystem diversity - What does ecosystem diversity mean? The variety of different ecosystems on earth like rainforests desserts and tundras Q2 Why is it important to protect biodiversity Biodiversity provides us with: Aesthetic places Medicines Food supply Future scientific studies of species interactions Q3 What is threatening biodiversity? Introduced species Habitat loss Disease Q4 What can we do about biodiversity loss? Set up preservation areas Protect biodiversity with rangers Plant native species Visit biodiverse area (ecotourism) to help locals protect areas Explore your local area to understand it’s biodiversity Q5 After you investigate your schools grounds, what conclusion can you make about it’s biodiversity? Q6 What suggestions can you make that would provide a better habitat for native organisms Observatory Hill EEC – NSW Department of Education and Communities Observatory Hill EEC – NSW Department of Education and Communities Observatory Hill EEC – NSW Department of Education and Communities Observatory Hill EEC – NSW Department of Education and Communities Observatory Hill EEC – NSW Department of Education and Communities