Download Biodiversity Investigation

 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