Download Using Your Wildlife Feature Wild Flower Meadow

Using Your Wildlife Feature
Wild Flower Meadow
Activities and Links to the National Curriculum
English
 En1 Speaking and listening – Prepare and deliver a presentation about the importance of the
wildflower meadow in your school grounds. Use the area as a place for careful observation and oral
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descriptions. Listen to and perform poems inspired by life in the meadow. There will be opportunities
for group discussion, presenting ideas verbally and following oral instructions.
En2 Reading – Including reading for information (e.g. sowing and aftercare instructions), investigating
a range of texts and literature including poetry and fiction. (e.g. The Butterfly Lion)
En2 Writing – Including writing for a range of purposes – diaries (e.g. of the development of the
meadow or writing as a bee/butterfly visiting the meadow). Letters (to garden centres and parents
asking for donations of seed and time). Write interpretation boards giving information about the
meadow. Write instructions about seed collection, sowing and growing own plants for the meadow.
Be inspired by the peace of the meadow to write poems about the wildlife.
Mathematics
 Ma2 – Number and algebra – Opportunities for counting plant species found in quadrats, for
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estimating (e.g. how many plants in a certain area), for comparison with playing field. Using and
applying numbers, fractions, percentages (e.g. the percentage of plant species). Calculating and
problem solving all in real life contexts (e.g. Amount of seed needed).
Ma3 – Shape, space and measures – Measuring (e.g. heights of plants and size of flowers), consider
shape, pattern and symmetry in leaves.
Ma4 – Handling data – Process, represent and interpret data, from and about the meadow (e.g.
recording variety, heights and sizes of plants and creatures using appropriate graphs and recording
information about the weather and temperatures). These findings could be used year on year to
show how plant numbers and creatures vary with time.
Science
 Sc1 – Scientific enquiry – Lots of opportunities for this (e.g. how plants grow in light or shade, with or
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without water, which plants best attract bees/butterflies etc). Learn how to use sweep nets to collect
and study mini-beasts.
Sc2 – Life Processes and Living Things – Green plants – Learning about plants, their structures, how
they produce food by photosynthesis, grow, breathe and reproduce. The effect of light, air, water
and temperature on plant growth. Look at the life cycles of plants including pollination and seed
dispersal.
Sc2 – Variation and Classification – Identify plants and mini-beasts, making and using classification
keys.
Sc2 – Living things in their environment – Learn about plant adaptations (e.g. rosette plants). The
role of the plants in the food chain and feeding relationships in the habitat.
Sc3 –Materials and their properties – Grouping and classifying materials- Describe and group soils
based on their characteristics.
Sc3 – Separating Mixtures of materials – Separate soil particles of different size by sieving.
Sc4 – Vibration and sound - The sounds produced by bees and other visiting insects.
Sc4 –The earth and beyond – Seasonal change, light and shadows.
History
 Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Tudors, Victorians – Use the meadow to look at the history of
farming. Compare current farming methods with traditional practices.
Geography
 Enquiry and skills – Draw scale maps and plans of the meadow. Describe places and say why they
might change.
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Understanding environmental change – How unused land can be managed to attract wildlife. Make
plans for sustainable development of school grounds.
Art and design
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Many opportunities for observational drawing, colour mixing, painting, sculpture and printing.
Make models of flowers using recycled materials. These can be used to attract insects.
Look at the way different artists from different eras have portrayed flowers. (e.g. Van Gogh)
Weave long meadow grass and make collages from meadow plant material.
Design and make well-dressings from meadow plant materials.
Use flowers and wildlife as a starting point for design.
Design and technology
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Work collaboratively to design, make and evaluate scarecrows to hinder birds from eating newly
scattered seed.
Useful links with lots of ideas and activities
http://www.nwc.org.uk
http://www.rhs.org.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/living_things/plant_life_cycles/play.shtml
http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicgardening/schools-resources.php
http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/grassland/index.html
http://www.botanicalkeys.co.uk/flora/
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildsquare/
School Field Plant Survey Record Card
How Many Different Plants?
Write the name of each different plant in a separate box.
Draw the leaf/flower if you prefer.
School Field Plant Survey Record Card
How Many Different Plants?
Write the name of each different plant in a separate box.
Draw the leaf/flower if you prefer.
Derbyshire
Wildlife Trust
Identification Key for
Grassland Invertebrates
Derbyshire
Wildlife Trust
My Invertebrate
Recording Sheet
Derbyshire
Wildlife Trust
My Plant
Recording Sheet