Habitat hunters!
Key Stage 1; year 2
Let’s explore the diverse habitats on offer in our Gardens and identify the many different plants that grow there and the animals that have made their home there.
From our watery habitats in the ponds, to the micro-habitats under logs, there’s something to hunt down and take a closer look at.
- Learning Outcomes
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Pupils will be able to:
- Explore and compare the differences between things that are living and dead
- Identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different animals and plants and how they depend on each other
- Identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
- Describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain and identify and name different sources of food.
- Activities
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A day’s programme does not necessarily include all the listed activities and can be adapted to suit individual needs and requirements. Normally we fit in four to five activities during your visit.
Activities Description and learning objectives Butterfly survival game Learn about the life cycle of a butterfly and what it needs in order to survive to maturity in its natural habitat. Colour sticky strips Create a sticky strip with different coloured petals and leaves found in the gardens. An art activity to take away. Curtain’s up Collect some leaf litter from the ground and make a unique piece of hanging art work for all to admire. Decay Game Consider the vital role mini-beasts play in breaking down the leaf litter found in our Gardens. They turn dead things back into new life- amazing! Estate Agents Have a go at building a safe and cosy ‘home’ for our woodland creatures. Think about how you can use the resources available to make the animal home perfectly suited to the habitat. Frog survival game Learn about the life-cycle of a frog and what it needs in order to survive to maturity in its natural habitat. Leaf match (Spring 2 term onwards) Take a closer look at our evergreen and deciduous trees and how they are perfectly suited to their habitat and the changing seasons. Minibeasts under logs Explore the micro-habitat of the minibeast world. What minibeasts lurk beneath the logs? Get up and close with our wriggly and slimy friends. Minibeasts in meadows (June-October) Explore the rich diversity of insects and meadow creatures in our Gardens. Will you be quick enough to catch them with our sweep nets? Pond dipping (Mid-March-October) Explore our watery habitat and see what creatures live on and below the surface of the water. You’ll be surprised at just how much variety of aquatic life there is to find. You’ve been framed Let’s go on a treasure hunt and see what leaf litter we can find, then use it to create a picture on the ground. Prefer a day with some cross-curricular activities? Take a look at our other Year 2 programmes and we’ll plan the day accordingly.
- Suggested pre-visit activities
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- Find out what a habitat and micro-habitat are and think about the different creatures that might live there
- Go and explore the different habitats in your local environment and see what’s living and growing there.
- Suggested post-visit activities
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- Give a presentation on the importance of protecting our habitats. What can we do in order to keep our plants and animals thriving?
- Make a booking