Minibeasts and where to find them: helping children learn about biodiversity

Are you looking for a way to take your classroom into the great outdoors? Minibeast hunts are a great way to do just that while bringing learning to life . But what are minibeasts and why should you spend time spotting them? Read on to find out more about these important animals.

What are minibeasts?

Minibeasts are officially called invertebrates. These are animals without backbones, like sea urchins, butterflies, spiders, snails, and crabs. Typically, minibeasts are found in micro-habitats like beneath logs, dead leaves, or in rock pools. They make up 96% of all creatures, and there are over 30,000 species of them in the UK. They’ve also been around for 550 million years. In fact, dragonflies existed on Earth before dinosaurs!

Benefits of minibeast hunts

Spend time outdoors

Minibeast hunts are an interactive way to encourage children to spend time outside. While they’re looking for insects and other invertebrates, they’re sure to be soaking up additional benefits at the same time. Outdoor learning is even great for teachers too.

Reinforce classroom learning

Learning about food chains and habitats in the classroom is an important part of the primary school curriculum. Minibeast hunts give your students a chance to apply what you’ve taught them in a practical way. If they’ve been learning about the life cycle of a butterfly or the characteristics of crustaceans, see if you can find these minibeasts in real life. Not only will it be a fun adventure for your class, but it’ll help bring their learning to life.

Minibeast hunts are also a way to organically practice numeracy skills. Ask students to count the number of animals they find, or the number of species they spot, bringing maths to life.

Have a break from screens

Similarly, minibeast hunts are a fun way to learn without screentime. It can be easy for children to spend large chunks of time on screens without even noticing. While a lot of digital content is educational and can support learning, taking a break is good for their developing minds and eyes.

Develop soft skills

Uncovering and identifying minibeasts offers a wonderful way to grow key soft skills like patience, communication, and teamwork. Finding new invertebrates is unlikely to be a quick exercise if you’re looking for specific species. So, spotting minibeasts will help your students practice waiting and enjoying the experience. If your pupils decide to work in groups as part of their search, they will also have to work together and communicate with each other to unearth minibeasts. These team exercises will also help strengthen the relationships between your students and inspire a love of nature in them.

Tips for going on a minibeast hunt

• The best time of year to spot minibeasts is when it’s warm. It’s best to go hunting in late spring and summer.
• Make sure to respect the animals and environment by returning animals and plants to where you found them.
• If you need to move minibeasts to get a better look, use a spoon or a twig to gently move them one at a time. This will reduce disturbance.
• Visit different habitats as part of your hunt. Look in bushes, under rocks, in long grass, and even in rock pools.