Urban Biodiversity Outreach

Students will learn about the diversity and importance of urban nature, the benefits it brings, and the threats it faces. They will then plan and carry out a citizen science BioBlitz of a local space (park or school grounds), considering risk assessments, and will gain a deeper knowledge of invertebrate identification. Students can use the knowledge they have learned to address biodiversity in their school grounds through further action.

Learning Objectives:

To understand what biodiversity is and why it matters for resilience to climate change
To understand the main threats to biodiversity and how the global distribution of biodiversity is impacted by climate change
To collect citizen science data to address biodiversity in their local area
To gain a greater appreciation for urban nature and how to protect it

National curriculum links

KS3 Science

Interactions and Interdependencies

The interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem, including food webs and insect pollinated crops
The importance of plant reproduction through insect pollination in human food security
How organisms affect, and are affected by, their environment, including the accumulation of toxic materials.

Genetics and evolution

Changes in the environment may leave individuals within a species, and some entire species, less well adapted to compete successfully and reproduce, which in turn may lead to extinction

Working scientifically

Scientific attitudes

Evaluate risks

Experimental skills and investigations

Ask questions and develop a line of enquiry based on observations of the real world, alongside prior knowledge and experience
Make predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding

KS3 Geography

Human and physical geography

Understand how human and physical processes interact to influence, and change landscapes, environments and the climate; and how human activity relies on effective functioning of natural systems

KS3 PSHE guidance

Teaching should develop pupils’ understanding of democracy, government and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Pupils should use and apply their knowledge and understanding whilst developing skills to research and interrogate evidence, debate and evaluate viewpoints, present reasoned arguments and take informed action.

KS4 Science

Biology

Living organisms may form populations of single species, communities of many species and ecosystems, interacting with each other, with the environment and with humans in many different ways
Living organisms are interdependent and show adaptations to their environment
The chemicals in ecosystems are continually cycling through the natural world

Ecosystems

Some abiotic and biotic factors which affect communities; the importance of interactions between organisms in a community
The importance of biodiversity
Methods of identifying species and measuring distribution, frequency and abundance of species within a habitat
Positive and negative human interactions with ecosystems.

Earth and atmospheric science

Evidence, and uncertainties in evidence, for additional anthropogenic causes of climate change

Working scientifically

The development of scientific thinking

Appreciating the power and limitations of science and considering ethical issues which may arise

Experimental skills and investigations

Carrying out experiments appropriately, having due regard to the correct manipulation of apparatus, the accuracy of measurements and health and safety considerations
Making and recording observations and measurements using a range of apparatus and methods
Vocabulary, units, symbols and nomenclature
Developing their use of scientific vocabulary and nomenclature

KS4 Geography

How human and physical processes interact to influence, and change landscapes, environments and the climate; and how human activity relies on effective functioning of natural systems