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Science at key stage 3    (Year 8)

Unit 8D: Ecological relationships
Section 10: How do plants, animals and environmental conditions interact in a habitat? c) Why do the communities differ in different habitats? (3)

QCA

Objectives
Children should learn:
  • that organisms show adaptations to environmental conditions
  • that both plants and animals are adapted to ensure the survival of the species

Activities

Outcomes
Children:
  • Ask pupils to make suggestions about how the conditions in each habitat influence the communities of organisms living there, eg by asking why there is more of this here than over there, and ways in which animals and plants are adapted for the problems of living within those environmental conditions, eg pond communities contain rooted plants on the fringe and floating plants in the middle of the pond, and an abundance of free-swimming animals, while fast-running streams may have plants with long, flexible stems, and animals adapted to holding on to a stony substrate.
  • Help pupils to present their work as a wall display, including images of animals and plants showing relevant adaptations.
  • describe organisms which show adaptations for particular habitats, and explain how these help the organisms to survive
  • explain that both plants and animals are adapted to ensure the survival of the species

Points to note
  • As a classroom-based alternative, ask pupils to search secondary sources of information, or use real data about the environmental conditions of the two habitats being compared, eg
    • temperature at different depths, flow rate, light intensity, availability of dissolved oxygen for two aquatic habitats
    • temperature, moisture, organic content, mineral content, pH for two soils
    • air temperature, humidity, light intensity, wind, for two terrestrial habitats

Sections in this unit

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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.
1. How can animals be classified? (1)
2. How can animals be classified? (2)
3. How can green plants be classified?
4. How do plants, animals and environmental conditions interact in a habitat? a) How can we collect data to answer questions about a habitat? (1)
5. How do plants, animals and environmental conditions interact in a habitat? a) How can we collect data to answer questions about a habitat? (2)
6. How do plants, animals and environmental conditions interact in a habitat? b) What lives there? (1)
7. How do plants, animals and environmental conditions interact in a habitat? b) What lives there? (2)
8. How do plants, animals and environmental conditions interact in a habitat? c) Why do the communities differ in different habitats? (1)
9. How do plants, animals and environmental conditions interact in a habitat? c) Why do the communities differ in different habitats (2)
10. How do plants, animals and environmental conditions interact in a habitat? c) Why do the communities differ in different habitats? (3)
11. How do plants, animals and environmental conditions interact in a habitat? d) How big are the populations in the habitat? (1)
12. How do plants, animals and environmental conditions interact in a habitat? d) How big are the populations in the habitat? (2)
13. How do living things in a community depend on each other? (1)
14. How do living things in a community depend on each other? (2)
15. Reviewing work