Science at key stage 3 (Year 8)

Unit 8D: Ecological relationships
Section 6: How do plants, animals and environmental conditions interact in a habitat? b) What lives there? (1)

Objectives

Children should learn:

to observe and record the organisms which comprise the living community in a habitat
to work safely with living things
to show sensitivity to living things in their environment

Activities		Outcomes
		Children:
Agree with pupils what data they are going to collect and show them ways of finding and observing living things in the habitat being studied. Make sure they understand issues relating to safe working and care for living organisms. Show pupils ways of collecting specimens of animals, eg using pooters. Provide pupils with resources, including keys, field guides to help them find, collect, and identify typical animals and plants that they may come across. If possible, help pupils to use a digital camera to make a record of the habitat and organisms found.		observe and record the organisms which comprise the living community in a habitat work safely with living things and show sensitivity to them make records in an appropriate way, eg using a digital camera

Points to note

A prepared spreadsheet template on a portable computer can help with the collection of data in the field.
If small invertebrates are removed from their habitat, ensure they are treated with care and returned as soon as possible. Avoid disturbing the habitat. Plants should not be removed unnecessarily. Stones or logs should be replaced if they are turned over.
Pupils could be reminded that most micro-organisms within a habitat will not be found in this kind of activity.

Safety

wash hands after handling animals. Pooter mouthpieces should be disinfected each time they are used. Wipe benches with disinfectant

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

Science at key stage 3 (Year 8)

Objectives

Activities

Outcomes

Points to note

Sections in this unit