Discovering Minibeasts
Programme: DISCOVERING MINI-BEASTS
Suitable for Key Stages 1 and 2 and available as a half-day activity.
Suitable for Key Stages 1 and 2 and available as a half-day activity.
Discovering Mini-beasts actively encourages children to explore the natural environment and understand more about the diversity of life. The activity focuses on insects, spiders, molluscs and other invertebrates to demonstrate a variety of sampling methods and to contrast different types of habitat for invertebrates.
ACTIVITY DETAILS
Discovering Mini-beasts begins in the classroom with an introduction which looks at the basic characteristics of invertebrates, particularly insects. Children view a series of slides which look at the main invertebrate groups and discuss herbivores, carnivores, omnivores and adaptations of the mini-beasts. Children are asked where they think mini-beasts might live and a discussion follows about their various habitats.
Based on the previous discussion children are asked to consider how we might collect different species from different places. Various methods of collection (sampling) are demonstrated (see below) and methods of identification and recording are explained. The need to return specimens to the places where they were found is emphasised.
Survey
The session leader splits the class into smaller groups and leads them outside to undertake a survey utilising a variety of different survey methods:
- Netting
- Beating
- Pit fall traps (optimum times are spring and autumn)
- Searching under logs and stones
- Sieving leaf litter and soil
- Direct observation
Each group will be able to attempt several different methods of collecting mini-beasts. Results are collected with the help of simple identification keys and charts.
Discovering Mini-beasts makes use of the extensive grounds, particularly woodland and grassland areas. The activity can be adapted to focus on comparisons between two different habitats, for example woodland and grassland, and to investigate the differing micro-environments.
Return to classroom
If time allows examples of two or more species are collected outside and taken back to the classroom where the childrens results are collated and discussed. Using the collected specimens, adaptation is looked at, focussing on how species might be well adapted to the places they live. A ‘creature feature’ sheet is completed by each child.
All sessions end with a summary of the childrens work.
CURRICULUM LINKS
Key Stage 1
Discovering Mini-beasts links with National Curriculum attainment targets in English and Science.
English The whole speaking and listening section.
Science Scientific enquiry (1, 2b, 2e, 2g, 2h, 2i).
Life processes and living things (4b, 5a, 5b, 5c).
Breadth of study (2a).
Key Stage 2
Discovering Mini-beasts links with National Curriculum attainment targets in English and Science.
English The whole of the speaking and listening section.
Science Scientific enquiry (2e, 2i, 2j)
Discovering Mini-beasts makes use of the extensive grounds, particularly woodland and grassland areas. The activity can be adapted to focus on comparisons between two different habitats, for example woodland and grassland, and to investigate the differing micro-environments.
Return to classroom
If time allows examples of two or more species are collected outside and taken back to the classroom where the childrens results are collated and discussed. Using the collected specimens, adaptation is looked at, focussing on how species might be well adapted to the places they live. A ‘creature feature’ sheet is completed by each child.
All sessions end with a summary of the childrens work.
CURRICULUM LINKS
Key Stage 1
Discovering Mini-beasts links with National Curriculum attainment targets in English and Science.
English The whole speaking and listening section.
Science Scientific enquiry (1, 2b, 2e, 2g, 2h, 2i).
Life processes and living things (4b, 5a, 5b, 5c).
Breadth of study (2a).
Key Stage 2
Discovering Mini-beasts links with National Curriculum attainment targets in English and Science.
English The whole of the speaking and listening section.
Science Scientific enquiry (2e, 2i, 2j)
Life processes and living things (4a, 4b, 4c, 5b, 5c).
Breadth of study (1d, 2a).
Breadth of study (1d, 2a).
This activity sheet is available to download as a word document from the right hand side.
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