Biodiversity
Biodiversity
The world is made of an amazing invisible web that we rarely recognise. Healthy biodiversity supports healthy ecosystems which make life possible. We can support biodiversity by encouraging wildlife and habitats, supporting conservation and connecting to nature through our senses.
The Biodiversity Topic has some natural overlap with Water, Litter & Waste, School Grounds and Health & Wellbeing.
Aimed at secondary school pupils, this SCQF level 4 course will support young people to develop their knowledge of key biodiversity concepts on how the natural world works and how we are dependent on its healthy functioning. It will build awareness of what positive action they might take to address the causes of biodiversity loss and skills to plan action for a nature positive future.
Interactive lessons and classroom resources to support your work on the Biodiversity Topic.
Resources
In this activity, pupil will learn about the myths surrounding our native trees, as well as getting to know the trees themselves better with a wonderful resource from Forestry Commission Scotland.
Create a comic strip about the story of a plastic bottle, a marine animal or anything else!
Experiences and Outcomes related to the Eco-Schools Biodiversity Topic.
Two activities, the first is a simple activity from Keep Wales Tidy to help young children understand food webs. The second is an activity from Keep Scotland Beautiful for older pupils, where pupils create a food web based on local animals and plants.
In this activity, pupils will explore myths and stories relating to trees and forests and use them as inspiration to create their own tales. .
This resource helps pupils connect to their local trees and plants, as well as our Gaelic cultural heritage. There are activities for younger and older pupils, which can be adapted to suit your individual setting. The activity was created in celebration of International Day of Forests, which takes place every year on 21st March.
Froglife’s experts share how to create ponds to support wildlife whatever space you have with lots of resources to support your own pond creation.
A simple STEM activity to help you estimate the height and age of a tree.
Dandelions are often considered weeds but they are a source of pollen and nectar for insects in the Spring.
A list of English and Gaelic texts with forests and nature as their subjects. The list includes fiction and non-fiction titles split by age range with suggested points for discussion to expand learning further.
This social script has been created using Boardmaker PCS symbols to explain how we can look after forests in simple terms.
Interactive lessons and classroom resources to support your work on the Biodiversity Topic.
In this activity, pupils will first explore sounds from nature, including sounds from inside a tree. They will then use natural materials to create their own music.
A series of activities produced by NatureScot that help children and young people understand their responsibilities in outdoor environments.
Author and illustrator Sally Anne Garland joins us to read her story ‘The Chalk Garden’ and teaches us how to draw some of the bugs we can see in our gardens.
Author and Illustrator Mini Grey reads her book "The Last Wolf", with resources to make a treehouse inspired by the story and grow trees from seed.
To gain a deeper appreciation for nature and its rhythms through the seasons.
A webinar from WWF Malaysia about the importance of biodiversity, the challenges and threats, as well as taking action from the Eco-Schools perspective.
We share our environment with thousands of other species - what wildlife lives near you?
This resource encourages pupils to find their local trees and forest and learn more about them through thinking about their various roles and interviewing local residents. They will then share their findings as stories, artworks or plays.
Lesson plan from Deutsche Welle in partnership with FEE.
Introducing people doing conservation work where they live. From Deutsche Welle in partnership with FEE.
What can we do to protect pollinating creatures? From Deutsche Welle in partnership with FEE
What can we do to protect forests? From Deutsche Welle in partnership with FEE.
Apply simple maths in a practical context to estimate the height and age of a tree.
Learn how trees help prevent flooding and pollution as part of the water cycle.
An engaging way for pupils to view the world from the perspective of the animals and plants that they share it with.
Investigate the value of pollinators and pollinator friendly plants. Adapted from a lesson created for the FEE Biodiversity Lesson Plan Competition.
Use natural materials to create art, connecting them to the natural landscape. Finished creations are left to nature, connecting pupils to natural cycles. Adapted from a resource created by FEE.
Take a tour of the Highland Wildlife Park to see how animals build their homes, follow up by inviting children to draw a home they would like to live in.
A series of lessons and resources helping pupils to design their own sustainable home and garden, including sustainability concepts, engineering, design and climate ready gardens.
A series of lessons and resources to introduce the concept of Net Zero, help pupils imagine what it could look like and how we will get there, including using your voice, nature's engineers, and the journey so far to Net Zero.
A series of lessons and resources including carbon footprints, nature, food, sea levels and examples of action, including experiments and thought provoking resources.
A series of lessons and resources covering the importance of all living things and how we can restore nature, including going behind the scenes at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh with resources to support nature connection and restoration.
Join storyteller Allison Galbraith for a story about Mikku who was granted special powers for not cutting down trees, with a follow up resource, encouraging children to create their own nature guardian to protect a space for nature.
Cuidichidh am prògram seo sgoilearan gus tuigse nas fheàrr fhaighinn air mar a tha gach pàirt den àrainneachd ceangailte agus cudromach nar beatha làitheil.
In association with West OS, join us for two Live Lessons exploring the amazing world of bats! In the first lesson we will look at bat biology, their role in the environment, and how to help how flying friends. The second lesson explores the relationship between bats, culture and heritage, with lots of resources all about bats to take learning further.
Lesson explaining how to take part in the RSPB Big Birdwatch to ensure accurate recording with associated Eco-Schools Action Plan
Tha Shona bho RSPB gar stiùireadh tro mar a dh’aithnicheas sibh eòin chumanta a dh’fhaodadh a bhith ri lorg anns na làraichean-sgoile agaibh. Tha i an uair sin a’ mìneachadh mar as urrainn dhuibh crìoch a chur air RSPB Big Schools Birdwatch.
Alice from Butterfly Conservation guides us through all the stages needed to create and maintain a wildlife meadow. Following the lesson, use our Action Plan to help you create your meadow.
To support pupils’ and adults’ connection to nature, we invite pupils to explore the Land Art movement and the work of British artist Andy Goldsworthy, and to create artwork representing what the phrase ‘Nature is Happiness’ feels to them.
A series of lessons and resources all about understanding nature using all our senses, including butterflies, bugs and birds.
Storyteller Allison Galbraith takes us on an imaginary trip to learn about some of Scotland’s wildlife using old folk tales, with an invitation to pupils to create their own story.
A series of lessons and resources exploring Scotland's native species, physical geography, rainforests and folk tales with activities to create a maps of Scotland.
Join RZSS for a visit to Edinburgh Zoo to see how animals of all sizes are important then write a poem inspired by one of the species they visit.
Explore different world habitats with a visit to the Highland Wildlife Park and tales from eco-journalist Sarah Roberts with resources to explore habitats in more detail and become and eco-journalist.
Lesson for high schools discussing Biodiversity COP15 and what young people can do to help protect and restore biodiversity with resources to hold a debate on wolf reintroduction and write campaign letters.
Live Lesson featuring a visit to the Highland Wildlife Park, learning how words can help us look after nature and how Fairtrade supports nature with invitations to write your own animal riddle and become a rainforest guardian.
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