Adaptations to Arid Climates (Age 11-14)
In this ARKive resource, students learn about how different animals and plants are adapted to surviving in arid habitats. Working in groups, students design and carry out an experiment aimed at testing the effectiveness of different adaptations in reducing water loss. Using a worksheet as guidance, students also compare species…
Invasive Species (Age 11-14)
This resource from Arkive allows students to investigate the impacts that invasive species have on the environment, the effects that they have on native species and habitats, and the characteristics that make certain species good invaders. The activity looks at the different ways in which invasive species can potentially be controlled…
Endangered Species Egg Decorating (Age 7-11)
This resource, produced by ARKive, combines art and science to create models of endangered species. Children choose their favourite threatened species and study their key features. They then decorate an egg to look like their chosen endangered animal and present their completed design to the rest of the class, explaining why it is…
ARKive School Museum (Age 11-14)
Produced by ARKive, this series of activities teaches students about endangered species through the creation of an interactive museum. The ARKive School Museum presentation looks at examples of endangered species and explains the concept of an ARKive School Museum. Students then research an endangered species using the ARKive…
ARKive School Museum
Produced by ARKive, this series of activities teaches students about endangered species through the creation of an interactive museum. Children learn about endangered species through the ARKive School Museum presentation and then choose an endangered species to research. They then produce an exhibit by creatively presenting information…
Newly Discovered Species (Age 11-14)
Produced by ARKive, this resource teaches Key Stage Three children about biodiversity and classification whilst developing skills in independent research, collaboration and scientific thinking. It also gets students thinking about how scientists plan expeditions and surveys. A presentation introduces biodiversity and explores…
Newly Discovered Species (Age 7-11)
Produced by ARKive, this resource teaches Key Stage Two children about classification, variation and how to create and use their own classification keys. A presentation introduces biodiversity through images of a range species and looks at how new species are still being discovered by scientists. Following the presentation, children…
Opposable Thumbs (Age 11-14)
In this resource, produced by ARKive, students explore the role of the opposable thumb in primates and look at how this adaptation helps many different species in accomplishing tasks essential for survival. A presentation introduces the definition of an opposable thumb and looks at species that have this adaptation and the purposes…
Animals Over Winter (Age 7-11)
This resource, produced by ARKive, is designed to teach Key Stage Two children about the strategies animals adopt to survive winter in temperate zones and about the adaptations exhibited by animals in the polar regions. Children compare these strategies and identify similarities and differences in the ways animals are adapted…
Human Impact on the Environment (Age 14-16)
From Arkive, this presentation and activity are designed to teach students aged 14-16 about the concept of human impacts on the environment. The presentation explains how human impacts can directly affect species survival, using plastic waste as an example. The activities then encourage students to consider how the impact of plastic…
Human Impact on the Environment (Age 11-14)
From Arkive, this presentation and activity are designed to teach students aged 11-14 about the concept of human impacts on the environment. The presentation explains how human impacts can directly affect species survival, using plastic waste as an example. The activities then encourage students to consider how the impact of plastic…
Adaptations for Movement (Age 11-14)
Produced by ARKive, this creative activity is designed to teach students aged 11-14 years about the theory of adaptation. It does this by looking specifically at animals' adaptations for movement through different types of habitats. Students learn the definition of adaptation and why animals need adaptations to move successfully…
Biodiversity and Evolution (Age 14-16)
Produced by ARKive, these materials encourage students to gain an understanding of biodiversity, evolution and Darwin’s theory of natural selection. By investigating biodiversity and the process of evolution students learn how traits beneficial for survival are selected for and genetically passed on to successive generations. Students…
Temperate Rainforest in the Pacific Northwest (Age 7-11)
Produced by ARKive, these materials include a series of activities that introduce children to the plants and animals of the temperate rainforest in the Pacific Northwest (USA). Children conduct a hands-on investigation of the living things in a small local ecosystem, catalogue their findings and then compare their findings to…
Who Wants to Be a Zoologist?
Produced by ARKive, a database of stunning natural history images, this activity is designed to teach students aged 11-14 about the identifiable features of different types of animals and how they are classified. The activity is also suitable for students aged 14-16 and beyond. Using a quiz format, students use their knowledge…
ARKive on Tour
Produced by ARKive, these materials are designed to teach students aged 11-14 about the variety of habitats worldwide and the diversity of species found in each habitat. The activity also highlights topics including interdependence, adaptation and how species evolve specialised features. Working in groups, students are allocated…
Galapagos Conservation (Ages 16-19)
From ARKive, these resources help students to learn about the Galapagos Islands, their biodiversity and conservation. Through a series of activities, students look at: • the scientific history and importance of the Galapagos Islands • the species that inhabit the islands including the concept of endemic species •…
Exploring the World's Biodiversity
Produced by ARKive, this series of lessons allows students to learn about the variety of species around the world using the maps and species fact cards included in the support materials. By learning the definitions of biodiversity, species, habitat and ecosystem, students understand the importance of each concept and draw relationships…
5/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Activity sheet
Classification
In these two Key Stage Three activities from the ARKive collection, students learn about why species are classified, the ways in which this can be done and the key characteristics of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects. In the first activity, students play the Guess Zoo game to help them understand the differences…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Game
Penguin Diversity: Mask Making (Age 5-7)
Through this fun and creative activity, from the ARKive collection, students learn about the different types of penguin species and how they have adapted, physically and behaviourally, to live in different environments. Each student is provided with the materials to make a mask showing one species of penguin, which they explain…
Dinner at the Reef: Food Chains (Age 7 - 11)
Published by the ARKive Project, this fun and interactive game explores food chains in a marine environment, predator-prey relationships and the fine balance of an ecosystem. The resources include teachers notes and students activity sheets.
Biodiversity Hospital
In this ARKive activity, students work in medical teams and balance competing priorities for the conservation of an endangered species and devise a ‘treatment’ plan. Students learn the importance of biodiversity and species conservation, the fine balance of the ecosystem and how to measure competing priorities.
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Activity sheet
ARKive's Adaptation: Design a Species Activity (Age 11-14)
This ARKive activity is designed to teach Key Stage Three students about the concept of adaptation. Using the marine environment as an example, students learn about how different animal species are adapted physically or behaviourally to survive in a particular type of habitat. Students research an allocated habitat, taking into account…
- 4/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Teacher guidance
ARKive's Adaptation: Design a Species Activity (Age 7-11)
This creative activity from ARKive is designed to teach Key Stage Two students about the concept of adaptation. Using the marine environment as an example, students learn about how different species are adapted physically or behaviourally to survive in a particular type of habitat. Students then design their own species adapted to…
Evolution - Family Ties
In this activity from ARKive students observe images and video material (with web access) of different primates. The activity presents evidence for a common ancestor shared by different animal groups.
Evolution - Peppered Moth
In this activity from ARKive students observe images and video material (with web access) of pale and dark forms of peppered moth. The activity uses the relative number of pale and dark forms in different environments as a model for evolution.
Evolution - 'Descent with Modification'
In this activity from ARKive students look for similarities between the basic body plan of different vertebrates as evidence of evolutionary change.
Sharks and Rays
In this activity from ARKive, students use a key to identify several species of shark and ray. Extension questions use video of shark movement available on the ARKive website as a context to discuss adaptation.
Darwin's Finches
Produced by ARKive in this resource students observe images of different species of finches from the Galapagos Islands. The activity supports students in producing a simple key.