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…
Turtle Life Cycle (Age 7-11)
This resource produced by ARKive supports the teaching of life-cycles at Key Stage Two. It looks at mammals, amphibians, reptiles and plants and finds similarities between the life cycles of animals and plants within each group, as well as some of the similarities and differences between these groups. There is a focus on the…
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…
Web of Wildlife (Age 7-11)
This resource, produced by ARKive, is designed to teach Key Stage Two children about food chains, food webs and interdependence in different habitats around the world. A presentation using high quality images introduces the structure of simple food chains, food webs and how different organisms within ecosystems depend on each other…
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 16-18)
From ARKive, this hands-on activity is designed to remind post-16 students about the concepts 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…
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…
Plants (Age 7-11)
This resource, from ARKive, is designed to teach students aged 7-11 years about the main parts of a plant and their primary functions. Children complete a worksheet-based activity in which they must label and colour the main plant parts. This includes listing the function of each part. Children learn about some of the different…
Sizing Up Species (Age 7 - 11)
Produced by ARKive, this series of activities is designed to teach children about measurement and the different sizes of animal and plant species. Children compare their estimates of a species’ length to its actual dimensions and compare it to their own heights. In the first session, children work individually or in pairs…
What Is an Endangered Species? (Age 7 - 11)
From ARKive, this creative activity is designed to teach 7-11 year olds about endangered species, what it means to be endangered and what causes a species to become endangered. It also features examples of conservation in action and ideas for how the students can help. After a presentation, each student is given an Endangered…
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 •…
Guess Zoo
Guess Zoo is fun animal guessing game, produced by ARKive, that can be used to introduce or support several lesson themes, for example species diversity, adaptations, habitats and classification. Using a set of species cards, students have to work out what the animal on a card is by asking each other questions about it's…
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
Marvellous Mini-beasts: Design a Species (Age 7-11)
In this activity, produced by ARKive, children learn about the concept of adaptation. They create and design a new species of mini-beast and learn how different species are adapted to survive in particular habitats. The activity could be undertaken in class or set as a homework activity. This creative activity is designed to teach…
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…
Design a Conservation Programme: Graphic Science (Ages 14-16)
In this ARKive activity, students research and design their own conservation programme to learn about the importance of biodiversity as well as the economic benefits and services ecosystems provide. Using examples of successful conservation programmes within the UK Overseas Territories, students learn about the fine balance of an…
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.
Darwin and Natural Selection
In this activity from ARKive, students look for similarities between the basic body plans of different vertebrates as evidence of evolutionary change. This customisable PowerPoint presentation builds the scientific explanation of natural selection by illustrating four key observations: All organisms produce more offspring than…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Presentation
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.