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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Produced by ARKive this resource aimed at Key Stage Two is a collection of eight animal symmetry worksheets. Children are asked to complete the reflection of various animals to show that they exhibit reflective symmetry. Each sheet also includes an image of the animal and key facts about it. The resource uses four animals from…
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…
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…
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…
This is a Bingo activity from Arkive which can be used outside the classroom. Children are asked to circle living things they see on their sheet whilst on a field trip or nature walk. If they get four in a row they can shout 'Bingo'. This leads to a discussion on where the different species were found which can lead onto…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Produced by ARKive, this hands-on activity is designed to teach 5-7 year olds about nocturnal animals and the senses they employ to navigate life in the dark. Humans rely heavily upon the sense of sight and these activities explore the ways other animals have become adapted to life where and when light is less readily available. The…
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…
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…
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 •…
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…
Produced by ARKive, this engaging activity introduces students to the concept of endangered species and what it means when a species becomes extinct. After a class discussion about endangered species and the different endangered statuses, knowledge is reinforced by playing Endangered Species Bingo. The 'caller' has a set…
Produced by ARKive, this engaging activity introduces students to the issues around endangered species. A presentation describes what is meant by an endangered species and leads into work using the ARKive web site. The ideas in the presentation are reinforced using the bingo game. The 'caller' has a set of cards, each…
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…
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…
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…
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…
This ARKive game teaches students the main principles of sexual selection and the difference between intrasexual and intersexual selection. Using species from ARKive as examples, students discover why some animals have ornaments to attract mates (intersexual selection) while others have weapons to fight for mates (intrasexual selection).
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