KS3 Biology: Field studies
How do we understand the relationships between plants, animals and the environment? Take part in one of our field study challenges to find out.
Level
Duration
Allocated space
Overview
How do we understand the relationships between plants, animals and their environment? Take part in our field studies challenge to find out.
Get to grips with species richness, random sampling and abiotic measurements and examine populations within various microhabitats at Kew. Pupils will work collaboratively to create a hypothesis and design a sampling method. They will collect and interpret data and discuss their findings.
Learning outcomes
Pupils will be able to:
- Gain an understanding of basic sampling strategies, methods and equipment.
- Interpret and analyse the results.
- Justify the use of one method over another and suggest improvements for further sampling.
- Explain why ecologists use various sampling techniques.
- Discuss the complex interactions and impacts between plants, animals and the environment.
We will ensure learning outcomes focus on the year group taking part.
Keywords:
Ecology, environment, biodiversity, sampling, transect, abiotic, biotic, quadrat, invertebrates, identification, microhabitat, adaptations
Curriculum links
Science – Biology
Interactions and interdependencies – Relationships in an ecosystem
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The interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem.
- How organisms affect, and are affected by, their environment, including the accumulation of toxic materials.
Working scientifically
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Use appropriate techniques, apparatus, and materials during fieldwork and laboratory work, paying attention to health and safety.
- Make and record observations and measurements using a range of methods for different investigations; and evaluate the reliability of methods and suggest possible improvements.
- Apply sampling techniques.
