KS3 Why do trees matter
Pupils discover the wonderful world of trees and what they can teach us in our wild botanic garden.
Level
Duration
Allocated space
30 pupils
Pupils explore the role trees play within a healthy ecosystem, and their role in climate change, carbon storage and wellbeing.
This workshop can be booked on its own or with the Woodland discovery workshop as a whole day visit.
Learning outcomes
We design our sessions to match the learning outcomes in the national curriculum. Our sessions have a cross-curricular approach and are tailored to suit the educational needs of your group. We aim to give pupils opportunities to work scientifically in areas that are difficult or impossible to create in the school environment.
Pupils will have the opportunity to:
- investigate and appreciate the importance of trees
- measure tree age, microclimate and height
- calculate the carbon stored in a tree during its lifetime
- discuss the role of trees in the carbon cycle and their use in combatting climate change
- discuss and experience the wellbeing effects of trees
- explore other benefits of tree cover such as reducing soil erosion
Curriculum links
This KS3 visit supports and enhances the Science and Geography curriculum offered in schools.
Geography
- collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through fieldwork that deepens understanding of geographical processes
- understand how human and physical processes interact to influence and change landscapes, environments and the climate; and how human activity relies on effective functioning of natural systems
Science
- 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, suggesting possible improvements
- apply mathematical concepts and calculate results
- use and derive simple equations and carry out appropriate calculations
Biology
Material cycles and energy photosynthesis
- the reactants in, and products of, photosynthesis, and a word summary for photosynthesis
- the dependence of almost all life on Earth on the ability of photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, to use sunlight in photosynthesis to build organic molecules that are an essential energy store, and to maintain levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Chemistry
Earth and atmosphere
- the carbon cycle
- the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the impact on climate.
