Big idea: Organisms and their environments
All organisms, including humans, depend on, interact with and affect the environments in which they live and other organisms that live there.
'Organisms and their environments' is one of 15 big ideas of science in the Best Evidence Science Teaching collection. Understanding of the big idea is built up by a series of key concepts at age 11-16, which have been organised into teaching topics.
The research-informed resources for each key concept make up a progression toolkit that provides:
appropriately-sequenced steps for learning progression
diagnostic questions to reveal preconceptions and common misunderstandings
response activities to challenge misunderstandings and encourage conceptual development.
Resources for age 11 to 14
Topic 1: Interdependence of organisms
Key concept 1
Food chains and food webs
Key concept 2
Interdependence within ecosystems
Topic 2: Organisms in their environment
Key concept 1
Ecosystem components and dynamics
Topic 3: Biodiversity and human impacts
Key concept 1
Biodiversity, conservation and sustainability
Resources for age 14 to 16
Topic 4: Interdependence of organisms
Key concept 1
Trophic levels and biomass transfer
Is there a recommended teaching order?
The Best Evidence Science Teaching resources can be incorporated into your existing scheme of work, if desired.
However, we have used research evidence on learning pathways and on effective sequencing of ideas to develop maps that suggest how key concepts can be sequenced to build understanding of big ideas of science. These maps can help with curriculum planning.
