Resources by Open Air Laboratories (OPAL)

Air Survey - What Can Lichens Tell Us about Air Quality?

This resource consists of two field work activities. The first records lichens on trees as an indicator of air quality and the second looks for tar spot fungus on sycamore leaves. This links to curriculum work on plants, habitats, air quality and improving the environment. This resource includes a workbook, field...

Biodiversity Survey - What Wildlife Is Supported by Your Hedge?

This resource is suitable for use when teaching habitats, plant and animals in the local environment and interdependence and adaptation. There are detailed notes on how to make a bug spy pot to observe any animals closely for a short time. Also included are a workbook, field guide, invertebrate guide and group...

Bugs Count - What Bugs Are Living Near You?

Carry out a survey on how many bugs are found in a certain area and add to a national survey. This resource fits in with the curriculum topics of animals in the local environment, habitats, and interdependence and adaptation.

There are six key species to watch out for: Two-spot Ladybird, Devil’s Coach Horse...

Climate Survey - How Do We Affect Our Weather and Climate?

This resource can be used when teaching about the weather and environment. It contains four activities which are:

* Measuring contrails in the sky
* Measuring wind direction at cloud height
* Using bubbles to measure wind direction at our height
* Answering questions about how hot or cold...

Designing Investigations

This resource, from the University of Nottingham, describes a number of investigations which could be carried out in heathland habitats. Heathlands are excellent habitats to use for designing and carrying out experiments. Plants are often relatively easy to identify when compared with other habitats and...

Education pack: classification

This resource supports the teaching of classification at upper primary and lower secondary level. It contains a series of three lessons, plus two extension lessons and associated PowerPoint presentations and resource sheets. Lessons are:

1. What is...

Education Pack: Food Chains

Aimed at primary learners, this resource aims to develop an understanding of some of the food chains within a woodland habitat. Linked to the topics of animals and all living things, it includes a matching activity, a game and a simulation of a food web. Teacher...

Education Pack: Life in Ponds

In this resource, produced by OPAL (Open Air Laboratories), children take part in a pond dipping session and then try to identify the different animals they find. A second activity looks at water quality and how the presence of certain species can indicate how clean the water is.

Designed for use in the...

Education Pack: Minibeasts - Invertebrate Survey

This resource, produced by OPAL (Open Air Laboratories), aims to develop an awareness that there are different kinds of invertebrates in the environment which have different habitat requirements. It links to the topics of minibeasts, habitats and classification and is designed for use outside the classroom when...