From the Charles Darwin Trust, these materials help students to consider the concept of how species are sustainable and how changes in the environment can lead to extinctions.

The activities look at how human activities have impacted on the Galapagos Islands since Darwin's visit. This includes effects on...

This Nuffield Secondary Science theme suggests ways to help students arrive at an understanding of aspects of interdependence, and an appreciation of the importance of animal and plant conservation. The laboratory investigations develop from problems identified during...

This is one of a suite of continuing professional development (CPD) units from the Department for Education covering the five ‘key ideas’ at Key Stage Three (cells, interdependence, particles, forces and energy). It links with the...

This study guide is one of a suite, from the Department for Education, designed to support the development of aspects of subject knowledge. It was been designed to link with the Progression Maps, the Revised Framework for teaching Secondary Science and Assessing Pupils...

This CLIS report was intended to provide a longer term perspective on changes taking place in students’ understanding over the compulsory school years. The aim of the study was to inform teachers and curriculum designers about the ideas that students bring to and...

This resource is an interactive activity which aims to provide an introduction to the lowland heathland habitat. The five topics relating to lowland heathlands covered by the resources include: • The biotic components of lowland heathlands, focusing on plants • The biotic components of lowland heathlands, focusing...

In this activity students evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using biological control to halt the invasion of common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia. This is an invasive plant which is spreading across Europe. Because of illness caused by its allergenic pollen and competition with crops, it costs...

Robert is a temperate horticultural curator at the Eden Project.  Curriculum links could include biodiversity, human impact on the environmental science, photosynthesis, limiting factors, plants, ecosystems, biomes, nutrient cycling, habitats, interdependence....

These activities allow students to model how environmental scientists compare diversity in different ecosystems by using ordinary playing cards as ‘species’ to generate data to calculate Simpson’s Diversity Index. This can be completed in a single lesson. Some students find the concept of species diversity quite...

In this ARKive activity, students research and design their own conservation programme to learn about the importance of biodiversity as well as the economic benefits and services ecosystems provide. Using examples of successful conservation programmes within the UK Overseas Territories, students learn about the...

This resource suggests a number of investigations into bee behaviour which can be used to:

• develop an understanding of the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem, including food webs and insect pollinated crops
• consider the importance of insect pollination in human food security
...

This field study encourages students to act as environmental scientists to compare two heathlands one of which has been grazed, one of which has not. Students use the data collected to decide which heathland is better in terms of the plant species present, especially heathers, and soil chemistry.

Four...

With the increasing pressure of a growing human population it is becoming increasingly difficult to conserve natural habitats. Ultimately, not every green space can be afforded conservation protection. This field study encourages students to act as environmental scientists to compare different habitats and decide...

The Birmingham Institute for Forest Research (BIFoR) is home to the BIFoR F...