5-7 Years (Key Stage 1)

Quest 4: Mini-beast Traps

Process:

• Teacher introduces Quest • Children are shown the location where traps will be set • An opportunity to study which mini-beasts can be located in the area would prove useful • Back in class children are organized into groups of 3-5

Product Success Criteria:

• Each group will produce a diagram / design brief of their trap • They will specify what creatures they are hoping to trap and how the trap will work effectively • The trap should not harm the mini-beasts in any way • Each group should give a name to their invention • The trap should be constructed in 45 minutes

Conclusion:

• Each group should make a 3-5 minute presentation to the class, explaining their plan, the process involved in making and their predictions regarding success. It might prove helpful to allow time for a constructive feedback from other children.

• Mini-beast traps are set in location

Development:

Monitor and record the effectiveness of the traps:

Q: What was caught?Q: Did the trap meet success criteria in not harming any creature? Q: Did they trap anything unexpected?Q: Was there evidence of other visitors (i.e. tracks?)

Further Study:

Teachers might like to extend the project by giving time for the modification of traps in the light of experience.

Please refer to Quest 9 (KS2 Programme for extension and study of bromeliads)

Topic Heading: Mini-beast Traps

Task: We are going to design a mini-beast trap

Time: • 1 session for design

• 1 session for making

• An allocated time for monitoring activities

Materials: At the teacher’s discretion, some access must be made to materials that are water resistant