Wildlife on Greenham Common

AIMS This unit aims to give children an understanding of the value of GreenhamCommon as a habitat and home for a wide variety of flora and fauna. Focusing onsome of the rarer species that are attracted to the area, the children learn aboutconservation issues, life cycles as well as gaining an insight into why GreenhamCommon is so special.

WHAT DOES THIS UNIT CONSIST OF?

This unit consists of 5 different activities:

✪ What is it?

✪ Nightjar Dilemma

✪ Grizzled Skipper

✪ Butterfly Challenge

✪ Dartford Warbler

These units are designed to be stand alone, but teachers are encouraged to useseveral of the activities in order for the children to gain a fuller insight into thebiodiversity of the Common. All information is provided for the teacher, with threeof the activities using a PowerPoint presentation as the introduction. Used withinthe classroom, this provides a highly visual introduction for the class.Photocopiable activities are also provided.

Teachers’ Notes - Biodiversity

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What is it?This simple starter activity introduces the children to a number of species of moreunusual plants and animals that can be found on Greenham Common. Thechildren are presented with a list of names and asked to identify which they thinkare plants, which are butterflies and which are birds.

Follow-up activities could involve them finding out what these species look like.There are two versions of this activity, meaning it is suitable for use in both KeyStage 1 and 2.

A picture resource sheet is available with this unit, showing images of all theplants and animals listed.

CURRICULUM LINKS NC SCIENCE:

Sc2 - Life processes & living things

Teachers’ Notes - Biodiversity

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Nightjar DilemmaThis activity introduces a species of bird to the children that they are unlikely toknow about; the nightjar. Through a PP presentation, which can be used as astarter with the class, all the relevant information is provided for the teacher andthe class. The children then have to design a poster, informing local public why it isimportant to keep their dogs on a lead during breeding season on the Common.Suitable for upper KS 1 and KS 2

CURRICULUM LINKS NC Science:

Sc2 - Life processes & living things - Habitats

- Adaptation

- Conservation

Literacy: - Write for a range of purposes(Persuasive writing)

- Group discussion & interaction

Teachers’ Notes - Biodiversity

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Grizzled SkipperThis activity focuses on the life cycle of a butterfly found on the Common, thatchildren may not be familiar with. A PowerPoint presentation introduces thespecies to the children and explains the main parts of the lifecycle. Three activitysheets are available to follow this up. One is a simple matching activity of a simpletext to the life cycle pictures of the grizzled skipper (suitable for upper KS 1). Thesecond and third activities involve choosing the appropriate descriptions, from atext, to place on a life cycle diagram. (Suitable for KS 2)

CURRICULUM LINKS NC Science:

Sc2 - Life processes & living things: - Life cycles Literacy: Sequencing texts

Teachers’ Notes - Biodiversity

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Butterfly ChallengeCan you learn how to identify six of the commonest species of butterfly seen onthe Common? A PowerPoint Presentation, to use in the classroom or on individualcomputers, takes the class through identification tips for six species of butterfly. Itthen tests you to see if you can identify them. (Suitable for all key stages…. andadults!) A second PP is available with just the test, for individuals to use.

CURRICULUM LINKS NC Science:

Sc2 - Life processes & living things: - Variety of life Literacy: Group discussion/interaction

Teachers’ Notes - Biodiversity

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Dartford WarblerThere are two activities about the Dartford Warbler. The first, suitable for upper KS 1and KS2, provides children with information about the Dartford Warbler. They haveto use this to create an informative poster about the bird. A poster template with aline drawing of a Dartford Warbler is provided.

The second activity s more suited to Key Stage 2. Children are provided withinformation about the Dartford Warbler and encouraged to find out moreinformation. They must then produce a newspaper article about the bird. Anewspaper front page template is provided

CURRICULUM LINKS NC Science:

Sc2 - Life processes & living things: - Habitats

- Conservation

- Adaptation

Literacy: Write for a range of purposes: (newspaper article, informative texts,

interpreting & using texts

Teachers’ Notes - Biodiversity

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