The environment is the surroundings of a living thing, including other plants or animals, and the conditions they live in.

An endangered plant or animal is one that is at risk of becoming extinct.

An estimate is a quick calculation of what the size, value or amount of something might be.

A plant survey involves counting the numbers of different plants within an area to gather information.

A quadrat is a simple device for marking out a small area.

Changing environments: plants in danger

Science

In this Living things and the environment unit, pupils learn to explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name living things. In the Why we group and classify living things unit, they will build on this knowledge to give reasons why we classify plants and animals based on specific characteristics

In the Living things and where they live unit, pupils learnt that things can be grouped into: alive, dead and never alive. In this Living things in the environment unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to recognsie that living things can be grouped in a wider variety of ways

This unit focuses on grouping living things and using classification keys to identify and name them in various environments. It explores how environmental changes can pose dangers to organisms. Emphasis is on asking questions, collecting data, and using evidence to support conclusions.

Living things and the environment

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

Risk assessment required - outdoor learning

Plants depend on their {{ }} to contain what they need to grow and survive.

Which of these changes to an environment can cause danger to the plants within them?

Match the plant to the change that is happening in its environment.

Which methods are used by scientists to estimate the number of plants in an environment?

A {{ }} is used to mark a small square area to count plants and estimate their numbers in a larger area.

It can be difficult to count animals that move around.

It is more accurate than counting every plant or animal.

Animals are easier to sample because they are larger.

It is quicker than counting all the plants or animals separately.

Why do researchers use sampling techniques to estimate the number or plants or animals in a habitat?

Which of these things do plants need to grow and survive?

{{ }} is the surroundings of a living thing, including other plants or animals, and the conditions they live in.


There are lots of that animal or plant alive in the world.

There are no more of that plant or animal alive anymore.

The animal or plant is close to being extinct.

Which of these may cause an animal to become endangered?

count how many things they can see in one small area and scale it up

Which of these things might a researcher do to find out how many living things there are in an environment?

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - outdoor learning

Adult supervision required

Introduction

What will you need for this lesson?

Are you ready to learn?

Equipment

Content guidance

Supervision

Worksheet