Lesson Planning
Upper Key Stage 2 Earth Matters - NEW LOOK
Biomes - NEW LOOK
Create a Biome in a Bag and a DIY ‘Eden Project’ with its own mini guide or poster, based on their research using maps, globes, websites and a visit to a manmade biome. This block teaches the children about the key aspects of climate zones, biomes and ecosystems.
Session 1 Biomes of the World
Objectives
Geography
- Describe and understand climate zones and biomes.
- Use maps, atlases and globes to locate countries.
- Begin to learn about indigenous populations of different biomes and how climate affects their lives.
Enquiry question
What is a biome?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Understand the term ‘biome’ and identify biomes of the world.
- Understand features of biomes, including vegetation, wildlife and climate.
- Begin to identify indigenous peoples of the biomes.
- Using research, role-play as a person living in the researched biome.
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Internet access
Non-fiction books
Weblinks
Try using Kiddle to search for appropriate information on biomes or look at the National Geographic, BBC Bitesize, Earth Observatory Nasa
Session 2 Light, water and nutrients
Objectives
Geography
- Describe and understand climate zones and biomes.
Science
- Understand evaporation, condensation and precipitation.
- Begin to understand photosynthesis.
Find out how different climate impacts vegetation.
Enquiry question
How does climate affect vegetation in a biome?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Understand the water cycle.
- Understand how biomes need the right conditions to generate growth – light, heat and food.
- Begin to gain an understanding of photosynthesis.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
2-litre plastic bottles
Large freezer bags
Small pebbles/gravel
Potting soil
Seeds (anything quick-growing – cress, beans, grass etc.)
Water
A window sill
Freezer blocks
A camera
Session 3 Visit to a Biome
Objectives
Geography
- Describe and understand climate zones and biomes.
- Closely observe and then draw animals/plants.
Science
- Identify how animals and plants are adapted to cope with life in their biome.
Enquiry question
How have plants and animals adapted to live in this particular biome?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Experience at first hand a natural/artificial biome, including vegetation and wildlife.
- Understand and empathise with people who live in a particular biome, by having a glimpse into the temperatures, vegetation and wildlife they experience.
- Look closely at the vegetation of the biome, by undertaking life drawing.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
This session does not need any provided resources.
You Will Also Need
Clipboards, pencils and paper
Suggested artificial biomes include: The Eden Project, Cornwall; The Living Rainforest, Berkshire; Discover Amazonia, Motherwell
Your local Wildlife Trust may offer school visits to study an ecosystem on one of their reserves.
Session 4 Save our biomes!
Objectives
Geography
- Describe and understand climate zones and biomes.
- Understand the delicate interdependent nature of ecosystems and consider global environmental problems and solutions.
English
- Use research to inform persuasive written and spoken argument.
Enquiry question
How can we save our biomes?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Comprehend the delicate interdependent nature of ecosystems.
- Know about global environmental problems and solutions.
- Use our research to inform our writing.
- Create posters and give presentations that include persuasive arguments.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
This session does not need any provided resources.
You Will Also Need
Non-fiction books for research
Materials for poster making (large sheets of paper, colouring pencils/pens/crayons, etc.)
Weblinks
Video on the effects of the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone Park
Video on how elephants generate forest from BBC
Biome conditions from blueplanetbiomes
Balance in biomes and Savanna from bioexpedition
Grasslands and Tundra from UCMP Berkeley
On YouTube: Video on Alpine tundra; Video on the Arctic tundra and the problems related to losing permafrost; Video on the Taiga the biome with the least but important range of biodiversity; Video from WWF on the importance of the rainforest
NB: Please watch videos and check links BEFORE sharing with your class
Weblinks
Coastal erosion at Holderness, East Yorkshire - YouTube clip
News report: Norfolk floods from bbc.co.uk
News report: tidal surge on the east coast from bbc.co.uk
News report: Strong winds in Milford-on-sea from bbc.co.uk
Session 5 Build a model Eden project?
Objectives
Geography
- Describe and use information about climate zones and biomes.
DT
- Select and use materials to build a model.
Enquiry question
Can we make a biome using what we have learned?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Understand the features of our chosen biome by building a model of it.
- Construct a model Eden Project selecting suitable materials for the content.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
Glue
Card; Paint
Tissue paper
Straws
Modelling foliage/painted sponge
Clear plastic
Domed cup lids/large plastic bottles
A camera
Weblinks
The Eden Project website
Session 6 Come and visit!
Objectives
Geography
- Describe and understand climate zones and biomes.
English
- Write a tourist guide/poster for the biome made in the previous session, considering what information is necessary and interesting.
Enquiry question
How can we attract people to visit our biome?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Understand that the threats faced by the various biomes of the world are serious and urgent.
- Create a tourist guide/poster using appropriate language and style.
Lesson Planning
Provided Resources
This session does not need any provided resources.
You Will Also Need
Materials for poster/guide making (large sheets of paper, colouring pencils/pens/crayons, etc.).
Biomes and photographs of the biomes made in session 5, preferably on the IWB.
Weblinks
The Eden Project website