The Secondary School Discovery Programme
The overall aims of the secondary school programme are to;
- Support the relevant parts of the national Curriculum and/or syllabus being followed by the school
- Allow students to develop the use of accurate and relevant experimental techniques.
- Develop effective methods of recording and storing ecological data
- Collate data that can be taken back to school and analysed in more detail which may form the basis of a coursework investigation
Schools should ensure that they have covered the relevant theory in schools so that the visit acts as a practical based experience to support class work already done and provide a basis for its extension. Techniques being used will be demonstrated and the purpose of their use explained. The results obtained will be discussed briefly in the field with some simple conclusions being drawn but more detailed analysis will be left for the class teacher to discuss on return to school.
Woodland and Grassland Ecology
You may choose as many or as few of the activities outlined below so that your syllabus requirements are met:
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Vegetation Sampling - Students will use quadrats and keys to identify common species, their abundance and distribution.
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Invertebrate Sampling - Students will use various sampling techniques such as pooters, pitfall traps, beating mats and sweep nets, and then identify their catch using keys.
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Mammal Trapping - Cruelty free traps are set to capture small mammals allowing students to consider the variety of organisms that make up an ecosystem and the way they are adapted to their environment.
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Abiotic Study - Students will measure the pH, light intensity, moisture levels and temperature to help explain patterns in plant species and distribution.
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Belt Transect - Students use this technique to assess the change in vegetation and abiotic factors that occur from the woodland to an area of open grassland.
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Tree Study - Students will identify tree species using keys and then calculate tree size, height, age and canopy size.
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Comparison Study - Students will survey both a woodland and grassland area using the same techniques so a comparison of plant and animal life can be made.
Freshwater Ecology
You may choose as many or as few of the activities outlined below so that your syllabus requirements are met:
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Invertebrate sampling - Students will sample different areas of the pond and use keys to discover where the different species live.
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Abiotic Study - Students will measure the pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrate content and turbidity of the water.
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Water Quality Assessment - Students will sample the pond for invertebrates and use indicator species to assess the pollution level of the habitat.
Team
Building
A number of different activities can be arranged for your Students. The activities will vary depending on the time of year but can include den building, egg drops and tug of war. Team building can take place as a stand alone activity or organised as a year/class competition. Please call to discuss the options open to you.
Can’t see what you’re looking for?
Don’t worry. Not everything is included in this programme, if you have a topic that you would like to cover or an idea in mind please call 01827 713438 to discuss further options.