Mini – Beast Identification
Target Audience
Key Stage 1/ 2
Link to the National Curriculum
NC Science Key Stage 2 states:
- “There is no surer way to enthuse children than to let them explore for themselves using their own immediate environment around the school grrounds”
Objective
- To enable children to identify mini-beasts with simple apparatus made by themselves
Download worksheet
What you need
- Stiff card
- Prepared mini- beast identification wheels
- Pritt sticks glue
- Laminating sheets( all schools have laminating machines)
- Brass butterfly fasteners (from any stationers)
- Schoolscissors/hammer /nails
What you do
- See the video clip on the website: www.practicalprimaryscience.co.uk
- Cut out the inner and outer circles from the tem-plates on the downloads
- Stick both wheels to stiff card
- Place the cutouts into a laminating folder and laminate. This will ensure longevity and usage in adverse weather conditions.
- Using a scissor cut out the circles including the triangular portion on the smaller circle
- Punch holes in the designated positionsand using the butterfly fasteners join them together
How it works
- The practice sheets( see download) will give the children a very clear understanding of how the apparatus works. Please note that the arrow on the small wheel points to the mini -beast in question and the triangular cutout refers to its attributes.
Group/Class Organisation
- It is vital that all children are given ample opportunity to practise using the mini-beast investigation wheels prior to any field trip.
Preliminary Activities
- This will take the form of discussion about the likely mini-beasts the children are likely to encounter. The use of coloured pictures would be useful for this purpose.
Follow up work
- Most schools have within close proximity Nature Field Centres to visit with experienced staff.
- Not to be forgotten is the rice resource of the school environment itself.
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