Lesson Plan

8. Explore land use

KS4-07-17

Intent

Lesson Outcomes

  • Discover how humans reduce the amount of land available for animals and plants
  • Describe how the destruction of peat bogs reduces biodiversity, and releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

National Curriculum

  • Combined Science: how materials are cycled

Working Scientifically

  • Use appropriate techniques, apparatus, and materials during fieldwork and laboratory work, paying attention to health and safety
  • Make and record observations and measurements using a range of methods for different investigations; and evaluate the reliability of methods and suggest possible improvements

Resources

Handout: An investigation sheet for the students to complete.

Rocket words

  • decay
  • compost
  • carbon dioxide
  • atmosphere
  • climate

Implementation

Starter

Gather the children into groups and ask them to brainstorm different ways humans use land. Why do they need that land? What effect does this land use have on biodiversity? Ask them to try to think of ways to reduce the negative impacts of that land use.

Main Teaching

Answer questions and take part in activities during the presentation. 

Expert Film: This is Leah Mathias-Collins, who works with the RHS as the Group Environment Manager at Vitacress. Leah talks about land use.

Career Film: Dr Lauriane Chalmin-Pui works as a Wellbeing Research Fellow with the RHS.

Mission Assignment

Investigate the growth of plants in ‘peat free’ and peat based composts using the data presented in graphs and answer related questions.

Explain why the destruction of peat bogs is harmful to the environment.

Impact & Assessment Opportunities

Plenary

With their talk partners, the children are to go through the quiz at the end of the presentation and answer the questions.