Skip Navigation

Minibeasts

This hands on day explores the world of minibeasts at Skelton, through lots of outside activities. We explain to the group that it is the time of year when the minibeasts at Skelton are looking forward to going on holiday, and that they need a passport to take with them.  The children’s job is to make the passport by finding out as much as they can about their chosen creature.  We start by spending the morning outside and looking closely at real minibeasts in the wildlife area, and then make a model out of recycled materials and complete a simple passport.

National Curriculum Summary

Sc2

Sc2 Life Processes and Living Things:
Living things in their environment - we find out about living things in the local environment, thinking about why different things live in different places and how we can contribute to looking after them.
Humans and other animals - we learn that minibeasts need to be treated with care and sensitivity

Main National Curriculum links

Sc2 2e, 5a, 5b, 5c

Availability

March to October

Day Summary

The day begins with an introduction by the day leader, welcoming the group to the centre, followed by a whole-class game or activity.

The children then split into groups (normally 3) for the day's activities: Minibeast Hunting, Minibeast Modelling, Minibeast Passports.

Minibeast Hunting

We go outside into the wildlife garden and look for minibeasts in several different habitats, including the pond, woodland and meadow.  We show the children how to collect the creatures gently and safely,  and look at them using bug jars and magnifying glasses, thinking about their colour, shape, number of legs, how they move and other easily observable characteristics.

Minibeast Passport

So that the minibeasts can go on holiday the children must make them a passport.  Following their close observation of their chosen creature, and using some simple books, the children make their minibeast a passport, drawing a ‘photograph’ and where the minibeast lives.

Minibeast Modelling

The children use a range of ‘junk’ materials to make models of their minibeast – and they really have to make sure it looks like the real thing otherwise they won’t get past passport control!

At the End of the Day

The children take their passport and model to passport control where they receive a special stamp.  They can then take their creations back to school.
:: last modified 9 Feb 2007 ::