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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.

Main National Curriculum Links

Sc2 5a, 5b, 5c

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the day children will be able to:

  • identify differences between some local habitats and the minibeasts that live there
  • talk about some of the minibeasts they found and explain that they are found in particular habitats where they can find the food they need and conditions are right for them
  • say how creatures are the same in some ways and different in others
  • describe one minibeast in detail, and talk about where where it lives, how it grows and changes and what it eats
  • understand the importance of looking after our natural environment, and the plants and animals that live there

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 (usually 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. We also encourage the children to think about how they change during their life cycle, what they might eat, and who might eat them - they can use books to find out as much information as possible.

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 books, the children make their minibeast a passport, drawing a ‘photograph’, and finding out as much as possible about what they might eat, their life cycle and their habitat.

Minibeast Modelling

The children use a range of ‘junk’ materials to make accurate 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.

 

Visit our Links page to find some fun ideas for pre-visit or follow-up activities! 

:: last modified 13 Aug 2010 ::