Freshwater invertebrates and woodland habitat
Explore the amazing habitats of the river and woodland. River dipping in the Ilston to catch and identify river invertebrates. Keys can be used to identify the animals and then their adaptations can be discussed using role play and games. Then enter the woods and look for bugs in the leaf litter, bushes and on the trees. Have a go at pit fall trapping, tree beating and sweep netting. Investigate the bugs that are found and discover about their lifestyles what they eat and how they defend themselves.
An investigation built around freshwater invertebrate sampling can be designed into the day.
For a really in-depth study with the older children, food chains could be followed with pyramids of numbers and biomass being generated. Analysis of the data covers a number of mathematical criteria.