Suitable for Years 3-6, September-November

Updated 24th September 2018

Key concepts

Adaptation, environmental change, seasons, evergreen, deciduous, hibernation, migration, seed dispersal.

Learning outcomes

  • Describe the environmental changes that occur during the autumn.
  • List the effects environmental changes have on trees and animals.
  • Explain the differences between deciduous and evergreen trees and how each is adapted to survive winter conditions.
  • Name three methods of seed dispersal and why seed dispersal is important.
  • Suggest three tactics employed by animals to survive winter conditions.

Activities

Autumn gather - explore and collect signs of autumn.

Winter warmth - investigate which natural materials are good insulators by building a suitable shelter to protect a heated toy badger from the cold.

Winter tactics - look for evidence of food for different woodland animals and discuss how animals cope with changes in their food supply in winter.

Leaf slides - compare evergreen and deciduous trees and explore leaf diversity.

Seed explorers - search for, gather and sort a range of seeds, considering methods of dispersal.