Practical Primary Science

Mini beast identification wheel

Target Audience

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2

Link to the National Curriculum

NC Science Key Stage 2 states:

  • “There is no surer way to enthuse children that to let them explore for themselves using their own immediate environment around in the school grounds”

Objective

  • To enable children to identify mini-beasts with simple apparatus made by themselves

What you need

  • Stiff card,
  • Prepared mini-beast identification wheels,
  • Pritt sticks glue,
  • Laminating sheets,
  • Brass butterfly fasteners(from any stationers)
  • Hammer/nail

What you do

  • Watch the video clip “ mini-beast identification wheel” from the website: practicalprimaryscience.co.uk
  • Cut out the inner and outer identification wheel
  • Stick both wheels to a sheet of A4 card
  • Place the card into a laminating folder and laminate. This will ensure its longevity
  • Cut out the laminated circles and punch holes in the designated places
  • Attach both circles together with larger one on top by using the butterfly clip

How it works

  • Prepare practice sheets for the use of the identification wheel.
  • It is vital that children are given the opportunity to practise before using them in the field.
  • The Arrow on the small wheel points to the mini-beast under investigation; the triangular cut out refers to its attributes.

Group/Class Organisation

  • Depending on the availability of additional adult and basic apparatus the children should be divided into groups of 3 or 4 to undertake the practical making of the mini-beast wheel.
  • Once all made the class should be given the opportunity to practise their understanding of its use with prepared exercises (work sheets for completion)

Preliminary Activity

  • It is vital that children are given the opportunity to identify, with pictures, mini beasts they are likely to find outside the immediate school environment.
  • Also commercial videos produced by BBC et al would help in this preparation work.

Follow up work

  • There are many field centres around the country where field studies are undertaken with experienced Environmental Rangers. The Elan Valley Centre, Powys, Mid Wales is one such place where first rate experiences are given in the immediate area covering all age groups from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 4 and beyond