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Year 4 - Science

Protecting animals in decline (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

Living things and the environment

Unit Summary

This unit focuses on grouping living things and using classification keys to identify and name them in various environments. It explores how environmental changes can pose dangers to organisms. Emphasis is on asking questions, collecting data, and using evidence to support conclusions.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to name some animals in decline in the UK and describe ways to protect them.

Key Notes

  • Animals are often in decline due to changes in their environment, including habitat loss.
  • The numbers of many types of animals living in the UK are in decline.
  • Some animals in decline in the UK include, red squirrels, hedgehogs, natterjack toads and greater mouse-eared bats.
  • There are ways to protect animals in decline, including providing sources of food and places for them to shelter.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • habitat: The place where a plant or animal lives is called its habitat.
  • decline: When something is in decline it gradually becomes less, worse, or lower.
  • wildlife: Animals and plants that grow independently of people, usually in natural conditions, are called wildlife.
  • protect: To protect something is to keep it safe from harm.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Children often believe that animals in decline are only found in faraway places like rain forests. They might not realise that the UK has its own species in decline, such as the red squirrel.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

Animals are often in decline due to changes in their environment, including habitat loss. The numbers of many types of animals living in the UK are in decline.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'habitat'

The place where a plant or animal lives is called its habitat. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: Children often believe that animals in decline are only found in faraway places like rain forests. They might not realise that the UK has its own species in decline, such as the red squirrel. Correction: Through the use of the slides and doing further secondary research about their own local environment, children will become aware that there are animals in the UK that are in decline too.

More Lessons In This Unit

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