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Teddy with a caterpillar.

Year 2
Habitats: The United Kingdom

Build a bug house while discovering all about butterfly life cycles and the natural animal food chains affecting the United Kingdom. Go pond dipping, beach hunting and explore minibeasts in their microhabitats. Hands-On Education understand all children are individual and learn in different ways. We firmly believe learning should be engaging and fun. We have enjoyed putting these hands-on activities together and finding a range of ideas for our children to access learning.

Within this topic you will find:

  • 6 activity plans, all of which clearly explain how to prepare and carry out each activity.
  • 7 activity sheets to support your child in recording their investigations.
  • 2 videos, providing examples of Food Chains and Animal Life Cycles in the U.K, to inspire your child’s own creativity.

This topic meets aspects within the National Curriculum in England in the following subjects: Geography and Science.

Gain Full Access with an
Annual Key Stage 1 Membership
    Relation to Curriculum in England: = Geography = Science
    Download Links: = Activity Plan = Activity Sheet(s) = Play Video = Download Video
Click to Enlarge Activity Resources Relation to National Curriculum Downloads
Activity One - Dead Or Alive

Activity 1
Dead Or Alive

  • Dead Or Alive Activity Sheet
  • Pencil
    • Variety of objects alive, dead or never been alive. For example:
  • Ball
  • Potted plant
  • Cutlery
  • Paper
  • Toothbrush
  • Rock
  • Shells
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.1a explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive
Activity Two - Observing Habitats In The U.K.

Activity 2
Observing Habitats In The U.K.

  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.1b identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other
  • Sc2/2.1c identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
  • Ge1/1.3b use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to: i. key physical features ii. key human features
Activity Three - Exploring Microhabitats

Activity 3
Exploring Microhabitats

  • Sc2/2.1b identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other
  • Sc2/2.1c identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
Activity Four - Build A Bug House

Activity 4
Build A Bug House

  • Plastic bottle / plant pot
  • Scissors
  • Magnifying glass
    • Variety of nature items for example:
  • Fur / pine cones
  • Sticks
  • Leaves
  • Sc2/2.1b identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other
  • Sc2/2.1c identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
Activity Five - Butterfly Life Cycles

Activity 5
Butterfly Life Cycles

  • Sc2/2.3a notice that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults
Activity Six - Food Chains In The U.K.

Activity 6
Food Chains In The U.K.

  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/2.1b identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other
  • Sc2/2.1c identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
  • Sc2/2.1d describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food
Websites

The Big Butterfly Count
This is a national science survey where people across the country count and record the butterflies they see. You can download a free butterfly identification sheet and take part in the yearly survey, or use the printable on your nature walks.

30 Days Wild, by the Wildlife Trust
Here you can sign up for ’30 days wild’ which provides activities in nature throughout June. From walking barefoot in the grass or smelling a flower, these simple activities encourage children to notice and observe their environmental surroundings.

Symbols Key

    Relation to Curriculum in England: = Geography = Science
    Download Links: = Activity Plan = Activity Sheet(s) = Play Video = Download Video
Activity One - Dead Or Alive
Activity 1
Dead Or Alive
Practical Resources:
  • Dead Or Alive Activity Sheet
  • Pencil
    • Variety of objects alive, dead or never been alive. For example:
  • Ball
  • Potted plant
  • Cutlery
  • Paper
  • Toothbrush
  • Rock
  • Shells
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.1a explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive
Downloads:
Activity Two - Observing Habitats In The U.K.
Activity 2
Observing Habitats In The U.K.
Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/1.5 using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
  • Sc2/2.1b identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other
  • Sc2/2.1c identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
  • Ge1/1.3b use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to: i. key physical features ii. key human features
Downloads:
Activity Three - Exploring Microhabitats
Activity 3
Exploring Microhabitats
Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/2.1b identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other
  • Sc2/2.1c identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
Downloads:
Activity Four - Build A Bug House
Activity 4
Build A Bug House
Practical Resources:
  • Plastic bottle / plant pot
  • Scissors
  • Magnifying glass
    • Variety of nature items for example:
  • Fur / pine cones
  • Sticks
  • Leaves
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/2.1b identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other
  • Sc2/2.1c identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
Downloads:
Activity Five - Butterfly Life Cycles
Activity 5
Butterfly Life Cycles
Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/2.3a notice that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults
Downloads:
Activity Six - Food Chains In The U.K.
Activity 6
Food Chains In The U.K.
Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Sc2/1.4 identifying and classifying
  • Sc2/2.1b identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other
  • Sc2/2.1c identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
  • Sc2/2.1d describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food
Downloads:
Useful Websites

The Big Butterfly Count
This is a national science survey where people across the country count and record the butterflies they see. You can download a free butterfly identification sheet and take part in the yearly survey, or use the printable on your nature walks.

30 Days Wild, by the Wildlife Trust
Here you can sign up for ’30 days wild’ which provides activities in nature throughout June. From walking barefoot in the grass or smelling a flower, these simple activities encourage children to notice and observe their environmental surroundings.

Suggested Resources

Suggested Books
Suggested Books
Are You A Snail?
by Judy Allen

Part of a series which describes the unique behaviours of different bugs.

Suggested Books
Suggested Books
RSPB My First Book of Garden Bugs
by Mike Unwin

Provides excellent information about common bugs you can find.

Suggested Books
Suggested Books
A Butterfly Is Patient
by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long

Beautiful detailed illustrations take you on a journey of the butterfly life cycle.

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