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Be a Biodiversity Detective

Elementary, Middle

Description

In this outdoor investigation students will further their understanding of the concept of species diversity within and between ecosystems. Working in small teams, they first document the biodiversity of wildlife in the schoolyard by selecting and mapping those areas expected to hold the greatest number and variety of species. 

Part two takes place in a local park or other near-by natural area to offer a comparison for their findings from the day before.  Students are guided in their investigation by a number of questions provided on “biodiversity clue cards”  Once the survey has been completed, students discuss their findings and each team selects two of their findings to identify by scientific name and investigate further.  The class will pool this information and create a taxonomy chart to summarize the biodiversity they encountered in the investigation.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This activity supports science curriculum outcomes related to habitats and interactions within ecosystems.  It is an excellent outdoor, experiential activity to enhance the learning by producing a field guide relevant to the students' own community.

It could also be extended through visits to other local habitats such as wetlands or forests to compare and contrast plant and animal species. 

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

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  • Alberta
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions.
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions.
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions.
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions.
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interaction
    • Grade 5
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions.
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions.
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions and Ecosystems
  • British Columbia
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science: Plants and animals have observable features
    • Grade 1
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 1: Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment
    • Grade 2
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 2: Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment
    • Grade 3
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
    • Grade 7
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 7: Evolution by natural selection provides an explanation for the diversity and survival of living things.
  • Manitoba
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    • Kindergarten
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      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Being Together:The World and Me
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      • Science
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        • Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
      • Social Studies
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        • My Environment
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      • Science
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        • Growth and Changes in Animals
    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitat and Communities
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Diversity of Living Things
    • Grade 7
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions Within Ecosystems
  • New Brunswick
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    • Kindergarten
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    • Grade 3
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Our Local Environment : Learning and Living Sustainably
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      • Science
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        • Properties and Uses of Earth Materials: Learning and Living Sustainably
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 5: Living and technological Systems: Learning and Living Sustainably
    • Grade 6
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Wayfinding: Making sense of your world: Learning and Living Sustainably
    • Grade 7
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 7 Earth Surface Processes: Learning and Living Sustainably
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
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    • Grade 1
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      • Science
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        • Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
      • Social Studies
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        • Environments
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      • Social Studies
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        • Environments
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      • Science
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        • Habitats
    • Grade 6
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Diversity of Life
    • Grade 7
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interaction of Ecosystems
  • Northwest Territories
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    • Kindergarten
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      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • The World and Me
    • Grade 1
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      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Connecting and Belonging: My Environment
    • Grade 2
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Science: Growth and Changes in Animals
    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
    • Grade 6
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Diversity of Living Things
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions and Ecosystems
  • Nova Scotia
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    • Kindergarten
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Primary Science: Living Things
    • Grade 1
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 1: Needs of Living Things
    • Grade 2
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      • Science
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        • Science 2: Animal Growth
      • Social Studies
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        • Social Studies 2:Environments
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      • Science
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        • Science 4: Habitats
    • Grade 6
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 6: Diversity of Life
  • Nunavut
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    • Grade 1
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Science: Growth and Changes in Animals
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Diversity of Living Things
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions and Ecosystems
    • Grade 8
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions in Our Environment
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 1
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions: Environments
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Animal Growth and Changes:Investigating the Needs and Life Cycles of an Organism
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Change: Environment
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitats
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Diversity of Life
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions Within Ecosystems
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
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    • Kindergarten
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Units & Outcomes
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Needs & Characteristics of Living Things
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Animal Growth and Changes
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitats and Communities
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 6: Life Science: Diversity of Living Things
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 7: Life Science: Interactions within Ecosystems
  • Yukon Territory
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science: Plants and animals have observable features
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 1: Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 2: Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 7: Evolution by natural selection provides an explanation for the diversity and survival of living things.

Themes Addressed

Ecosystems (1)

  • Biodiversity

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