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Source:

Noss National Nature Reserve - teaching and activity pack (SNH)

Time

10-20 minutes

You will need

• Cardboard frames
• paper, pencils & clipboards
• Long grass

Did you know?

This activity can be done anywhere where there is long grass, ideally on a warm sunny day when insects will be out and about.

Before the activity

Make cardboard frames by cutting a piece of A4 cardboard in half and in half again, then cutting a rectangular window out of each piece.

The activity

Each child stands holding their frame at chin height. Ask them to look through their frame at the grass below. What do they see? How many different plants do they see? How many minibeasts do they see? Ask them to sketch what they see. Now ask them to kneel on the grass with the frame at chin height. Is the view different? Ask them to sketch what they see again. Then ask them to lie on their stomachs with the frame very close to the ground. Ask them to look very closely and describe what they see, and then sketch the final view.

Suggested Follow up

Try the activity Viewfinders in the Woodland Ways section

If you found any ladybirds, see if the children can identify the species by counting the number of spots and blotches on its head and body. Back in the classroom visit the website given in  downloads (below).

Downloads

Great colour photographs of UK species of ladybirds

Additional Information

There are 42 species of ladybirds in the UK! When you look closely a whole new world of detail and variety opens up.

Curriculum Links

Science

Age Range

1,2