Home/Curriculum resources/Understanding plants and animals/Activity 3 - Exploring ecosystems before and after a controlled burn
Learning Area:
Science
Year level:
Level 6
Activity 3 - Exploring ecosystems before and after a controlled burn
This activity is a part of the Understanding plants and animals resource.
Songwarbler perching on a branch. Canberra, Ngunawal country. Photographer: Anna Calvert. Source: Getty Images. Used under licence.
Students can select an ecosystem, draw and explain what happens to the ecosystem before and after a controlled burn, linking this back to supporting biodiversity.
Step by Step guide
Step 1: Teacher to locate background information
The teacher will need to locate some background information to support student research on different ecosystems. Other Ngarrnga curriculum resources may be useful.
Step 2: Explain the task
Students select an ecosystem of their choice.
They will need to research:
what living things are located in this ecosystem?
what happens before and after a controlled burn?
how do these practices support biodiversity?
Students can represent this as a visual with an explanation. The template provided can support this.
Step 3: Independent research and drawing of ecosystem
Students undertake their research and create a visual representation with a supporting explanation.
Step 4: Share
Teacher can decide the best way for students to share their learning.
Related activities within this resources:
Inquiry-based learning questions
These inquiry-based questions are provided for flexible classroom use, allowing teachers to tailor discussion and reflections specific to their classroom needs.
Conceptual-based question cards
Engage with a variety of conceptual-based questions which explore the impact of fire practices on plants and animals.
Activity 1 - Seed germination
We’ve all seen nature spring back into life after a fire. In this resource students will investigate the effect of ash on the germination of native seeds and how fire can be used in productive ways.
Suggested timing:
Occurs over a week or more, with something to monitor for the class across this time span.
Required resources:
Native seeds, Banksia spp. seeds, dry leaf litter, BBQ area or fire pit, fire lighters, plastic petri dishes, ash
Activity 2 - Diamond Ranking
Students will need to draw upon their critical thinking skills and express their perspective when ranking statements about Indigenous fire practices.
Required resources:
Scissors