New
New
Year 4

Changing environments: nature reserves

I can describe how nature reserves can have a positive impact on the environment.

New
New
Year 4

Changing environments: nature reserves

I can describe how nature reserves can have a positive impact on the environment.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A positive impact happens when changes help the environment and the living things within it.
  2. Humans can take action to correct negative impacts, such as creating nature reserves among urban developments.
  3. Nature reserves are areas of natural land or water set aside for the protection of living things.
  4. Urban planners have designed new towns with areas of land and water set aside for the protection of living things.
  5. Nature reserves can help to restore areas that have been damaged by human activity.

Keywords

  • Positive impact - A positive impact is when people’s actions help other living things and their environment.

  • Protected - If something is protected it is kept safe from harm.

  • Urban - An urban area is an area where many people live and work close together, such as a city or town.

  • nature reserve - A nature reserve is a protected area of land set aside to conserve wildlife, plants, and natural habitats.

  • Ecology - Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment.

Common misconception

Children can lack awareness of the way in which living things within an environment depend upon each other. They may think that they are dependent on humans to supply them with their needs.

Through the lesson, children will see examples of how nature reserves and the animals and plants within it support each other.

If possible, find out about nature reserves in your local urban areas. Use local examples to engage children to learn how these areas are designed to protect local wildlife.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - outdoor learning

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these things might you find naturally in an environment?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: a tree
a block of flats
Correct answer: an insect
a bird box
Correct answer: a stream
Q2.
The place where a plant or animal lives is called its .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: habitat, environment, habitat., environment.
Q3.
What could happen to an animal if humans damaged its habitat?
An image in a quiz
It may have more chance of finding other animals to eat.
Correct answer: It may have nowhere to shelter.
Correct answer: It may have nothing to eat.
Q4.
Which of these animals would be classed as wildlife?
An image in a quiz
dog
goldfish
Correct answer: natterjack toad
Correct answer: bat
Correct answer: hedgehog
Q5.
Match the wildlife to a suitable environment where it would live.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:hedgehog,grassland

grassland

Correct Answer:red squirrel ,woodland

woodland

Correct Answer:natterjack toad,sandy heathland

sandy heathland

Correct Answer:sea turtle,ocean

ocean

Q6.
A impact happens when changes harm the environment and the living things within it.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: negative
Q4 PatP66/Shutterstock

6 Questions

Q1.
A impact happens when changes help the environment and the living things within it.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: positive
Q2.
Which of these would be considered to have a positive impact on the environment?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: planting trees
cutting down trees
building houses on green spaces
Correct answer: creating green spaces within urban places
Correct answer: picking up rubbish
Q3.
Humans can take action to correct negative impacts, such as creating nature amongst urban developments.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: reserves, reserve, parks
Q4.
Urban planners have designed new towns with areas of land and water set aside for the protection of living things. Which of these might they have included in their plans?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: putting up bat boxes
Correct answer: creating wildflower meadows
cutting the grass verges
filling in ponds to build car parks
Correct answer: growing plants on roundabouts
Q5.
Match these living things to what could be used in a nature reserve to help protect them.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:bats,boxes to roost in

boxes to roost in

Correct Answer:dragonflies,ponds to feed and breed in

ponds to feed and breed in

Correct Answer:birds,trees and hedges to find shelter and food in

trees and hedges to find shelter and food in

Correct Answer:flowering plants,meadows to grow in

meadows to grow in

Q6.
What are some of the positive impacts of creating nature reserves?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: help to stop human activities that could harm the natural environment
help to stop human activities that could help the natural environment
Correct answer: help to restore areas that have been damaged by humans
help to create areas that have been damaged by humans
Q5 lbrix/Shutterstock