New
New
Year 4

Protecting animals in decline (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

I can name some animals in decline in the UK and describe ways to protect them.

New
New
Year 4

Protecting animals in decline (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

I can name some animals in decline in the UK and describe ways to protect them.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Animals are often in decline due to changes in their environment, including habitat loss.
  2. The numbers of many types of animals living in the UK are in decline.
  3. Some animals in decline in the UK include, red squirrels, hedgehogs, natterjack toads and greater mouse-eared bats.
  4. There are ways to protect animals in decline, including providing sources of food and places for them to shelter.

Keywords

  • Habitat - The place where a plant or animal lives is called its habitat.

  • Decline - When something is in decline it gradually becomes less, worse, or lower.

  • Wildlife - Animals and plants that grow independently of people, usually in natural conditions, are called wildlife.

  • Protect - To protect something is to keep it safe from harm.

Common misconception

Children often believe that animals in decline are only found in faraway places like rain forests. They might not realise that the UK has its own species in decline, such as the red squirrel.

Through the use of the slides and doing further secondary research about their own local environment, children will become aware that there are animals in the UK that are in decline too.

After Task B discussion, encourage children to pursue their chosen action in class or as a home learning activity. Or investigate your local area to see if there are any initiatives like citizen science projects you can get involved with to support local animals in danger.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Worksheet

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 animals live in the wild in the UK?
An image in a quiz
elephant
Correct answer: hedgehog
Correct answer: squirrel
lion
dog
Q2.
The place where a plant or animal lives is its ...
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: habitat
Q3.
Which of these things does an animal need to grow and survive?
An image in a quiz
soil
Correct answer: food
Correct answer: shelter
Correct answer: water
predators
Q4.
How can environments change when the population of humans increases?
An image in a quiz
There are more places for wildlife to live.
Correct answer: There are more places for people to live and work.
Correct answer: There are more roads.
There are more animals living in the wild.
Q5.
Deforestation is the removal of from land which is then used for a non-forest purpose.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: trees , forests, woods
Q6.
Which of these things could a researcher use to help find how many animals are living in a habitat?
a thermometer
Correct answer: a drone with a camera
a forcemeter

6 Questions

Q1.
Animals are often due to changes in the environment, including habitat loss.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: in decline
Q2.
The populations of many animals, like hedgehogs, are in the UK.
An image in a quiz
rising
staying the same
Correct answer: declining
Q3.
Which of these things are causing a decline in some animals in the UK?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: water pollution
Correct answer: loss of habitat
Correct answer: urbanisation
wildlife corridors
Q4.
Which of these UK animals are in decline or are endangered?
An image in a quiz
American mink
Correct answer: red squirrel
grey squirrel
Correct answer: greater mouse-eared bat
Correct answer: natterjack toad
Q5.
Hedgehog numbers are rapidly declining in the UK. Why?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: increase in traffic and roads
decrease in traffic and roads
Correct answer: loss of access to suitable habitats due to urbanisation
increase in access to suitable habitats due to urbanisation
Q6.
Match the animal to a way we can help to protect it.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:hedgehog,create holes in garden fences to increase their habitat access

create holes in garden fences to increase their habitat access

Correct Answer:red squirrel,humanely trap and then move grey squirrels

humanely trap and then move grey squirrels

Correct Answer:natterjack toad,build more shallow ponds and keep them free of pollution

build more shallow ponds and keep them free of pollution

Correct Answer:greater mouse-eared bat,provide bat boxes for them to roost in

provide bat boxes for them to roost in

Q4 Agami Photo Agency/Shutterstock Q6 lbrix/Shutterstock

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