Activity Sheet 1: Plants and Shadows (KS 2)

You will investigate the plants that grow most successfully in exposed and sheltered areas. An exposed position is open with no protection from the wind and sun. A sheltered position is protected by walls, buildings or vegetation.

1. Choose a number of areas for a comparison study
For example:

a) exposed and sunny
b) exposed and shaded
c) sheltered and sunny
d) sheltered and shaded

2. You will need two sheets of plain A4 paper. Draw a plan of the site indicating the areas studied on one sheet. Draw a large circle on the other sheet.

3. Make a record of the plants for each place. This should include their numbers and condition. You could place a hoop (for your sample) in each of the chosen areas in turn.Decide how to record the type, condition and number of the plants observed.Remember that 'plants' also includes algae, lichens and mosses. It may also be valuable to take photographs of the sitesa) a general view and b) a close-up shot of the plants that you have observed to enhance your recording / display of this investigation.

4. Following your 'fieldwork' outside, assemble your drawings, photos etc.

Discuss with each other and your teacher, how you can usefully organise the data you have collected, in order to show the results of your investigation.

• Think of an appropriate title for your investigation.
• Will you use - lists, charts, annotated drawings, histograms, pie charts etc?
• You could maybe use the computer to analyse your data.
• How can you show the dominant plant species for each of your sites?
• Make sure that your conclusions are clearly shown in your work/display