Resource 2: Likely local ecosystems

Teacher resource for planning or adapting to use with pupils

Probable ecosystems you and your pupils might like to consider include the following:

life under a small rock or fallen tree trunk;
a nearby tree;
a hedge;
the classroom itself (corner, cupboard, etc.);
the local river, dam or lake;
a nearby forest;
a marsh or boggy area;
a dry barren hillside;
the household woodpile (watch out for snakes);
a clump of bushes;
a compost heap.

Record what pupils expect to find in their ecosystem in a table, example below:

Under a rock
Species	Approximate number	Feed on	Eaten by	Eggs or ?	Activity	Value
Ants	whole colony		ant lion	many eggs and larvae and pupae	different workers soldiers queen	nuisance clear dead things
Scorpion	only one	millipedes crickets beetles	baboon	live young		sting is poisonous

Write pupils’ suggestions lightly in pencil to be rubbed out when the answers are filled in. Below you will see some examples of different ecosystems that are likely to be found in Zambia.

Lakes and ponds e.g. Bangweulu, Mweru, Kariba