KS3 SCIENCE
Curriculum link: Interactions and
Interdependencies (Relationships in an
ecosystem)
ANIMALS AND PLANTS LESSON PLAN
Familiarise your students with a range of animals and plants that live on and around the Galapagos Islands. This
section introduces a number of key species, which will be referred to in later lessons. To discuss the implications
of endemic species being vulnerable to extinction, students should consider how the extinction of one species
can impact on biodiversity and the wider ecosystem.
Resources required: ‘Animals and Plants’ handout, internet connection, paper
1.
FIRE STARTER
Provide students with the handout. They should try to
name as many animals and plants as they can. Then, they
should make notes about where they think it lives and
what physical characteristics it has. Finally, they should
decide whether they think each species is endangered.
Students should keep hold of their sheets as the answers
will be revealed throughout the activity.
2.
3.
MAKING WAVES
Bring the class back together. As a group, they should discuss
the characteristics of particular species and try to explain how
these characteristics are adapted to the environment in
which that species lives. You might also want to consider
what impact a species extinction would have. This will involve
relating one species to another – for example, is one species a
predator of another species? Encourage students to place
individual species within the context of an ecosystem.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
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STUDENTS’ OUTCOMES

GAINING GROUND
Explain to students that Galapagos has a rich wildlife, with
new species being discovered all the time. This is because
of the unique and varied environment, which the species
adapt to. Following this explanation, students should log
onto Discovering Galapagos to explore the galleries of
animals and plants for themselves. Using the information
presented online, they should amend and add detail to
their handouts.
4. FUTURE FOCUS
Students should choose one plant and one animal species.
They should draw an annotated sketch of their two chosen
species and explain how physical features allow the plants
and animals to meet the demands of the habitats in which
they live.
A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1043470) AND THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY (WITH IBG)
To know that the Galapagos Islands
are home to varied and unique range
of wildlife.
To understand how the wildlife on the
Islands can adapt to its various
habitats.
To appreciate the vulnerability of
many endemic species in Galapagos.

To give a range of examples of
species that live in and around
Galapagos.
To explain how different species
characteristics are adapted to a
range of environmental conditions.