National 4
Environmental Science
Resources Guide
September 2015
NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
National 4 Environmental Science Resource Guide
This resource guide has been produced in response to requests from staff who attended the NQ Sciences events at Hampden Stadium in
December 2013. Those attending felt it would be useful to have a document which helped them navigate to the most relevant resources
quickly.
The following pages show the mandatory course key areas table from the SQA National Environmental Science Course and Unit Support
Notes. An additional fourth column has been included which contains hyperlinks to useful resources. Please note: Staff are not required to
use the resources listed – they are only included as helpful suggestions. Staff should also refer to the SQA website for the most upto-date course and unit support notes.
To further assist staff content links to useful SQA documentation have been included at the beginning of each unit. The SQA documentation
relating to the course is shown here.
SQA documents
Web link
Course specification
http://bit.ly/1Shck9o
Course and unit support notes
http://bit.ly/1QZSJrK
Update letter published August 2014
http://bit.ly/1C0GYud
Education Scotland learning materials
Glow sciences community
http://bit.ly/GlowEnvironmentalScience
National Qualifications Glow portal
http://bit.ly/EnvScience
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
Living Environment
Mandatory course
key areas
1 Interdependence
Unit specification: http://bit.ly/1HvjUdl
Suggested learning activities
Exemplification of key areas
Useful resources
Tour of local area using ranger services
This could cover feeding
etc.
relationships, factors affecting
Invited speakers from local organisations. ecosystems.
Photo activity /presentation of local
ecosystems, habitats and communities.
Twig video – What is biodiversity
Collect organisms using pitfall traps, nets This could include methods of
and tree beating.
sampling/measuring organisms
Construct a wormery.
and their environment.
Set up an aquarium to show interaction of
plants, animals and non-living parts of the
ecosystem.
Twig video – The taiga forest
Twig video – What is an ecosystem
Twig video – Savannah
Twig video – Redwoods
Twig video – Temperate grassland
Twig video – Deciduous forest
Construct food chains and food webs
from studies of an ecosystem/food
chain/web card exercise.
Practical activities (eg role play/ hats
activity) to construct food webs.
Research examples of herbivores,
carnivores, omnivores and decomposers
and design
posters illustrating food webs. Card game
activities to support definitions.
Investigate a range of ecosystems eg
tree, pond, leaf litter, to identify the
producers and consumers.
Measure temperature, light intensity, soil
pH and water content of soil in a selected
local ecosystem. Repeat measurements
Twig video – Tropical rainforest
Twig video – Tundra
Twig video – Symbiosis mutualism
Twig video – Venn diagrams global
habitats
Twig video – Predators and prey
Twig video – What is a food chain
Twig video – oceanic food chain
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
to obtain averages. Problem solving
exercise drawing conclusion from results.
Problem solving activity (eg keys) using
suitable sources/books.
Mind-map exercise compiling species
lists for school grounds/local area.
Results displayed as posters.
Twig video – Biotic factors in
ecosystems
Twig video – Abiotic factors in
ecosystems
BBC Bitesize learner resource –
Interdependency between animal
and plant species
BBC Bitesize learner resource –
Sampling techniques and
measurement of abiotic and biotic
factors
Crickweb animation – Food chains
Ecokids animation – Chain reaction
SNH teacher resource – Habitats
and ecosystems
SNH teacher resource – Wildlife,
environment and conservation in
Scotland
Natural History Museum teacher
resource – Young naturalists
Royal Geographical Society activity
– School ground fieldwork
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
Discovery Education teacher
resource – Ecosystems
IISME experiment – Ecosystem in a
bottle
Discovery Education teacher
resource – Backyard ecosystem
Discovery Education teacher
resource – Backyard biodiversity
Discovery Education teacher
resource – Backyard biodiversity
food webs
Discovery Education teacher
resource – Biotic and abiotic
interdependence
Discovery Education activity –
Ecology foldable
Discovery Education activity –
Foodweb mobile
The Biology Corner teacher
resource – Ecology
ARKive teacher resource –
Interdependance
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
OPAL teacher resource –
Biodiversity and sampling
SAPS teacher resource – Ecology
careers
SAPS video – Classification
techniques in plants
SAPS activity – Ecology sampling
2 Adaptation for
survival
Investigate plant and animal species from
different ecosystems.
Twig video – Adaptation
Twig video – Plants in extreme
environments
Twig video – Bizarre adaptations
Twig video – Life in hot deserts
Twig video – Life in the freezer
Twig video – Snow leopard
Twig video – Cheetah
Twig video – Great white shark
Twig video – Thorny devil
BBC Bitesize learner resource –
Adaptations
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
ARKive teacher resource –
Adaptations
BBC Bitesize video – Asian
elephants
EcoKids animation – Animal
adaptation game
SAPS teacher resource –
Investigating leaf adaptations
3 Impact of population Investigate population changes (eg
growth and natural
humans, other species) and
hazards on biodiversity construct/interpret graphs/tables.
Research impact of human-generated
(eg acid rain, climate changes, overfishing, deforestation) and natural (eg
drought, flooding, tsunami, harsh winters,
volcanic
eruption) hazards on biodiversity.
Analyse investigation reports, produce
presentations on the effects.
Investigate any biodiversity problem.
Examples could include red deer,
rhododendron, Japanese knotweed, grey
squirrel culling.
Twig video – Endangered species
Twig video – Conservation
Twig video – Invading plant species
Twig video – Invading animals cane
toad
Twig video – Air pollution
Twig video – Water pollution
Twig video – Land pollution
Twig video – Global warming
Twig video – Deforestation
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
Twig video – Oil spills
Twig video – The oilmen and the
animals
Twig video – Oceans coral seas
Twig video – Clearing oil spills
experiment
BBC Bitesize learner resource –
Impact of population growth and
natural hazards on biodiversity
BBC Bitesize learner resource –
Human impact on the environment
BBC Bitesize learner resource –
Impact of human activity on the
natural environment
BBC Bitesize video – Why have fish
stocks decreased in the north sea?
BBC Bitesize video – Acid rain
threatens the forests of karkonosze
WWF teacher resource – Illegal
wildlife trade
Scottish Beaver Trial teacher
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
resource – Reintroduction of a
species
Our Forest Our Future teacher
resource – Deforestation
IFAW teacher resource – Climate
change and animals
3D Geography learner resource –
Environmental issues
Biodiversity Science teacher
resource – Invasive species lionfish
case study
National Geographic teacher
resource – Overfishing
ARKive teacher resource – Human
impacts
Perth College UHI teacher resource
– The impact of the cairngorm
conservation strategy on upland
biodiversity
4 Nitrogen cycle.
Investigate the nitrogen cycle eg
complete simple diagram, role play,
poster, presentation.
Basic level eg names of
bacteria or processes not
required.
Twig video – What plants need to
grow
Twig video – The nitrogen cycle
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
BBC Bitesize learner resource –
Nitrogen in ecosystems
BBC Bitesize learner resource –
Nitrogen cycle
SAPS teacher resource –
Investigations into eutrophication
5 Environmental impact Investigate the positive and negative
of fertilisers.
impacts of fertilisers eg produce
report/presentation.
Twig video – Water pollution
BBC Bitesize learner resource –
Fertiliser design and environmental
impact
YouTube video – Eutrophication
YouTube video – Eutrophication
Lake Erie
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
Earth’s Resources
Unit specification: http://bit.ly/1Qr2RPg
Mandatory course key areas
Suggested learning activities
1 Responsible use and
conservation of non-renewable
and renewable resources.
Investigate physical, biological, nonrenewable and renewable
resources and the differences
between them.
Exemplification of key areas
Useful resources
BBC Bitesize learner
resource – What are
resources?
Investigate the responsible use of
non-renewable and renewable
resources.
Twig video – Marine
renewables
Investigate the conservation of nonrenewable and renewable
resources. .
Study.com video –
Renewable and nonrenewable resources
definition and differences
Scotland’s Environment –
learner resource about
energy
2 Formation and use of fossil
fuels.
Investigate the formation and use of
fossil fuels eg coal, oil, gas. Visit
heritage museum eg coal mining/oil
shale museum.
Twig video – Fossil fuels
formation
Investigate the advantages and
disadvantages of using fossil fuels
to generate electricity.
TED-Ed video – 300 years
of fossil fuels
Twig video – Fossil fuels use
Discovery Education teacher
resource – Everybody clean
up
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
BBC Bitesize learner
resource – Fossil fuels
Education Scotland teacher
resource – Fossil fuel
learning journey
3 Derivation and uses of
materials derived from crude oil.
Research production and use of
materials made from crude oil. BP
could be source of good resources.
Visit/ build model of oil refinery.
Uses include fuel (eg natural gas,
petrol, diesel, fuel oil,
paraffin/kerosene, LPG) for transport,
heating, generating electricity,
industrial processes, lubricants,
bitumen, solvents, waxes, detergents,
plastics, rubbers, fibres.
Twig video – Frontier oil
exploration
Twig video – Fractional
distillation
Twig video – Plastics and
polymers
BP teacher resource – crude
oil
BBC Bitesize learner
resource – Fractional
distillation
BBC Bitesize video –
Natural resources
4 Risks and benefits of different
energy sources, including those
produced from plants.
Research several different types of
energy sources including biofuels.
Visit eg nuclear power station,
hydro producer, wind farm,
Twig video – Wind power
Twig video – Hydropower
Twig video – Solar power
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
Twig video – Nuclear power
Twig video – Biofuels
Twig video – Geothermal
power
Twig video – Building the
hoover dam
Twig video – The wind
power debate
Twig video – Nuclear waste
Twig video – Air pollution
Twig video – Palm oil biofuel
of the future
Twig video – Vegetable oil
as fuel
TED-Ed video – Biofuels
Discovery Education teacher
resource – Creating a wind
generator
Discovery Education teacher
resource – Wind at work
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
Discovery Education teacher
resource – Investigating
biofuels
BP teacher resource –
Energy and electricity
E-on teacher resource –
Energy experience
Websites:
Buzzle
Ecofriendlykids
Science3–18
Livestrong
enotes
ehow
United Nations Environment
Programme
Waves of the future
The Earth Charter Initiative
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
International Atomic Energy Agency
The Union of Concerned Scientists
Royal Society
World Nuclear Association
Time for Change
upd8
Berkshire Litchfield Environmental
Council
Want to know it
Friends of the Earth (Scotland)
Alternative Energy
John Muir Trust
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
5 The carbon cycle.
Investigate the effects of burning
fossil fuels on the concentration of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The cycle could be covered at a basic
level eg to include photosynthesis,
respiration and combustion, formation
of fossil fuels.
Twig video – The carbon
cycle
BBC Bitesize learner
resource – The carbon cycle
Discovery Education teacher
resource – Carbon
Sequestration
TED-Ed video – The carbon
cycle
6 Processes involved in
maintaining the balance of gases
in the air.
Investigate the natural greenhouse
effect.
Twig video – Fact pack
atmospheric gases
Twig video – The
greenhouse effect
Twig video – Inventions to
save the planet
7 Causes and implications of
changes in the balance.
Investigate the enhanced
greenhouse effect and possible
impacts.
BP teacher resource –
Environment earth and
universe
Twig video – Global
warming
Twig video – The great
global warming debate part
1
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
Twig video – The great
global warming debate part
2
Twig video – State of the
Greenland ice sheet
Twig video – Tuvalu the
threat of rising seas
Twig video – Beetles
TED-Ed video – Our
changing climate
Discovery Education teacher
resource – Air pollution
Discovery Education teacher
resource – Global warming
BBC Bitesize learner
resource – Climate change
BBC Bitesize learner
resource – Global climate
change
BP teacher resource –
Climate change
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
Scottish Water teacher
resource – Climate change
Websites:
NASA
Parliament of Australia
DEFRA
People and Planet
BBC
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
University of California, San Diego
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Sustainability
Mandatory course key areas
Unit specification: http://bit.ly/1MLnYWZ
Suggested learning activities
1 Sustainability of key natural
Investigate definitions of sustainable
resources and possible
development and sustainability (social,
implications for human activity. economic and environmental) and global
citizenship.
2 The interaction between
humans and the environment
and the impact of human
activity on an area.
Investigate global citizenship by identifying
personal qualities of global citizens.
Twig video – Fairtrade
Twig video – The carbon family
Twig video – The future carbon family
Twig video – Carbon capture artificial trees
Investigate sustainability of key natural
resources (eg food supply, water, energy
supply) and possible implications for human
activity.
Compare water supplies between developed
and developing countries and access to
clean water supplies.
Investigate local water use eg where
drinking supplies come from and disposal.
Investigate/audit sustainable approaches in
personal water use.
Investigate sustainable approaches in waste
management: ‘reduce, reuse, and recycle’.
Website — Zero Waste Scotland.
Investigate/visit local waste management eg
contact local authority waste, recycling or
litter departments.
Investigate waste streams eg textiles, glass,
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Exemplification of key areas Useful resources
Twig video – Carbon trading
Twig video – Carbon capture phytoplankton
Twig video – Overpopulation
Twig video – Water as a resource
Twig video – Could climate change your life?
Twig video – Bottled water the true cost
Twig video – Recycling plastics
Twig video – Land pollution
BBC Bitesize learner resource –
Sustainability
NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
aluminium cans, paper, food waste, plastics.
Investigate local issues eg litter, fly-tipping,
dog fouling, beach pollution.
Investigate waste disposal eg landfill sites,
industrial pollution.
BBC Bitesize learner resource – Wasting
resources
Calculate personal carbon footprint. Compile
a personal sustainability plan (PSP). A
methodology is described on WWF (Linking
Thinking) website.
Investigate sustainable approaches in
reducing greenhouse gas emissions eg
green technologies such as wind power,
hydro, insulation, solar panels.
Scotland’s Environment website –
Map to show waste water releases
Investigate the role of NGOs such as Oxfam,
Friends of the Earth and WWF.
Education Scotland teacher resource –
Fishing sustainability
Scotland’s Environment learner resource –
Scottish pollution release inventory
ARKive teacher resource – Human impacts
on the environment
Scottish Water teacher resource – Pollution
and pipe networks
Education Scotland teacher resource –
Landfill and waste
Websites:
OXFAM Cool Planet
Education Scotland
STEM Central — Sustainable water supply
Scottish Water Education Site
WaterAid Learn Zone
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NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
3 The role of agriculture in the
production of food and raw
material and its environmental
impacts and sustainability
Investigate the positive and negative
environmental impacts of various
approaches in agriculture.
Carry out an audit of personal food
consumption. Research food labelling
information.
Visit agricultural shows. Visiting speakers
from, eg supermarkets, farms.
Websites:
Soil Association
Royal Highland Education Trust
4 Society’s energy needs.
Investigate energy use, increased demand
and its impact.
Contact Local Authority Energy Officer. Visit
renewable demonstration projects
Investigate initiatives to reduce energy
consumption such as Eco Schools, WWF
Earth Hour.
Investigate how to reduce personal energy
use eg low energy light bulbs, insulating
buildings, switching off equipment when not
in use, walking to destinations.
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This could include food
security, habitat removal, loss
of biodiversity, animal welfare,
use of artificial fertilisers and
pesticides, food miles, farm
stewardship schemes, organic
farming, local and in-season
produce.
Twig video – Feeding the planet
Twig video – Brazil agricultural revolution
Twig video – Genetic modification
BBC Bitesize video – Agriculture and
production
YouTube video – Countryfile what intensive
farming means
CIWF teacher resources – Farming
resources
Twig video – Electricity supply and demand
Twig video – Electricity the costs
BBC Bitesize learner resource – Sustainable
energy
Teach Engineering teacher resource –
Household energy conservation and
efficiency
NATIONAL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES GUIDE
5 Impact of developments in
transport infrastructure in a
selected area and
development of sustainable
systems.
Investigate transport infrastructure issues eg
road congestion, pollution, road/bridge
construction, airport developments, rail
development, rural public transport
reduction.
Investigate sustainable approaches eg
public transport, park and ride, bus lanes.
Websites which can provide a range of
resources for this Unit:
STEM Central
Schools Global Footprint Calculator —
Education Scotland
Ellen MacArthur Foundation (cradle to cradle
sustainability)
Twig video – Transport networks
Twig video – Eco transport
Twig video – Traffic congestion
Shrink That Footprint teacher resource – 5
elements of sustainable transport
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