ABSTRACT
The need to protect ecosystems provides the big idea for this chapter. Children learn that nature is essential to our health and wellbeing and is a vital part of everyday life. They also learn that nature is in serious trouble and it needs our help to recover. The chapter contains three topics, designed to help teachers guide the way children work towards understanding the big idea. The journey starts in key stage 1, when children engage with activities designed to protect wildlife and to encourage them to think of themselves as wildlife guardians. In lower key stage 2, children are introduced to the ‘health services’ nature provides and explore the benefits provided by bees and other pollinators. In upper key stage 2, children work on their understanding of ecosystem services, and explore the damaging effects human activity can have on wildlife. In each topic, opportunities are provided for children to take practical action to contribute to wildlife conservation, including taking part in citizen science projects carried out by wildlife conservation trusts. Subject knowledge to support the teaching of the big idea is presented at the beginning of the chapter.
