Life on Earth

Activities

Suggestions on how programmes can be used in the classroom

Before Viewing

1. Ask pupils, on their way to and from school, to make a list of all the different types of animal or plant life they see. They should distinguish as precisely as possible between different types (for example not simply list 'dog', but 'cocker spaniel', not just 'rose' but 'red rose', or even ' red rose called Peace'). When pupils are back in the classroom collate the results of all their lists on the board. Even in a city the collated list should include many dozens of types. Ask pupils to guess how many different types might exist in the world in total.

2. Ask pupils whether they think it is important that so many different types of living thing exist, and why? (This could begin with something as simple as a Collie being good for herding sheep, and a Dobermann being good as a guard dog, or a Bramley apple being good for making apple pies and a Cox's Orange Pippin being good for eating raw). Allow pupils to discuss at length.

After Viewing

1. A good way to follow up the programme would be to play the role-playing game 'Timber'. 'Timber' explores the human (economic, political and social) dimensions of rainforest destruction. Participants take on the roles of various groups of people who live in the rainforest, and who rely on the forest for their means of subsistence. The game explores the reasons why the forests are being cut down and encourages participants to explore possible solutions to the problem. 'Timber' is available on-line, to download as a PDF file, free of charge from 'Just Business' at www.jusbiz.org.

2. Pupils could also be encouraged to try their hand at the online puzzle on rainforests at www.zoomschool.com/subjects/rainforest/radiobuttonquiz/radio_button_quiz1.shtml

3. Pupils could be asked to visit their local shops and look to see how many recycled paper products are available, or how many timber products from sustainably managed forests.

4. The pupils/school could seek to ensure that exercise books and paper used in the school comes, wherever possible, from sustainably managed timber - or is recycled. A pupil committee could be set up to monitor this.