Biodiversity basics

Year level: Upper primary/Lower secondary Learning outcome Students will develop an understanding that biodiversity is a complex, interdependent web which is necessary for our health, economy and culture. Read the Background for the International Year of Biodiversity. Define biodiversity in your own words. Add content to this table: Causes of loss of biodiversity Example How it could be addressed Habitat destruction Land clearance Containing area used for housing             Create a list, as a small group, of the plants and animals that are used for one of the following human needs: food, clothing, housing or medicine. Describe how biodiversity is important for the list of needs your group has created. Investigate how the loss of biodiversity will affect providing for this human need. Discuss: Who will be most affected by biodiversity loss? What changes can we make to protect those affected by biodiversity loss? Assessment task Create an action sheet outlining the importance of protection of biodiversity.