Week 7 – Year 4 Home Learning Tasks

(foundation/science)

Learning objective: Recognise that environments can change and

that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things.

Please note: Flash player on Chrome needed for any videos.

Environments change. Sometimes they change naturally

and sometimes humans change them.

Look at the

scenes to the

left. How has it

changed

naturally

through Spring,

Summer,

Autumn and

Winter?

Look at the scene to the left.

How do you think it has changed

through human activity?

Some examples of natural changes are a change in seasons, tides, volcano

erupting, night and day and extreme weather. Most natural changes happen

regularly and do not pose a danger to the living things. Living things have

special adaptations that allow them to survive the changes.

To learn more about adaptations, watch the video below

about ‘Rockpools’.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zpfnvcw

To hide from

predators, a

snowshoe hare

will change

from having

brown fur to

white fur.

A tulip flower will

close itself up to

stop the dew from

getting the pollen

wet, and to protect

it from frost.

An American

bison will

cool down in

the summer

by shedding

it’s thick,

brown coat.

To cope with less

available food during

the winter, a squirrel

will spend the

summer and autumn

storing up food for

the winter months.

Task 1 (Monday):

Many plants and animals have adaptations which help them to

survive in their environment. For example, did you know that a

dolphin breathes air just like us, but can hold its breath underwater

for a very long time? It is also able to jump up and out of the water.

This actually helps it to use less energy than it would if it was just

swimming!

Can you think of some adaptations that plants and animals have in

order to survive on the land, endure cold winters, hot summer, a

storm, a drought, darkness, daylight or when the tide comes in

underwater? Think of some adaptations for the plants and animals

below (Use the internet or books to help if needed):

One adaptation is ___________________

__________________________________.

Other adaptations

are________________________________

__________________________________.

___________________________________

_________. One adaptation

is________________________________

_________________________________.

Other adaptations

are_______________________________

__________________________________.

Can you think of any more

plants or animals, and list their adaptations?

Task 2 (Tuesday):

Focus: I can consider many natural changes to an

environment.

Design a living thing (plant or animal), that could survive all of the natural

changes that may happen to an environment, for example changes in tides or

in the seasons. Label the parts that will help them to survive, for example

pockets to store food when their food source is scarce. It can be based on a

living thing that you already know, but with the added extras needed to

survive many possible changes.

Here is a student’s example:

One adaptation

is________________________________

_________________________________.

Other adaptations

are______________________________

_________________________________.

Task 3 (Wednesday): (Read below)

Climate Change

What

does this

mean?

Climate Change

Climate change (or global warming), is the process of our planet

heating up.

Scientists estimate that since the Industrial Revolution, human

activity has caused the Earth to warm by approximately 1°C. While

that might not sound like much, it means big things for people and

wildlife around the globe.

Unfortunately, rising temperatures don’t just mean that we’ll get

nicer weather – if only! The changing climate will actually make our

weather more extreme and unpredictable.

As temperatures rise, some areas will get wetter and lots of

animals (and humans!) could find they’re not able to adapt to their

changing climate.

What causes Climate Change?

1. Burning Fossil Fuels

2. Farming

3. Deforestation

Over the past 150 years,

industrialised countries have been

burning large amounts of fossil fuels

such as oil and gas. The gases

released into the atmosphere during

this process act like an invisible

‘blanket’, trapping heat from the sun

and warming the Earth. This is

known as the “Greenhouse Effect”.

Believe it or not, cows’ eating habits

contribute towards climate change.

Just like us, when cows eat, methane

– a type of greenhouse gas – builds

up in their digestive system and is

released in the form of… a burp! This

might sound funny, but when you

imagine that there are almost 1.5

billion cows releasing all that gas into

the atmosphere, it sure adds up!

Forests absorb huge amounts of

carbon dioxide – another greenhouse

gas – from the air, and release

oxygen back into it. The Amazon

rainforest is so large and efficient at

doing this that it acts like our planet’s

air conditioner – limiting climate

change. Sadly, many rainforests are

being cut down to make wood, palm

oil and to clear the way for farmland,

roads, oil mines, and dams.

How will Climate Change affect the planet?

How will it affect Wildlife?

Climate change is already affecting

wildlife all over the world, but certain species are suffering more than others.

Polar animals – whose icy natural habitat is melting in the warmer

temperatures – are particularly at risk. In fact, experts believe that the Arctic

sea ice is melting at a shocking rate – 9% per decade! It’s not just polar

animals who are in trouble. Sea turtles rely on nesting beaches to lay their

eggs, many of which are threatened by rising sea levels. Did you know that

the temperature of nests determines whether the eggs are male or female?

Unfortunately, with temperatures on the rise, this could mean that many

more females are born than males, threatening future turtle populations.

To learn more go to:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/34961514

The Earth has had many tropical climates and ice ages over the billions of

years that it’s been in existence, so why is now so different? Well, this is

because for the last 150 years, human activity has meant we’re releasing a

huge amount of harmful gases into the Earth’s atmosphere, and records

show that the global temperatures are rising more rapidly since this time.

A warmer climate could affect our planet in a number of ways:

– More rainfall

– Changing seasons

– Shrinking sea ice

– Rising sea levels

Look back at the facts above and then answer the questions below:

1. What is Climate Change? (look under the sub-heading ‘Climate

Change’)

Climate Change is____________________________________________.

2. How will Climate Change affect our weather? (look under the sub-

heading ‘Climate Change’)

It will actually make our weather more ____________________ and

________________________.

3. What are three major reasons for Climate Change? (look under the

sub-heading ‘What Causes Climate Change?’)

Three major reasons for Climate Change are

____________________________, ____________________ and

____________________________.

4. Who is responsible for Climate Change? (look under ‘How will Climate

Change affect the planet?’)

_______________________________ are responsible for Climate

Change.

5. List three ways that a warmer climate could affect the Earth. (look

under ‘How will Climate Change affect the planet?’)

A warmer climate could create ____________________________,

____________________________ and_________________________.

6. Why are Polar animals particularly at risk from Climate Change? (look

under ‘How will it affect wildlife?’)

Polar animals’ icy natural habitat

____________________________________________________.

7. Why are sea turtles threatened by a change in climate? (look under

‘How will it affect wildlife?’)

Their nesting beaches are

____________________________________________________.

Bonus: What is the ‘Greenhouse effect’?

How might humans be affected by Climate Change?

Extension Activity:

If you have the necessary materials and would like to try this experiment on

global warming at home, go to

https://sciencing.com/simple-models-global-warming-science-projects-

20316.html

You could most likely do it without thermometers, as one glass will

probably be warmer than the other when picking them up.

Task 4 (Thursday):

Humans have made an impact on different environments.

Urbanisation is one of these impacts.

Urbanisation means that there are more and more people living in

built-up urban areas, rather than in rural (countryside) areas. This

means that more houses and roads are being built on land that was

once untouched.

What has happened? When we build another road, or housing

estate, pave our back garden or make a

driveway, we are taking away food

sources from a hedgehog’s environment,

because worms, slugs and snails don’t

live on roads!

It is thought that their numbers have

declined from about 30 million in the 1950s to about 1.5million now. Hedgehogs are nocturnal and can travel between 1 and 2 miles at night

foraging (searching) for food. When we put fences between each

garden, we cut off their chance to move around and look for food or

find a mate.

What can we do?

Put some food out for them. Leave an area

in your garden for them to forage in, talk

to your neighbours when the time is right about making a

‘hedgehog highway’ between all of your gardens.

Activity: Make a poster telling others about the

problems with urbanisation and how we could be more

mindful of living things (such as hedgehogs) in the

places we live.

Extension: Find out more about hedgehogs. Make a

drawing for a ‘hedgehog highway’ and area for

hedgehogs to forage if you happen to have a back

garden.

Watch this clip

https://www.dai

lymotion.com/vi

deo/x4zf79h_bb

c1-countryfile-

autumn-diaries-

episode3-

26oct16-helping-

the-hedgehog-

from-

extinction_anim

als

to find out some

ways that we

could help

hedgehogs.

Task 5 (Friday):

Nature Reserves are a way to preserve

nature.

What is the impact?

Click here

http://butterfl

y-

conservation.o

rg/2401-

1947/broadcro

ft-quarry-

portland-

dorset.html to

find out about

how a disused

quarry became

a nature

reserve.

These areas are being allowed to flourish once again.

When we manage an area by protecting native species

(plants and animals), encouraging growth, stopping

pollution and invasive species (plants and animals that

come from other places) then the living things in that

area can thrive.

What can we do?

Help nature reserves by volunteering or picking up litter, or

learning about what they are doing and telling others, or

respecting the area and the signs.

Get a bit muddy! Encourage

others to work with you to

protect your own little

space. What is happening in

your garden, or you park, at

the local allotments? Is

there anything that you

could do to help?

Activity: Make a list of things that you could do to help your own

little space, whether it be your back garden, local park or an

allotment.

Extension: Think of a run-down area that you know. How could you

make it a place where plants and animals would thrive (do well)?

Draw a sketch of your plan.

Example –

Before

After

End of Week 7 – science/foundation

Week 7 – Year 4 Home Learning Tasks

(foundation/science)

Learning objective: Recognise that environments can change and

that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things.

Answer sheet

Environments change. Sometimes they change naturally

and sometimes humans change them.

Look at the scenes to the

left. How has it changed

naturally through Spring,

Summer, Autumn and

Winter?

Spring – Trees are full of

new life and colourful.

Summer – Trees and grass

are growing. Leaves on

trees.

Autumn – Leaves are

changing colour and falling

to ground.

Winter – All the leaves have

fallen from the trees. Snow

on ground.

Look at the scene to the left. How

do you think it has changed through

human activity?

People have cut down trees in the

area.

Task 1 (Monday):

If you were able to think of any other plants or

animals and their adaptations, then fantastic!!

Answers to include any references

to: thick layer of body fat, short

legs, neck and small ears, thick fur

on body, tail or feet and finding

shelter under the snow to get

extra insulation from the cold.

Answers to include any references

to: can survive for long periods

without water, has large, flat feet,

two rows of eyelashes and slit-like

nostrils in nose, thick fur on top of

body and thin fur on other parts of

body.

Answers to include any references

to: spines and scales, thick stem

which stores water and waxy stem

to stop water evaporating, long,

fibrous roots to absorb moisture

and is able to become dormant

and then grow again when there is

moisture.

Task 2 (Tuesday):

There are many possibilities for this task. If you thought of your

own plant or animal and were able to draw it, label the features

and give it a name, then terrific! Well-done!!

Task 3 (Wednesday):

1. What is Climate Change? (look under the sub-heading ‘Climate

Change’)

Climate Change is the process of our planet heating up.

2. How will Climate Change affect our weather? (look under the sub-

heading ‘Climate Change’)

It will actually make our weather more extreme and unpredictable.

3. What are three major reasons for Climate Change? (look under the

sub-heading ‘What Causes Climate Change?’)

Three major reasons for Climate Change are burning fossil fuels,

farming and deforestation.

4. Who is responsible for Climate Change? (look under ‘How will Climate

Change affect the planet?’)

Human beings are responsible for Climate Change.

5. List three ways that a warmer climate could affect the Earth. (look

under ‘How will Climate Change affect the planet?’)

Any three from the following: more rainfall, changing seasons,

shrinking sea ice, rising sea levels.

6. Why are Polar animals particularly at risk from Climate Change? (look

under ‘How will it affect wildlife?’)

Polar animals’ icy natural habitat is melting in the warmer

temperatures.

7. Why are sea turtles threatened by a change in climate? (look under

‘How will it affect wildlife?’)

Their nesting beaches are threatened by rising sea levels.

Bonus: What is the ‘Greenhouse effect’?

Any answers which give reference to: The process of releasing gases into the

atmosphere to create an ‘invisible blanket’, trapping heat from the sun and

warming the earth.

How might humans be affected by Climate Change?

Answers will vary, but possible answers may include: Severe flooding,

including whole towns or cities at sea level eventually being covered in

water; those jobs which rely on seasonal factors, such as farming and tourism

being severely affected; severe storms such as hurricanes happening more

often and involving destruction of homes, loss of life and ruining the

economy.

Task 4 (Thursday):

If you made a poster telling others about the problems with urbanisation and

how we could be more mindful of living things, then great!

Even better if you found out more about hedgehogs and ‘hedgehog

highways’!!

Task 5 (Friday):

Things to do to help out a back garden, park or allotment could include:

trimming grass and hedges, planting and watering flowers or vegetables,

helping to get rid of pests in a safe way, picking up litter, obeying the signs,

making hedgehog highways, putting out bird seed and many more!