Ring around Plant Diversity

In a schools grounds there will be many different types of ground cover. There may be lots of grass, creepers, leaf litter, earth or pavement. How diverse are these areas? Is the ground covered with native plants or is it covered by weeds and introduced grasses? Your students will need to fill in a chart to record their estimates. You can view and download the chart from our pdf version of this activity.

Levels
CSF Level 3 and 4

Download PDF version.

Ring_around_diversity.pdf

Outcomes
Students will learn a simple technique for investigating weeds in the school ground. Students will use simple maths to estimate weed and other plant cover.

Materials you will need
· 1 hoop per team of 4-5 (a hoop gives you an area approximately 60 cm in diameter) · Magnifying glasses · Writing and recording materials · Tennis ball and racquet (or cricket bat)

Background

Method
One person with a tennis racquet stands clear of the group. Another student throws the ball up in a loop to be hit by the racquet. The aim is to hit it high in the air and observe where it lands. This becomes the starting point for your plant survey. Place the hoop over the spot where the ball first bounced. Be careful not to move the hoop once it is down. On paper, draw a circle to represent the hoop. Draw the different types of plants, earth, leaf litter etc seen in the hoop.. If you don't know the names of the plants, label the items as grass 1, grass 2, weed 1, weed 2, native plant, earth, leaf etc Fill in the chart. Compare the types of plants that grow in each of the hoops.

Extension

Back to the list