Glendale Primary School

Biodiversity - Eco-Schools Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Objectives

• Raise awareness amongst teachers and pupils of the term "biodiversity" and the level of understanding of its scope (we accept that the term "biodiversity" may not be used explicitly with all learners).
• Communicate the benefits and values associated with biodiversity.
• Communicate the scientific and technical concepts and skills relating to biodiversity.
• Raise the number of local, outdoor experiences involving direct contact with nature and those working to care for it.
• Demonstrate the benefits of integrating biodiversity outcomes into an Eco-Schools' strategy - how it will affect the quality of life of the whole school, and tie in with its other strands eg School Grounds, Health & Well-Being.
• Encourage schools to make choices that improve the biodiversity value of their local surroundings, and that use natural resources in more sustainable ways.
• Encourage schools to make national/international links with other schools to explore the local and global aspects of biodiversity issues and the perspectives of others.

Learning Outcomes

• Through work on biodiversity, pupils should be enabled to:
• Describe carrying out an outdoor site survey/audit, and planning/completing associated practical, local outdoor investigations.
• Describe the importance of biodiversity in their local area and what can be done to improve it.
• Describe the scope of biodiversity in connection with wider/global issues of sustainable development - eg health, consumerism, climate change, genetic modification technology, and the introduction of exotic species.
• Develop enquiry skills and know where to find out more.
• Develop critical thinking and communication skills.
• Make choices and decisions that affect their lives (either as individuals or as part of a wider group) and do something long-term for biodiversity - locally or globally.