Biodiversity and Ecosystems - Clay Pressings
Students will learn about biodiversity and ecosystems and create clay castings of leaves or seeds.
In this activity, students will get to learn about biodiversity and ecosystems as well as the energy pyramid. Students will gather leaves or seeds and create clay castings of them.
What You Need
Materials per student
- 1.5-inch square piece of air dry clay in a small plastic baggie
- 1 foot of string
- Let's Talk Science colour-changing pencil (or a pencil that is round shaped)
- Different coloured card stock papers cut into 4 different lengths (roughly 1.5 inches in diameter) for the energy pyramid
- 1/2 a sheet of printed animals and plants for the energy pyramid
- Yellow paper sun (approximately 1-1.5 inches in diameter)
- A few small leaves, seeds, etc. from outside
Lesson Plan:
PowerPoint:
Photos:
Safety Notes
As a Let’s Talk Science volunteer, safety must be foremost in our minds during all activities. As STEM role models, volunteers must always also model safe science practices.
Always keep in mind the following precautions:
- Emphasize and demonstrate appropriate safety procedures throughout the presentation.
- Be professional but have fun.
- Keep workspaces clean to avoid tripping hazards.
- Allergens should have been checked before reserving the kit (e.g. allergies to latex).
- Activity Specific Safety: pick only flowers, leaves, seeds, etc. that you know are safe. If you are unsure, don’t pick the plant/flower. See the Toxic Plant sheet before picking flowers, leaves, etc. Also if you are in an area where there might be ticks, do a ‘tick check’ after.
What To Do
Activity: Energy Pyramid
- Give each student 1 piece of white cardstock, 4 different sized cardstock papers for the pyramid, the 1/2 sheet of photos of animals and plants, a sun, glue and scissors.
- Place the cardstock slips onto the white piece of cardstock in a pyramid formation (smallest on top, largest on bottom). The sun is entering the pyramid from the bottom, so add the sun under the pyramid. You can glue these to the card stock.
- Using the photos, build your pyramid making sure each species is on the appropriate level. Do not glue them until you have checked your answers.
- Give the students a few minutes to make their energy pyramids and then run through the answers. Students can then glue them to the cardstock.
Activity: Clay Impressions
- Roll out a piece of clay the size that you want. you can make one larger one or some smaller ones. Press the clay down with your hands and then use a pencil to roll it flatter and smoother, approximately 4mm thick
- Decide where to place your leaves and seeds on the clay.
- Use your pencil/roller to help press the leaves/seeds into the clay.
- Gently remove the leaves and seeds from the clay - you should see a good impression in the clay. If not, start over and press a little harder on the seeds when rolling.
- Use the straw/pencil to make a hole in the clay. Don't place it too close to the edge (leave about 1/2 cm from the edge) and leave it in until the clay is dried.
- Let the clay dry completely - it will take a few hours/overnight to dry.
- When it is dry, remove the straw/pencil, place a string through the hole and hang your clay impression. If you have some paint, you can paint it after it is dry.
Discovery
Ecosystems are dynamic- energy is always flowing through and matter is recycled. Healthy ecosystems are in a state of equilibrium- where everything is in balance.
The bottom of the pyramid includes plants that are called producers (make their own food via photosynthesis). The second level of the pyramid are the animals that eat the plants, called herbivores or primary consumers. The third level contains animals that eat primary consumers and some secondary consumers. On the top of the pyramid are the tertiary consumers or top predators (such as a wolf).
It is important to protect plant biodiversity. Humans can have a huge impact an ecosystem and the energy flow and species within them. Examples include residential and commercial development, overfishing/over harvesting, pollution, unsustainable forestry practices, introducing invasive species, transportation, mining and climate change. We can limit our impact on the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, stop pollution and reusing/reducing/recycling materials.
If the audience is interested, feel free to discuss how humans have had an impact on our ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Residential and commercial development
- Overfishing and overharvesting
- Pollution (plastics, oil spills, chemicals from factories, etc.)
- Unsustainable forestry practices (taking too many trees, not planting new ones, etc.)
- Agriculture
- Introduction of invasive species
- Mining
- Transportation
- Climate change
Another great topic of discussion is what we can do as humans to protect the ecosystems.
- Bike or walk instead of using cars, public transit
- Recycling and reusing products
- Purchasing products with less packaging
- Stop the use of single-use plastics
What is Happening?
Ecosystems are dynamic- energy is always flowing through and matter is recycled. Healthy ecosystems are in a state of equilibrium- where everything is in balance.
The bottom of the pyramid includes plants that are called producers (make their own food via photosynthesis). The second level of the pyramid are the animals that eat the plants, called herbivores or primary consumers. The third level contains animals that eat primary consumers and some secondary consumers. On the top of the pyramid are the tertiary consumers or top predators (such as a wolf).
Why does it matter?
It is important to protect plant biodiversity. Humans can have a huge impact an ecosystem and the energy flow and species within them. Examples include residential and commercial development, overfishing/over harvesting, pollution, unsustainable forestry practices, introducing invasive species, transportation, mining and climate change. We can limit our impact on the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, stop pollution and reusing/reducing/recycling materials.
Investigate Further
If the audience is interested, feel free to discuss how humans have had an impact on our ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Residential and commercial development
- Overfishing and overharvesting
- Pollution (plastics, oil spills, chemicals from factories, etc.)
- Unsustainable forestry practices (taking too many trees, not planting new ones, etc.)
- Agriculture
- Introduction of invasive species
- Mining
- Transportation
- Climate change
Another great topic of discussion is what we can do as humans to protect the ecosystems.
- Bike or walk instead of using cars, public transit
- Recycling and reusing products
- Purchasing products with less packaging
- Stop the use of single-use plastics