Student Worksheet

Schools Tree Day - Biodiversity - Activity Instructions

As humans, we form connections and rely on a range of people to have a healthy, happy life. Nature also relies on a variety of lifeforms to remain healthy and functional. A family tree is a way we can keep track of our family connections, and in ecosystems, trees are also a pretty good way to keep track of what life is around, because they are so important in providing food, habitat and shelter. In this activity, you will learn about biodiversity, and the ways that trees support a variety of life, so you can see the importance of maintaining or replanting forest areas.

Part A: What is Biodiversity?

Step 1.

Start by making a list of words that begin with the prefix 'bio-'.

Step 2.

The prefix 'bio-' comes from the Greek word for 'life'. Using that knowledge, match these words with their definitions.

biodegradable		The diversity of living things in an environment
biology		A story of a person’s life
biography		Able to be broken down into harmless parts, by the action of living things
biodiversity		The study of living things

Step 3.

For each of these words, knowing that the first part ('bio') means 'life', how would you define the second part of the word? Write your answers down, and then use the dictionary to check whether you are correct.

Part B: Family Trees

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, it would be pretty boring - but you would also probably get sick. That's because we need a range of nutrients to stay healthy.

In the same way, our planet's ecosystems stay healthy by relying on the diversity of different life forms, including plants, animals and micro-organisms. This is called biodiversity. Biodiversity is essential for maintaining a healthy ecosystem. When landscapes are damaged, such as in the recent bushfires, biodiversity is reduced.

The Cool Australia Biodiversity toolbox has resources that can be explored to further understanding.

We can think about biodiversity as in some ways being like a family tree. A family tree is a way to keep track of your ancestors and identify distant family members. Each branch shows an important link between every person listed. Removing just one link would change lots of things in your family, because each person has a role to play in the connections and relationships.

Step 1.

Draw your own family tree. Fill in as much as you can. You can even include people who fill different roles - for example, if you have a family friend who's like an aunty or uncle, consider including them too.

Part C: Forest Families

Step 1.

Watch the TedEd clip: Biodiversity.

Step 2.

After watching, consider this question:

What might happen if a tree was removed from a forest ecosystem?

A tree in a forest ecosystem is a living species itself, which provides biodiversity. But its role is much bigger than that. As it grows, matures and eventually dies, a tree provides a habitat, shelter, and food for many other species. So imagine what can happen if ecosystems can no longer depend on having trees! Events such as land clearing or bushfires can make this situation a reality.

Step 3.

Four of the stages of a tree's life cycle are:

Sapling
Mature tree
Snag (dead)
Decaying and rotten

Draw an example of what each of these stages might look like.

Step 4.

Next, research the following species, and decide what stage of tree it most depends on.

Lichen
Black flying fox
Eastern Grey kangaroo
Brushtail possum
Fungi varieties
Southern Boobook
Earthworm

Hint: The Australian Museum website has lots of fact sheets around these species.

For each species, decide what tree it most depends on, and for what purpose. There is extra room for students to add their own.

Part D: A Forest Family Portrait

To end this activity, create a forest family photo!

Step 1.

Using the information you have found, create an artwork that shows the biodiversity in, on and around these four stages of tree life. You may decide to do this with friends on a large piece of paper or a sheet that can be displayed in a prominent position at school. Remember that the intention of this artwork is to highlight the importance of trees, at each stage in their life cycle, in supporting biodiversity.

Before starting, brainstorm ways to use visual arts elements to capture the viewer's attention and ensure the message is delivered. You could think about elements like colour, space, or form.

Taking It Further

In this lesson, you have explored how important trees are in maintaining biodiversity. It’s easy to feel upset when you think of the damage caused by fires, and important to know who you can connect with. Instead of feeling helpless, we challenge you to use your knowledge to help with the regeneration of land.

Make a plan about how you can use your new knowledge, and your display of Forest Families, to encourage people to help in the regeneration of damaged forest ecosystems.

Schools Tree Day - Biodiversity (home learning)

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