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A CASE FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE
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Science
The Science section encourages investigation of a wide range of issues, from renewable energy to bio-diversity and population dynamics through practical activities and experiments.
Activities 1- 5 focus on energy and renewable services based on natural countryside materials and involve practical experiments to produce different forms of power.
Activities 6-12 focus on questions relating to breeding, looking at sheep and cattle including so called rare breeds, as well as the controversial issues surrounding intensive and extensive farming. The theme of genetics is introduced and explored in an interesting and practical way.
Activities 13-16 look at birds and mammals that are important aspects of upland farming. The habits of grouse and deer are explored and prompt the consideration of management issues in upland areas.
1. Power Games
Can one farm meet the power requirements of the local school or even the town itself? In this group activity students have to examine various energy needs within the local town and decide how best to deliver the energy using the renewable source which they are given. The siting, planning, production and costing of the development has to be considered in a summary presentation.
2. The Heat is On
The vast proportion of energy consumption in the human body is for keeping warm. We can conserve heat by pulling on an extra sweater, but how do buildings stay warm? Students monitor energy generation and use within the school.
3. Willow Watch
Willow grows at phenomenal rates of up to 10cm in one week and, as with all biomass, there is a balance in carbon emissions as carbon released during combustion is recycled by growing biomass and therefore makes no nett contribution to the greenhouse effect. Students will gain a greater understanding of biomass as a renewable energy resource and learn about vegetative and sexual reproduction in plants.
4. Fry Drive
Putting the same oil in your car's fuel tank as you use in the frying pan, may not seem a viable proposition, but it is perfectly feasible. Biodiesel, which is made from cooking oil, can be used as a direct replacement for conventional diesel. It is more expensive to produce, but the fact that it is biodegradable means that is it less harmful to environmentally sensitive areas such as rivers. In this activity biodiesel is made using oil brought from home and is compared with other fuels.
5. A Burning Question
How much energy is released from different materials? Students can design an experiment to compare the energy released from materials. Alternatively a Kelly Kettle can be used as a demonstration.
6-12. Mix and Match - Information on Biodiversity, Genetics and Sustainability
Activities 6-12 focus on questions relating to breeding, looking at sheep and cattle including so called rare breeds, as well as the controversial issues surrounding intensive and extensive farming. The theme of genetics is introduced and explored in an interesting and practical way.
6. A Cow(nt)
Why does biodiversity exist? Is there a variety of livestock in your area? Students investigate local livestock and discuss the need for biodiversity.
7. A Woolly Question
The fleeces of sheep vary considerably, but why? Students examine samples from different fleeces, and study the sheep's environment to determine reasons for the variation.
8. Designer Cow
What characteristics of breed make it appropriate to its environment? In this activity students have to design cows to suit a number of different environments.
9. Question a Bull
As the genes of offspring are determined by those of the parent, paternity can be established by examining the DNA. Students do precisely that - given a choice of possible bulls, they have to decide which one is the sire.
10. Hand Me Down Genes
Characteristics of all living things are inherited, but how? Students study the characteristics of different breeds of cow and the chromosomes of White Park cattle to determine how a black calf can be produced from a herd of white cattle.
11. Des Res
Intensively farmed produce constitutes the vast majority of consumption in this country. In this activity students evaluate the pros and cons of intensive and extensive farming systems, in order to have a greater understanding of the issues associated with this controversial subject.
12. Back to the Future
Native Breeds of livestock account for a very small amount of production. Students using a practical related activity, attempt the question of why this is the case and why might it be important to conserve this genetic pool for sustainable production in the future.
13. Timescale Detectives
Salmon undergo a fascinating life-cycle throughout which the environment leaves an indelible mark on the fish's body. By looking at the scales it is possible to determine the age of the fish and even which seas and rivers it has lived in.
Activities 14-16 look at birds and mammals that are important aspects of upland farming. The habits of grouse and deer are explored and prompt the consideration of management issues in upland areas
14. Something to Grouse About
How better to know what a bird's diet consists of than to look in its crop (the food packet in the throat). Students can examine the crop's contents, to determine the species of plants which make up the diet of a Grouse and in what proportion. Then they may consider the possible management requirements of a Grouse moor as a result of their findings.
15. Bonehead
The branched horn of deer are an incredible phenomenon, associated with mating ritual and status within a herd's social hierarchy, no two of these contorted structures are alike. This activity studies the scientific functions of their growth and arrangement.
16. Teething Troubles
Teeth can tell you a lot about their associated body's diet and lifestyle. Students will examine deer teeth in order to discover what kind of life an upland deer lives.
Downloads
To download the Teacher Guide for all the above exercises as a word document click here - 261k
To download the Teacher Guide for all the above exercises as a pdf document click here - 221k
To download the Student Activity Sheets for all of the above exercises
as a word document click here - 3.38mb
To download the Student Activity Sheets for all of the above exercises
as a pdf document click here - 1.81mb
To download the Student Information Sheets for exercises 1 and 7-11
as a word document click here - 3.21mb
To download the Student Activity Sheets for exercises 1 and 7-11
as a pdf document click here - 1.04mb
To download the Student Information Sheets for exercises 12-16
as a word document click here - 2.94mb
To download the Student Activity Sheets for exercises 12-16
as a pdf document click here - 1.37mb
To download the Glossary
as a word document click here - 92k
To download the Glossary
as a pdf document click here - 62k