Home Sweet Home 1

Children learn about Maltese habitats, the animals that live there, and how people affect them.
Recommended Period for this Activity: All year round

1. Explore Malta’s habitats 
Children watch the "Habitats" presentation (Downloadable Materials). The slideshow shows some of Malta’s habitats and the plants and animals that live in each one. 

 

2. Let’s talk about Habitats 
Use the slideshow to start a discussion, including: 

  • The word HABITAT and a chat about places they know and the habitats they contain; 
  • How different habitats are home to different plants and animals, and how this diversity is important for the overall health and resilience of nature and humans; 
  • That when a habitat is destroyed, all living things in it can disappear; 
  • The word ECOSYSTEM and how even small ecosystems, like school grounds, are important. 

 

3. Map your school Habitats 

Ask the Head of School for a copy of the school plan. Copy it onto squared paper. Divide the class into groups and give each group a copy of the plan and a printout of "School Ground Habitats" (Downloadable Materials). Assign each group a section to explore. Students visit the area and mark the different habitats they find using simple symbols (or numbers/letters if preferred). Symbols are great because they encourage creativity and help children learn about map symbols. 

 

4. Count and discuss 
Back in class, calculate how many squares are occupied by each habitat type. Discuss the overall picture of the school. Ask:

“How can we improve our school to make it more friendly for wildlife?” 

 

5. Take action for Nature 
Create one or more habitats for nature at school. Encourage children to do the same at home. 


Resources & Equipment Needed

  • Scissors;
  • Glue;
  • Pens/pencils;

You can download these instructions in PDF by clicking here: Generate PDF

Downloadable Material

Habitats

YouTube Video

Activity Sheet_Home sweet home 1

PDF Document

School ground habitats

PDF Document

Make sure to take photos of:
1. Children watching slideshow
2. Children exploring school grounds and marking map and school grounds score
3. Children creating MiniHome/s
Activity Photos for Inspiration

Learning Outcomes & Curriculum Integration

Subjects

  • - Science
  • - STEAM

Learning Outcomes

Science 

5.1.1 I can ask questions about the world around me. 

5.1.5 I can record observations in a simple format.

5.1.6 I can make simple conclusions from my direct observations and link thees using key scientific terms.

5.1.7 I can apply scientific knowledge to practical situations.

5.1.16 I can take some decisions while working on an experiment in a group.

STEAM

Bug hotel

Integration with Curriculum

Suggestions for teachers: 

1. This lesson could be used as an introduction to the lesson about the learning outcome 5.7.4 I can find out about the effects human intervention can have on natural habitats and organisms that live there including over-development, deforestation, trespassing and pollution. 

2. If the school plan is not available this activity can still be carried out. Students can still be assigned areas and they can draw their own plan on a sheet of paper.

3. A STEAM activity could be integrated to construct a bug hotel. The activity could be divided over two lessons. In the first lesson the students research bug hotels and plan their bug hotel. In the second lesson, the students get the materials they need to construct a bug hotel.