Our Living Environment

Open University Breakthrough Maths, Science, Technology

• Enhancing pupil-learning on museum visits
• Exploring Patterns
• Our Living Environment
• The Material World
• Thinking about measurement
  

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Wise up on ecology

About. Our Living Environment is a study module offering a 'fresh perspective' on studying the environment. It starts by introducing vocabulary and the animals and plants that inhabit ponds, woodlands and compost heaps. Its scientific approach looks behind the obvious to show why the energy, and carbon also, flows through these different environments. Later, the booklet looks at some controversial environmental issues, asking finally about 'the future'.

Pedagogical content. This study module, an online booklet, deals with the particular ways of thinking about and studying of the environment. It is a useful homework^(ta) resource to encourage pupils to engage with key scientific vocabulary^(ta) and use their knowledge of the scientific method^(ta) to engage with inquiry^(ta) learning.

Resource details
Title	Our Living Environment
Topic	[[Topics/Environment|Environment]]
Teaching approach	[[Teaching Approaches/Homework|Homework]],  [[Teaching Approaches/Language|Language]],  [[Teaching Approaches/Inquiry|Inquiry]],  [[Teaching Approaches/Scientific method|Scientific method]]
Learning Objectives	Students should understand that: scientific texts have different styles and some can be be difficult to read, like all specialist subject, science has its own jargon, and it takes time to learn this new vocabulary. Students should be more able to: set up a study folder to accompany their studies, make notes from audio presentations.
Format / structure	10 PDF
Subject	[[Resources/Science|Science]]
Age of students / grade	[[Resources/NA|NA]],  [[Resources/Secondary|Secondary]],  [[Resources/Primary|Primary]],  [[Resources/Higher|Higher]]
Table of contents	Chapter 1: What is this module about? Chapter 2: The environment and ecology Chapter 3: Looking at ponds and woodlands Chapter 4: Energy flow Chapter 5: Thinking in terms of cycles Chapter 6: Thinking about animal populations Chapter 7: What of the future? References Acknowledgements
Useful information	Part of the Breakthrough to Mathematics, Science and Technology Series.
Files and resources to view and download	This external resource is a 75 page booklet, presented as a series of ten smaller PDF files. Work down the page at this link to read each section in turn. http://labspace.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=426185&section=1.2.4