Why is biodiversity so important?
Our planet’s diverse, thriving ecosystems may seem like permanent fixtures, but they’re actually vulnerable to collapse. Jungles can become deserts, and reefs can become lifeless rocks. What makes one ecosystem strong and another weak in the face of change? Kim Preshoff details why the answer, to a large extent, is biodiversity. A 5-minute video explores how ecosystems cope in the face of change. This video can be followed up with a short quiz and further opportunities to explore further. It can be used as a prompt for research into different ecosystems.
©TedEd. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Preparation
Show learners the embedded video below.
Location
- Indoors
Curriculum links
- Biology
- Geography
Step by step
Use the video as a starting point for a revision activity, to establish prior knowledge about biodiversity and different ecoystems. Learners might be tasked to focus on different ecosystems such as jungles, coral reefs and oceans, researching how changes impact them. They can then present findings to the class, or produce media or written summaries. Allowing young people to share their own, or family knowledge of ecosystems that are found outside of the UK, as well as discussing local ecosystems close to or on the school site, can promote an equitable approach to learning by valuing all students experiences and broaden student perspectives on what counts as 'nature'.