KS3 Lesson Plan - A428 Biodiversity Game

Introduction

Working with ecologists on the A428 road scheme in England, this game was developed to showcase how biodiversity is protected by ecologists on engineering projects. In this game they will identify multiple species of animals that live along the road scheme in real life and then safely move the animals from their current habitat to a new and improved one.

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify six species of animals that live along the road scheme. 

  2. A basic understanding of how road schemes consider the environmental impact on wildlife. 

  3. A basic understanding of the job roles involved in a scheme like this.

  4. Understanding that relocating habitats can be more beneficial.

Guiding Ideas and Questions

  1. Why is it important to protect natural habitats?

  2. What is a habitat, and how do they help animals and insects thrive?

  3. How do we create better new habitats for animals?

Performance expectations

The students will be expected to learn about the animals, their habitats, create improved habitats for them, move them, and build a new road.  

Lesson Structure

Part 1 –

Before they start please explain what Highways England does -

'Highways England manage and improve England's motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safe, smoother and more reliable journeys. We're the government company which plans, designs, build, operates and maintains England's motorways and major A roads, known as the strategic road network (SRN). Make up of 4,300 miles of motorways and major A roads which are at the core of our national transport system.'

Students will spawn into the Highways England offices. Here they can interact with the NPCs (non-player characters) who will either give them bits of information or say generic greetings.

Allow them to explore for 5 minutes.

At the end of the 5 minutes get them to go to the large computer at the end of the offices and wait there. They are not to click on the computer, or teleport to the scheme, until the next part.

Part 2 –

Get the students to click on the large computer. They can click the KS3 button to begin.

They will then be teleported to the virtual road scheme. Here they should interact with the first NPC who will give them more instructions. The first task is to get a camera and workbook from a nearby NPC, and document all the animals and habitats they find. They will also be able to figure out which item in the game spawns those animals to create a more biodiverse area. They then need to create new and improved habitats for the animals. Once they have done this, they can move the animals to their new habitat and use the specific items to spawn more. With any remaining time, they can finish the road by continuing to build it once they have safely moved the animals.

Part 3 –

The students can then present their road designs to the class and talk about how they created new habitats for the animals. They can discuss the animals that live there, and the facts they found out about them, as well as the job roles involved in the scheme.