What do animals and plants do to survive extreme heat and cold? And how are they able to float on air or water? We can find a variety of solutions just by looking at any habitat (ecosystem) in nature. Getting places, staying safe and finding a mate: every species does these things in its own way. Come be inspired by real examples from nature and design your own solution. Test your design in our spectacular test stations. But watch out: does being good at one thing come at a cost in other areas?
Everything you need to knowin a row
- Type: workshop
- Level: groups 7 & 8 (10-12 years old)
- Length: 120 minutes
- Number of pupils: at least 15, but no more than 36
- Areas: workshop area Design, gallery Life
- The school supplies: 1 supervisor for every 5 pupils
- Naturalis will supply: 2 supervisors
- Main objective: pupils will design solutions to problems in nature and, in doing so, gain a sense of wonder about the diversity of form to be found among plants and animals.
- Link to core objectives: 40, 41, 42 and 45
- Keywords: robustness, movement, protection and habitat
Course of the program at the museum
The program consists of four parts. The schedule given below is an indication only.
0-10 minutes: workshop area
An education assistant will give an introduction to Naturalis, meant to instill a sense of wonder and help visitors get oriented. The theme of this introduction is “How animals survive in nature”. Pupils will see examples of how animals protect themselves from extreme heat and cold, and how they are able to float on water or in the air.
10-55 minutes: workshop area
Pupils divide into small groups and look at different real objects from nature, talking to each other about what the organisms they came from might be good at. Next, each pair of pupils is assigned a “model” animal or plant and a threat to protect it from. The pupils will come up with and build solutions for their animal or plant and then test their solutions at spectacular testing stations.
55-85 minutes: Life gallery
In the Life gallery, pupils can see all kinds of real animals. Based on an assignment, they will look closely to find the solutions nature has invented to protect living things from extreme heat and cold, or to help them float on air or water.
85-120 minutes: workshop area
Back in the workshop area, the pupils are given a new design assignment: now they must protect their model from two threats at once. Which solution works the best and does being good in one area come at a cost in another area?
Booking infoprepare your visit
Information about practical matters such as parking, lockers and house rules.
