Science Week Free Resources: Evolving Ecosystems

Week 3: Evolving Ecosystems 

Have you ever wondered what would happen if ecosystems were to evolve at a different rate? Currently, ecosystems evolve through a combination of various ecological and evolutionary processes, including natural selection, interactions between species, environmental changes and human influence. But what if ecosystems lost the capacity to evolve at their usual rate, or couldn’t evolve at all? 

The following prompt introduces a parallel version of the Earth that hasn’t evolved or adapted since the first Ice Age. This era - also known as the Pleistocene Epoch - occurred around 2.6 million years ago and lasted until approximately 11,700 years ago. During this time, a lot of the earth was covered in ice sheets and was the home of a lot of large–bodied animals including wooly mammoths, mastodons, saber-toothed cats and giant ground sloths! Early humans also co-existed with such animals during this time and learned how to develop tools and control fire. 

As your students continue on the story, ask them to consider how different human life would be if that version of the earth still existed today. What would biodiversity be like, and which species wouldn’t be able to exist and thrive? What would the sea look like, and how would humans adapt to the temperatures? 

As your students complete this free activity, compiled for Science Week 2024, you may want to ask them to use research tools, such as the internet or books, to find out more about the first ice age. 

KS2 Opening: 

In a land where winters never end, and icy winds howl through ancient forests, a group of curious friends discovered a hidden secret. As they ventured beyond the towering snow-covered trees, their breath visible in the frosty air, they stumbled upon a world frozen in time - untouched since the first ice age.

The ground crunched beneath their boots as they explored a landscape trapped in perpetual winter. Tall, furry mammoths roamed through icy meadows, their long tusks gleaming like frozen icicles. Saber-toothed tigers prowled the edges of the snow-covered streams, their eyes sharp and watchful. But what surprised the friends the most was the sight of ancient humans, bundled in thick furs, working together to build sturdy shelters made of ice and stone. The air was filled with the sounds of their primitive tools and the crackling of frozen campfires. 

As the friends gazed at this icy world, frozen in time, they… 

Ask your class to continue the story, exploring the ecosystems of the ice age and their frozen evolution. To help with their ideas, you could link this activity to one of Developing Experts’ units on living things and their habitats. To develop this activity further, you could ask the children to write about: 

• An ecosystem that currently exists but is threatened by human activity (eg. the rainforest or the Arctic) 
• A parallel universe where ecosystems evolve at a rapid pace (eg. trees grow tall overnight, insects eat whole plants, organisms change and evolve quickly) 
• A parallel universe where ecosystems don’t evolve at all (similar to the prompt above, but the children could choose a different era). 

KS1 Opening: 

In a magical land where snowflakes danced in the air all year round, two friends named Jake and Mia set off on an exciting adventure. As they tiptoed through the snowy woods, they found a hidden surprise. The world around them was a frozen wonderland, just like a magical winter fairy tale!

Giant, furry animals roamed the icy meadows. These gentle giants had long, shaggy fur that kept them warm in the chilly air. As the friends giggled and skipped along, they spotted odd-looking cats with long teeth, who prowled through the snowy bushes. The cats had big, round eyes and made the children giggle with their silly antics. But the biggest surprise of all was meeting friendly humans who wore cozy clothes made of soft fur. These humans were building snow forts and making odd-shaped snow friends. The air was filled with laughter and the crunching sound of their boots on the snowy ground.

As Jake and Mia played in this magical winter world, they… 

Ask the children to continue with the story. To adapt the content for KS1, instead of focusing on the evolution of ecosystems, you could show the children images of the animals present in the story and discuss when they lived and how they adapted to the environment. Alternatively, you could create a visual storyboard to show the interactions between the animals and their habitat or use props and toys to act out the story. 

Regardless of how you use this activity, remember to emphasise Science Week’s theme of time!