Mapping microhabitats

1. Learners can work independently or in small groups. Give each learner or group a Homes and help for nature Worksheet.  
2. There are two ways to run this activity: either set a timer (e.g. for five minutes) and ask learners to search an area of your site for the pictured items and tick the ones they find, or ask learners to stand by a microhabitat when they find one and put their hand up.
3. Learners or their groups can take it in turns to share what they have found.  
4. If using a printed map of your site: ask learners to mark and label the microhabitat they have identified on the map. If using the Habitat Mapper tool on a mobile device: educators and learners can work together to add the microhabitat to the map.   
5. Move round your site, if needed, and repeat this process until you have identified all microhabitats on your site.
6. If you used a printed map, remember to add the microhabitats identified to the Nature Park map using the Habitat Mapper tool when you are back in the classroom. This is a really important step to ensure your site and your observations contribute to real-world, groundbreaking research by the Natural History Museum into nature recovery.
7. Bring the group together and discuss how each item on your map might support nature – is it a long-term home, a resource for breeding, a source of food or temporary shelter? What kinds of animals might use it? 

Open Habitat Mapper tool

Reflection

Discuss with learners how many of the different microhabitats on the worksheet were found. Did you only have one of each, or multiple? Ask learners if they noticed any items that were not on the worksheet and how these may help nature. Are there opportunities to add more or different kinds of homes and help for nature on your site? Encourage learners to share their observations and ideas during this discussion.