Soil, Crops & Biodiversity

0–5 min | Starter Activity – Think & Pair

Question on board:

What do plants, animals, and humans all depend on to survive?

• Students write one idea
• Pair and share
• Teacher links responses to soil, plants, habitats

5–15 min | Section A: Soil – The Foundation of Life

1️⃣ What is Soil? (3 mins – teacher input)

Explain simply:

• Soil is made of minerals, air, water, and living organisms
• It supports plant growth and stores carbon
• Healthy soil supports food production and biodiversity

2️⃣ Video: Why Soil Is Amazing (5 mins)

🎥 Why soil is one of the most amazing things on Earth?
BBC Ideas / Royal Society (4:40) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiLITHMVcRw

While watching – students note:

• One reason soil is important
• One living thing found in soil

🔍 Check Question (2 mins)

What might happen if soil becomes damaged or unhealthy?

15–25 min | Section B: Crops – What We Grow and Why

1️⃣ What is a Crop? (Teacher explanation – 3 mins)

A crop is a plant grown and harvested for:

• Food, Materials, Income

2️⃣ Types of Crops (7 mins – guided discussion)

Using National Geographic article (with images): https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/crop/

Six main crop types:

• Food crops – wheat, rice, vegetables
• Feed crops – crops grown to feed animals
• Fibre crops – cotton
• Oil crops – sunflower, rapeseed
• Ornamental crops – flowers
• Industrial crops – biofuels, rubber

Key thinking point:  Which crop types use the most land, and why?

25–35 min | Section C: Biodiversity – Why It Matters

1️⃣ What is Biodiversity? (Teacher input – 3 mins)

Biodiversity means:

• The variety of species, habitats, and ecosystems
• All living things are interconnected

Key terms: Habitat, Species, Ecosystem, Interdependence

2️⃣ Video: Why Is Biodiversity So Important? (5 mins)

🎥 TED-Ed – Why Is Biodiversity So Important? (4:18) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK_vRtHJZu4

While watching – students identify:

• One benefit of biodiversity & One risk if biodiversity is lost

NOTE: The UK has lost nearly half of its biodiversity since the Industrial Revolution and is one of the most nature-depleted countries globally (see the State of Nature Report 2023 – https://stateofnature.org.uk/ and The Living Planet Index 2024 Living planet report: 2024

UK National Security Assessment on Global Ecosystems 2026 – loss of biodiversity threatens national safety. Report

🔍 Quick Question (2 mins)

How do pollinators like bees support food production?

35–45 min | Section D: Agriculture and Habitat Loss

1️⃣ Agriculture’s Impact (Teacher-led – 3 mins) Explain:

• Farming needs land
• Natural habitats are often cleared for crops or animals
• This leads to habitat loss and species decline

Ask pupils to say if they have heard of palm oil. It is very likely that they have used a palm oil containing food or substance today.

2️⃣ Lesson Video: Agriculture & Habitat Loss (7 mins)

🎥 Rang-tan: the story of dirty palm oil [1:30] Greenpeace Animation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQQXstNh45g

Focus points:

• Expansion of farmland, Animal agriculture and land use, Effects on forests, grasslands, and wildlife

Key impacts: Deforestation, Reduced biodiversity, Increased greenhouse gases

45–50 min | Applying the Science – Discussion

Comparing Farming Systems (Teacher-led)

Animal farming:

• Large land use (for animals + feed crops), Habitat destruction, Higher emissions, Greater water use per calorie produced, greater biodiversity loss

Crop farming for humans:

• Less land per calorie produced, Fewer steps in food chain, More efficient use of resources, Potential for habitat restoration

77% of land is used for growing feed for livestock but provides only 18% of calories consumed. Link to climate change & biodiversity protection

50–55 min | Final Plenary – Exit Question

Students answer in writing or verbally:

Would moving away from intensive animal farming towards growing more crops for people to eat, help protect biodiversity and reduce climate change? Why or why not?

Encourage use of: Soil, Crops, Biodiversity, Habitat loss