Investigating habitat conditions
Investigate the physical conditions of a habitat (light, temperature, moisture, wind) by measuring them, and analyse data from fair tests (changing one condition, keeping others the same) on how the growth and survival of living things are affected by changing physical conditions
Lesson
Set out your lesson
“Part A uses illustrative records to prepare for measurement. Part B is a separate actual 14-day investigation, not a claim that it has happened. Start Part B only with the listed supplies already available and adult permission. Otherwise record NOT_STARTED. A taller seedling is not necessarily healthier. Light, temperature, moisture, air movement and individual plant differences can affect results. One pair of plants cannot prove a general light-only cause. Plant care takes priority over keeping a test unchanged. Safety: Adult approval and supervision are required. Use known safe existing seedlings and follow instrument instructions. Use indoor locations only. No Sun viewing, unknown soil collection, darkness treatment, harsh heat, chemicals or water deprivation. Keep water away from electrical equipment. Wash hands after plant or soil contact. Stop for wilting or other welfare concerns. Stop: Stop Part A after its graph and plan if practical supplies or adult care are unavailable. Stop Part B at day 14 or immediately for wilting, mould, pests, heat, spills or unsafe equipment. Restore normal plant care and record STOPPED_EARLY. Never withhold needed water, buy instruments, stress plants or continue for a complete-looking log.”
Bring to the table
- Paper, pencil and ruler marked in centimetres
- For Part B only: existing thermometer (°C), light meter (lux), soil-moisture probe with stated units and anemometer (m/s)
- For Part B only: two existing healthy seedlings of the same type and similar starting size, with matching pots, soil amounts and drainage
- For Part B only: existing marked water container (mL), water, spill trays and two adult-approved indoor plant locations
- Adult who can supervise instruments and check plant welfare each day; no purchase is required
Extra for the adult
Worked example. The shade group is taller in the supplied record. That does not prove it grew healthier or survived better; plants can stretch in low light. Site A versus B is not a light-only comparison because temperature, moisture and wind also differ.
Optional challenge. Explain why several pots in one bright room versus one shaded room can still confound light with room conditions. Adult key: Room temperature, humidity or other differences could affect all pots in one room; more pots alone do not remove that confound.
What to notice. Keep Part A labelled illustrative. For Part B retain actual readings, units, plant ID, dates, controls, height graph and survival observations. Record NOT_STARTED, NOT_MEASURED or STOPPED_EARLY where applicable. Note adult setup, readings, plotting and care; do not replace missing observations.
Share and support
Family records and proof options
Keep a record of your learning
Save photos, notes, and attendance. Export a proof packet for compliance or portfolio reviews.
Learning resources
Extra practice links — they do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.
PhET Interactive Simulations · Practice link — not the full lesson
Natural Selection
Before you open · source notes
Natural Selection supports hands-on exploration for Investigating habitat conditions. Not every lab worksheet.
Free interactive page, no sign-in required for the tested path.
Before you openAsk the learner what they changed in the sim or page and what they observed.
Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.
Source, access and review notes
Public PhET Interactive Simulations page. An anonymous GET on 2026-11-12 returned HTTP 200 with no login or payment prompt for this URL. Opening the link does not save practice or assess mastery. An adult should preview and guide the learner.
PhET Interactive Simulations. “Natural Selection.” External page; Gakuva does not copy, host, embed, or redistribute materials.
Unknown — link only
Check understanding
- Measure light, temperature and soil moisture at two school-ground sites with a thermometer, light meter or data logger and record the data
- Set up a fair seedling test that changes only one condition (e.g. sun vs shade) while keeping the seedling type, pot size, soil and amount of water the same, measuring the conditions and plant heights every few days for two weeks
- Graph growth for each condition and use the measurements to explain how the changed condition affected growth and survival, noting any condition that may not have stayed the same
“Could your child set up a fair test — the same seedlings, soil and water, with one in sun and one in shade — measure them over two weeks, and use the results to explain which grew better and why?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Procedural
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Ecosystems & Habitats
- Age range
- Ages 11–12
Standards