Explore biodiversity patterns and biological evolution with Grade 6 science learning stations that ask students to compare ecosystems, investigate species distributions, and explain why life varies across Earth. Students examine how latitude, geographic isolation, habitat variety, and historical events influence biodiversity, connecting patterns in nature with evidence from species surveys and historical records.

Rather than treating biodiversity as a list of facts to memorize, this activity centers on comparing biological communities and reasoning about changes in where species live. It gives students a structured way to investigate both the variety of life in different ecosystems and the factors that shape those patterns over time.

Investigating biodiversity across ecosystems

Students work with two related concepts: species richness, or the number of different species in a community, and community composition, the kinds of species present. Comparing these concepts helps students recognize that ecosystems can differ in more than the total number of species they contain.

The activity also examines how geographic and historical factors contribute to biodiversity. Students consider the influence of latitude, isolation, habitat variety, and past events, then use survey evidence and historical records to identify changes in species distributions over time.

What is included

• Station cards: Case-based materials for exploring biodiversity patterns and the factors that influence them.
• Station recording sheet: A place for students to record observations, comparisons, and evidence as they move through the activity.
• Station wrap-up: A concluding task to bring together ideas from the station investigations.
• Answer Key PDF with Teacher Guide: Includes learning objectives, teaching tips, discussion questions, and common mistakes to help guide instruction and review student reasoning.

Classroom use

Set up the station cards around the classroom and have small groups begin at different locations. Students read each card, record their thinking on their own recording sheet, and rotate to the next station after the allotted time. Once everyone has visited the stations, bring the class together to compare findings and discuss the evidence behind different biodiversity patterns.

This format can support a lesson on biological evolution, collaborative science work, or a review of ecosystem diversity. The recording sheet gives students a consistent way to capture their thinking, while the wrap-up provides an opportunity to connect observations across cases. The included Teacher Guide offers practical prompts for discussion and highlights common misconceptions to address during review.

Who is this resource for?

Designed for Grade 6 Science, this biodiversity activity is suited to teachers introducing or reinforcing biological evolution, species richness, ecosystem comparisons, and changes in species distributions. It provides opportunities to practise evidence-based reasoning while considering why biodiversity differs across locations and through time.

The resource identifies NGSS as its curriculum framework. Teachers can use the station investigations to support classroom discussion of biodiversity and biological variation, alongside their existing unit materials.