Butterflies Under Pressure

Engaging practical science activities for KS1/KS2 primary school children (aged 5-11), using dance and PE activities to engage kinaesthetic learners with the curriculum topic “Living things and their habitats”.

Oxford Brookes University Science Bazaar has collaborated with LYNNEBEC and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) to produce “Superpillars Assemble” an exciting dance workshop for KS1/KS2 pupils to learn about butterflies, moths and their habitats.

Teaching materials for the project created by Dr. Melanie Gibbs (UKCEH) and Dr. Casper Breuker (Oxford Brookes University) are freely accessible to all teachers. The downloadable materials include:

  • Lesson plans
  • Lesson presentations for use in the classroom (Power Points with narration)
  • Additional lesson support materials

OBU logo
UK centre for ecology and hydrology logo
LYNNEBEC logo
Science Bazaar logo

Take a look at the students and teachers at Windmill Primary School in Oxford having a great time at the launch of Superpillars Assemble! 


Lesson Plans

Superpillars Assemble

Children will learn about moths, butterflies and their habitats, the important role moths and butterflies play in the food chain, and the negative impact humans can have on moth and butterfly habitats

Science Experiment - Finding Host Plants

Children will learn about the role of physical and behavioural adaptations using the caterpillars of butterflies and moths as an example. Children will learn to work scientifically using observations and recording data to help answer the question “How do pesticides affect the ability of butterfly caterpillars to find food?”

PE Activity – Caterpillar Movement

Children will learn about adaptations in caterpillar movement behaviour and how habitat structure may affect the amount of time it takes for a caterpillar to find a suitable plant to eat.

Poster for Superpillars Assemble