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22nd September 2015

What’s Under Your Feet? Calling all Schools and Community Groups

Inspire your students to become citizen scientists and join in with BTO’s hands on experiment. By taking part you will be contributing to the first large scale study of soil invertebrate abundance across the country.

Sign up to What’s under your feet? and your school or community group will be in with a chance of winning an inspirational visit from a BTO scientist!

The experiment will begin in October.

What do you have to do?

  1. BTO will be sending activity support packs containing identification posters to the first 1000 schools who tell us they are taking part, so don’t miss out – Sign up today!
  2. Use BTO’s starter presentation to tell everyone about the activity and how taking part will help scientists better understand what is happening.
  3. Download the supporting resources – lesson plans with curriculum links, information pack for background on birds and climate change, data sheet, ID posters
  4. Spend 15 minutes observing and recording birds visiting your school playing field or local green space and use the bird ID chart to help you name the birds you spot.
  5. Complete the activity by digging up small squares of soil and finding out what’s under your feet. You will count the earthworms and use a very simple guide to identify the other larger invertebrates in and above the soil. Don’t forget to complete your data sheet!
  6. Record your findings by entering your data and BTO will send it to the scientists.
  7. Let BTO know what you’ve seen by adding blogs.
  8. Don’t forget to keep checking back on the scientists’ blogs about what they are finding out from the information you are sending them!

When do I do it?

BTO would like you to complete the activity 3 times throughout the school year – Ideally in October, March and June. This will give the scientists a better understanding of what is happening through the changing seasons.

Schools that contribute to the study by sending in their data will be credited in a scientific paper

** To enter the prize draw you’ll need to sign up to take part by 30th October 2015

Click here to sign up.

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