KS2 Resources Plants and Animals Escape Room

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KS2 Resources

Plants and AnimalsEscape Room

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Created by Sandra Gustafsson

Go Tell the Bees Learning Hive

National Theatre Wales

This activity pack is made up of 3 different puzzle activities that all link to theme of butterflies, plants and other animals. The puzzles can either be used as stand-alone activities in the classroom, or used a series to create a longer, Escape Room-style activity.

These activities and puzzles are perfect for after watching the ‘Daisy Discovers… Butterflies’ video. These puzzles will make learners feel like detectives by solving mysteries linked to our lost knowledge around plants, butterflies and other animals.

The activities can be used as stand-alone activities or be used to create an Escape Room-style series of activities that the learners solve in groups. A breakdown of the activities can be explored below:

1. Secret Code: Moths and Butterflies Solve maths equations to reveal a hidden message. Each hidden message spells out the name of a butterfly or moth that is in decline in the UK. There are 3 difficulty levels marked by small dots: •, •• and •••. Each difficulty level has 2 different tasks. The puzzles can be solved in small groups and mixed and matched according to age and ability.

2. Food Chain: Who Eats What? Organise the food chain in the right order and name the plant or animal in each picture. When placed and named correctly, the letters in the shaded boxes will reveal a Secret Word. There are 3 versions of this puzzle which can be mixed and matched in the classroom. Tip: Use a pencil that can be rubbed out if needed as it may take a few attempts to find the right order and words!

3. Plants and Animals: Odd One Out Match categories with their right answers. Find the box that is the odd one out and write the answer at the bottom of the sheet. This activity acts as a re-cap of the previous activities and can be solved by all groups.


Plants and Animals Escape Room

Simple Acts

• Learn One New Thing about Nature

Area of Learning and Experience

• Maths and Numeracy• Science and Technology

Resources Required

• A timer• Task Sheet• Pencils

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Any mix of the resources can be used for an Escape Room-style classroom task. Choose the puzzles to suit the specific ages and abilities in your class. Activity 1 has differentiated tasks whereas Activities 2 and 3 can be solved by all groups. The groups can be given 1 sheet per Activity or (if there are multiple tasks available) be given more than 1 different sheets per activity, depending on the size of the group and their ability. Note that not all activities have differentiated tasks.

For extra excitement, set a timer and / or announce a reward for those who complete all tasks within the given time.

Step by step:

1. Divide the learners into pairs or small groups of 3 – 4.

2. Set a timer (optional). This could be for 30 – 45 minutes depending on the group.

3. Distribute task sheets for Activity 1 to each group (choose the difficulty level to suit each group). Multiple puzzles from Activity 1 can be given to groups if necessary.

4. When all groups have their tasks, start the timer (optional).

5. When a group has finished their task, they must show their task to be ‘verified’. If they have solved the puzzle correctly, they will be given the next task, ie Activity 2. If the answer in Activity 1 is wrong, they must persist to find the right answer before moving on to Activity 2.

6. After completing Activity 2, this activity must be ‘verified’ before being given Activity 3.

7. Activity 3 must be solved and ‘verified’ before the timer runs out and the successful groups will receive the full reward.


Plants and Animals Escape RoomHow to… Sim

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Activity 1: Secret CodeMoths and Butterflies•

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Can you solve the secret code puzzle to reveal the name of the moth or butterfly? It is important that we learn about moths and butterflies that are in decline and find ways to protect them.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

12 - 9 3 x 3 9 + 5 21 - 7 1 x 1 17 - 15 20 - 19 11 + 7

3

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20 - 7 3 x 5 5 x 4 12 - 4


Activity 1: Secret CodeMoths and Butterflies•

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26


10 + 9 10 - 7 12 - 11 6 x 3 4 x 3 20 - 15 9 + 11

19

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5 x 4 3 x 3 21 - 14 11 - 6 14 - 4

7 + 6 5 x 3 10 x 2 40-32


Activity 1: Secret CodeMoths and Butterflies• •

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26


6 + 2 3 x 3 30-23 4 x 2

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19-17 6 x 3 5 x 3 18+5 7 x 2

20-14 9 + 9 30-21 4 x 5 22-13 4 x 3 5 + 7 10 - 9 40-22 5 x 5


Activity 1: Secret CodeMoths and Butterflies• •

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26


12 - 7 4 + 8 30-25 4 x 4 4 x 2 18-17 3 + 11 5 x 4

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24-16 30-29 19+4 23-12 – 7 + 6 5 x 3 10 x 2 43-35

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Activity 1: Secret CodeMoths and Butterflies• • •

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26


6 x 3 23-18 -7+11

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-8 + 10 7 x 3 19.2 + 0.8 5 x 4 3.5 + 1.5 27 - 9 11 - 5 6 x 2 5 x 5

100-99 17-13 21-8 3 x 3 25 - 7 0.9+0.1 3 x 4


Activity 1: Secret CodeMoths and Butterflies• • •

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26


4 x 4 23-18 100-99 -7 + 10 5 x 3 2.5+0.5 23 - 12

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-9 + 11 7 x 3 5 x 4 19.1+0.9 3.5+1.5 6 x 3 13 - 7 6 x 2 5 x 5


Activity 2: Food ChainsWho Eats What? Sim

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Organise the pictures of plants and animals in the correct order of the food chain below. Write down the name of the plant or animal in the grid below and use the shaded boxes to reveal the secret word.

Producer ↓

Herbivore ↓

Carnivore ↓

Carnivore SECRET WORD

Carnivore ↓



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Producer ↓

Herbivore ↓

Omnivore ↓

SECRET WORD

Carnivore



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Producer ↓

Herbivore ↓

Omnivore ↓

SECRET WORD

Carnivore


Activity 3: Plants and AnimalsOdd One Out Sim

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Find the answers that match each category in the boxes below. But beware, there is one box that does not belong there! Match the answers with their categories to solve which box is the odd one out. Write your answer at the bottom of the sheet.

Types ofButterflies

Ways toProtect

Butterflies

Types ofMoths

Plants thatCaterpillars

Eat

Animals thatEat Butterflies

FrogSnakeSpider

BuckthornFuchsiaNettles

HerringCarpEel

Scarlet TigerElephant Hawk

Cinnabar

Plant a variety of flowers.Ask friends and neighbours to plant butterfly-friendly flowers.

Protect natural habitats, such as grasslands.

Small TortoiseshellRed Admiral

Peacock

Which box is the Odd One Out?

What category should the box belong to?SECRET ANSWER:

Activity 1Secret Code – Moths And Butterflies

•Page 4: Cinnabar MothPage 5: Scarlet Tiger Moth

••Page 6: High Brown FritillaryPage 7: Elephant Hawk-Moth

•••Page 8: Red Admiral ButterflyPage 9: Peacock Butterfly

Activity 2Food Chains – Who Eats What?

Page 10: Daisy > Butterfly > Frog > Snake > HawkSecret word: STRAW

Page 11: Nettles > Caterpillar > Mouse > Owl; Secret Word: SLOW

Page 12: Sunflower > Snail > Hedgehog > Fox; Secret Word: FLEX

Activity 3 Plants And Animals – Odd One Out

Page 13: Odd One Out: Herring, Carp, Eel; Secret Answer: Fish


Answer SheetDo Not Show to those Solving Puzzles!

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KS2 Resources Plants and Animals Escape Room