old tarp/sheet

Take an old tarp or sheet and draw large blocks on it. This tool makes it easy for students to look at, compare and count the number of species they have collected in an area, in order to measure biodiversity. This photo shows leaves, but you could collect insects in petri dishes and place each species in a different square. The highlight of this activity is to compare how and why each organism is different from another, which is a tough exercise for some students. This sheet/tarp lets them look at each collected specimen and discuss with classmates.
FREE AND EASY TO MAKE