Countryside Ecosystem - Night

*Please note, early ClassVR headset models (155) may take longer to load this scene and performance could be affected.* Reveal a world rarely seen by day and discover secrets of the nocturnal world! In this immersive experience, students will explore the thriving nighttime countryside ecosystem, where nocturnal creatures emerge from their daytime shelters, and the landscape transforms, revealing the flora and fauna that call it home. On their journey, students will meet mice, hedgehogs and may even catch a rare glimpse of a bat flying near the barn. They’ll observe how biotic and abiotic factors work together to support and sustain this ecosystem. Humans and nature are intricately connected here! **Note to Teachers:** This scene provides an overview of the climate of a farmland countryside ecosystem within a temperate region. To create a more focused experience, we've highlighted key elements of this rich habitat, showcasing the characteristic flora and fauna found in countries like the United Kingdom and the United States. We have also created a day version of this experience to allow students to observe diurnal animals and compare the differences in this type of ecosystem at different times of the day. While we have indicated a suggested age range, this experience can be adapted for younger and older learning ages and subjects. # Preparing for the Experience Before venturing further into the countryside, introduce your students to the type of ecosystem they will be exploring. This type of ecosystem is often defined as an agroecosystem or agricultural ecosystem, meaning that the area comprises a natural or semi-natural system managed by humans for food and agricultural production. You can discuss with students how human activity impacts and shapes these ecosystems, which, in turn, affects the types of flora and fauna thriving there. Some keywords to discuss with your students before entering the experience that could help extend their learning: **Arable fields** Cultivated land that provides annual crops, usually monocultures, meaning they only grow one type. **Hedgerows** Dense rows of shrubs and small trees are often used as natural borders between fields in the countryside. They provide shelter, food and nesting sites for wildlife, supporting biodiversity. **Biodiversity** The amount of life and variety within a particular ecosystem. It can change over time as new species evolve and extinction occurs. **Abiotic Factors** The non-living components of an ecosystem, such as sunlight, temperature, soil, water, and air. These factors influence the survival and distribution of organisms. **Biotic Factors** The living components of an ecosystem include plants, animals, and bacteria. These organisms interact with each other and, with the help of abiotic factors, work to shape how the ecosystem functions. **Preparation Questions** - What abiotic and biotic factors might you look for in this type of ecosystem?{.task} - How do you think human activity might shape the landscape?{.task} - What animals might you not see in this experience that you would see more clearly during the day?{.task} # Step-by-Step Experience Guide Teachers can use this step-by-step guide to lead students through the experience once they are in the headset. Alternatively, students can use the guide below independently, or in a group. ## Countryside Landscape at Night{.objective .objective1}  What a peaceful and quiet night! Welcome to the countryside in spring, in a typical temperate area. These regions typically experience four seasons: summer, fall, winter and spring. Generally, this means the climate is cool and wet in winter and warm and wet in summer, with slight regional differences depending on where you are. The weather conditions can also be unpredictable. You're on a walking path, and it's very dark, so mind your step! You can go left or right from here, depending on what you want to see first. To the left is the barn, where you'll be more likely to spot animals and plants. To your right, you'll notice a wildflower meadow, where flowers have been left to grow. What do you notice about the landscape at night? The countryside stretches out with open fields, a few scattered buildings, and plenty of space for farms to thrive, as agriculture is typically the primary industry. ## Quick Fire Questions - Can you see any signs of agricultural activity at night?{.task} - How do natural features like hedgerows shape the landscape?{.task} - What type of habitat is this?{.task} ## Wildflower Meadow{.objective .objective2}  Be careful of the grassy terrain and walk over to the fence overlooking the wildflower meadow. Can you name any of the flowers here? **Types of Wildflowers** Flowers like the oxeye daisy, dandelions and poppies are common in temperate regions like this one because they are often resilient, and in the case of the poppy, have adapted to thrive in various soils. For example, did you know that a single poppy can produce around 60,000 seeds, storing them in the ground for over 80 years before germination? That’s a lot of seeds in the bank! Flowers also behave differently at various times of day. At night, some flowers, like poppies, curl up to protect the pollen. This plant movement is also known as nyctinasty. What do you notice about the flowers at this time of day? **Balanced Ecosystem** Left alone with minimal human influence, grassland areas full of wildflowers like this provide a rich food source for insects like bumblebees and butterflies, which thrive on the nectar. In turn, these insects become prey for birds like barn owls and nocturnal mammals like bats, supporting a balanced and thriving ecosystem. ## Quick Fire Questions - What adaptations might these wildflowers have to help them survive this habitat?{.task} - How might human influence affect this meadow in both positive and negative ways?{.task} ## Fauna{.objective .objective3}  **Animal Map** Walk over to the map. Here, you'll see all the animals that live in the countryside at night. Can you find them all? Some of the animals you'll spot in this area include hedgehogs, a barn owl, a fox and a badger. These animals are mostly nocturnal, though sometimes you will see animals like foxes and hedgehogs out during the day, especially for food or when pregnant females gather nesting materials. **Grazing Management** Climb over the stile. You are in a grazed field, easily recognizable by the shorter grass. Grazing management in these ecosystems is crucial to preventing habitat damage, maintaining biodiversity, and controlling invasive growth. In winter, livestock are brought indoors to protect them from the cold, with cattle typically staying in barns from November until spring, especially overnight, allowing the fields to rest and recover. ## Quick Fire Questions - How does this habitat support the flora and fauna that call it home?{.task} - Can you identify and name any producers, prey and predators?{.task} - If this habitat changes, how do you think living things would adapt?{.task} ## Flora and Funga {.objective .objective4}  Make your way further into the grazed field and you'll notice some apple trees. **Trees** Trees are a vital part of the countryside ecosystem, providing habitats for wildlife, improving biodiversity and supporting agriculture. They offer shelter to birds, small mammals, bats and insects while providing perching spots and scratching posts. Beyond wildlife, trees provide shade, reduce soil erosion by stabilizing roots and promote grass growth by sheltering seedlings. **Fungi** Walk over to the fence near the walking path and you'll see some thriving fungi species. Many fungi are decomposers; they recycle nutrients and provide food for some animals and invertebrates. Fungi cannot make their own food using energy from sunlight but grow by absorbing food and water from their surroundings, most importantly from living and dead plants and animals. ## Quick Fire Questions - How are the different animals interacting with or utilizing the flora and funga?{.task} - How do fungi and trees work together in the ecosystem?{.task} - How have animals in the countryside adapted to nighttime conditions?{.task} ## Human Activity{.objective .objective5}  Walk out of the farm and look further toward the field in the far right. What do you notice? Human activities like farming can positively and negatively affect the countryside landscape. **Positives** Human-made structures like barns provide animal shelter, offering protection from harsh weather conditions and a safe place for livestock to rest particularly at nighttime or during intense heat. Some other human activity benefits include providing employment opportunities, particularly for young people in rural areas, and boosting the local economy through increased trade and tourism. **Negatives** However, some of these benefits have downsides, such as increased foot traffic leading to eroded footpaths, damage to natural land and rising litter and air pollution from cars and other types of transportation. ## Quick Fire Questions - What are the positives and negatives of human influence in this area?{.task} - How do you think the physical landscape has been affected by human activity here?{.task} # Extended Learning To extend the learning, challenge students to create an infographic summarizing the key features of a temperate countryside region at night. For higher-level learners, they can also include elements of interdependence and human influence: - Research and highlight some of the fauna and flora that call this ecosystem home during the day and night. - Highlight some of the adaptations of these flora and fauna. - Name at least one interdependence including a predator, producer and prey. - Research and annotate the graphic with positive human influences. - Reasearch and annotate the graphic with negative human influences. - Develop a positive solution for one of the negative human influences and outline how this could help the ecosystem thrive. # Cross-Curricular Links **Social Studies / History** Research the history of industry in your local area and discover what made your community the place it is today. Was it bolstered by agriculture? If so, what types? Did the area benefit from agriculture? If so, how? **Design and Technology** Students can design their own biodomes based on their experiences within the explorable scene as inspiration. Ask them to create a model biodome of a particular ecosystem of their choice, using recycled materials and craft supplies to represent different environmental elements. Encourage students to research the climate, flora, and fauna of their chosen ecosystem. # Teacher Resources ### Download the Science Teacher Notes Below [](https://avnfs.com/epuUHCsF_GBp7CDcoZbho_CmSX4uRWHt1x7HvOtwhjc?size=6670101&type=application%2Fpdf&name=Countryside+Ecosystem+%E2%80%93+Night+SS+Teacher+Notes+-+Teacher+Version.pdf) ### Download the Science Student Notes Below [](https://avnfs.com/OSft4tko7lQlmu3e3yuh2XxAWym3w-TxFk03bTFo0gw?size=5732708&type=application%2Fpdf&name=Countryside+Ecosystem+%E2%80%93+Night+SS+Teacher+Notes+-+Student+Version.pdf) ### Download the Geography Teacher Notes Below [](https://avnfs.com/Uqz8juRB5Y2gWqh1ZqChu8j2FizVLF-EdNWDdgw49h0?size=6654288&type=application%2Fpdf&name=Countryside+Ecosystem+%E2%80%93+Night+Teacher+Notes+-+Teacher+Version.pdf) ### Download the Geography Student Notes Below [](https://avnfs.com/mm_A-IrmnwH8z_XlzD2J2xJwL5pZr8w-ygzf10ztuK8?size=5715354&type=application%2Fpdf&name=Countryside+Ecosystem+%E2%80%93+Night+Teacher+Notes+-+Student+Version.pdf)