Survival, adaptation, and the science of resilience
Survival, adaptation and the science of resilience
Survival, adaptation, and the science of resilience
Reptiles have outlived mass extinctions, adapted to extreme environments, and shaped ecosystems for over 300 million years. In this unit, students explore how these extraordinary creatures have survived and why they now need our protection.
Through video content, interactive challenges, and real-world case studies, learners will investigate the evolution, ecological roles, and conservation of reptiles around the world.
This unit explores bird biology, behaviour, and the environmental challenges they face.
Survival Through Time
● Follow the evolutionary journey of reptiles, from prehistoric origins to modern survivors of mass extinction events.
Built for Extremes
● Examine how reptiles have adapted to deserts, rainforests, and wetlands through traits like thermoregulation, venom, and camouflage.
Ecosystem Engineers
● Understand how reptiles act as both predators and prey, contributing to food webs and environmental stability.
Conservation in Crisis
● Investigate how habitat loss, pollution, and illegal trade are driving population decline—and how this affects global biodiversity.
Future Conservationists
● Inspire student engagement through practical conservation ideas, from habitat mapping to local campaigns.
This unit integrates curriculum science with real-world conservation.
Scientific Foundations
● Classify reptiles and identify evolutionary traits across groups
● Understand cold-blooded physiology and survival behaviours
● Analyse reptile sensory systems, feeding, and reproduction
● Explore their roles in food chains and environmental resilience
Real-World Applications
● Assess the impacts of human activity on reptile populations
● Investigate conservation tactics—from anti-poaching to rewilding
● Connect reptilian biology to innovations in medicine and design
● Design and present a student-led conservation proposal
Everything you need to deliver this unit with confidence:
✔ Lesson plans
✔ Canvas project template
✔ Discussion prompts & extension activities
✔ Student certificates
✔ Assessment criteria
Partnered to deliver trusted, conservation-focused learning resources.
Supporting young people in Scotland to build a nature-rich future.