Microhabitat Safari: Discovering Nature’s Hidden Homes

Understanding microhabitats is a fantastic way to introduce children to ecology and biodiversity, helping them see how even the smallest spaces play a vital role in nature. In this post, we’ll explore what microhabitats are, examples you can find in everyday surroundings, and ideas for bringing microhabitat exploration into your outdoor learning sessions.

What is a microhabitat?

A microhabitat (or micro-habitat), is a small-scale environment that sits within a larger habitat. It will often have its own environmental conditions that differ from its surroundings. A microhabitat can provide a specialised home for animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms to thrive.

What are some examples of microhabitats?

A rock/tide pool
Leaf litter
Under a rotting log or tree stump
A puddle
A crack in a rock
Under stones or pebbles
On leaves or flowers
The bark of a tree
Under a window ledge (a man-made microhabitat)

And many more!

What lives in a microhabitat?

Microhabitats are home to plants, small animals (e.g. insects and other invertebrates), fungi, and microorganisms. An example could be a centipede living under a log (microhabitat) within a woodland (habitat). The log provides a dark, sheltered environment where the centipede can hide from predators, and well as find other invertebrates to eat.

A microhabitat safari

Microhabitats are all around us which make them a great option for real-world science and outdoor learning. Start by identifying some microhabitats in your school grounds or local green space.

Generally, you don’t need any special equipment to explore them – just eyes. However, you could also add in any of the following:

Environmental recording equipment such as thermometers or light meters.
A recording sheet to note the conditions of different microhabitats and what can be observed in each one.
Collecting equipment (e.g. pooters, pots) if you plan to take a closer look at insects or other creatures in each microhabitat.
Sketchbook
Hand lenses/magnifying glasses
Torch (to illuminate darker places like under window ledges).

Remind children to treat all microhabitats and the creatures within them with care and respect. This can include:

Not trampling over microhabitats.
Moving leaves or stones carefully.
Putting things back as you found them.

Discussion points

Here are some ideas for topics you can discuss during and after a microhabitat exploration:

What were the conditions like in each microhabitat? For example, was it dark, light, wet, dry, damp, sheltered, warm, cool etc.
Did you find different plants/animals in each microhabitat? Why was this? This can lead to observations about how living things are adapted to where they live.
How could you create additional microhabitats to make homes for nature in your local area? This could include digging a pond, making a bug hotel, creating a log pile, or planting wildflowers.
Would the microhabitats you observed stay the same all year round or would they change with the seasons?

Free microhabitat sorting activity

For a quick and easy activity to check children’s understanding of what a microhabitat is, try this sorting sheet. Children cut out the names of 8 habitats/microhabitats and arrange them in the correct column, before sticking in place. You can download the activity for free here.

Microhabitat foldout activity – available from TPT and Etsy

To extend the fun, try this hands-on folding activity for younger learners, designed to get them thinking about different microhabitats and the animals that live there.

This PDF resource looks at 4 different microhabitats; a rock pool/tide pool, under leaves, under a log and a flower garden. There are 2 templates for each microhabitat – children can either colour the animals already included or research and draw their own.