As a teacher and also a science consultant one of the areas of the curriculum which I’m often questioned on, or I get that late night email which starts... "Jane, is there any chance you can help, I’m teaching… Please can you help with some ideas and suggestions?"
Can you guess what the missing words are?
Yes, you’ve got it – evolution and inheritance in the Yr5/6 curriculum.
I’ve recently delivered a virtual session on this area of the curriculum and many of the delegates were grateful for the simple ideas, investigations and suggestions for practicals which they went away with.
What do we teach? What do they already need to know? How do I do it without referring to their own parents? Do I really need to talk about Darwin? These questions are often top of the list of those which I’m asked.
In this blog we will look at resources and books which are available to help with the study of the scientists which you might cover during this topic area.
The non statutory guidance in the National Curriculum talks about:
‘Pupils might find out about the work of palaeontologists such as Mary Anning and about how Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace developed their ideas on evolution.’
However I’m hoping that many of you will have looked at Mary Anning as part of the fossils study in LKS2 and now in UKS2 focus on studying Darwin and/ or Wallace.
There are many links out there and great books to aid you with this study such as, What Mr Darwin Saw and Charles Darwin’s Origin of the Species (child edition), which has a fantastic teacher’s guide and set of resources to support both the teacher and pupils. Both are great books to purchase to support you in the study of Darwin.
Other books are also available such as Charles Darwin by Alan Gibbons, a diary format, Spilling the beans, Charles Darwin by Dennis Hamley, Charles Darwin’s Voyages of Discovery and Charles Darwin and the Theory of Natural Selection.
These links to resources are also useful for supporting the study of Darwin:
·
Who was Charles Darwin?·
Natural history Museum: Charles Darwin·
https://bpes.bp.com/super-scientists-charles-darwin-primary·
Scitube: Scientists and Scientific Method (BBC videos)In a future blog we will look at possible practical investigations linked to evolution and inheritance.
· People of Science with Brian Cox: Sir David Attenborough - Sir David Attenborough talks to Brian Cox about his admiration for the achievements of Charles Darwin, and how On the Origin of Species inspires him in his work in the natural world.