Darwin is the missing link Alex Sinclair Amy Strachan @SIMMSPriScience

Darwin is the Missing Link What scientists does the NC suggest are studied? A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P

Darwin is the Missing Link What scientists does the NC suggest are studied? Darwin is the Missing Link A B C D Isaac Newton Jane Goodall John Dunlop Charles Macintosh E F G H I J Alfred Wallace Mary Anning Charles Darwin Carl Linnaeus Galileo Galilei John MacAdam K L M N O P Claudius Ptolemy Nicolaus Copernicus Spencer Silver Ruth Benerito David Attenborough Alhazen

What kind of scientist are you ?

1 5 2 6 3 7 4 8 PATTERN-SEEKER ISAAC NEWTON MODEL MAKER GALILEI GALILEO 1 5 PROBLEM-SOLVER JOHN DUNLOP FAIR-TESTER CHARLES MACINTOSH 2 6 IDENTIFIER CARL LINNEAUS OBSERVER OVER TIME JANE GOODALL 3 7 RESEARCHER CHARLES DARWIN ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERER SPENCER SILVER 4 8

Darwin is the Missing Link NEW ELEMENTS = NEW OPPORTUNITIES New content: evolution Working Scientifically Famous Scientists How we came to look at this? NC new elements: evolution / working scientifically / famous scientists

Darwin is the Missing Link How are teachers using famous scientists within their science lessons? By asking leaders of science in primary schools through a questionnaire, we have discovered a broad range of ways in which schools are integrating famous scientists in their schemes of work. We want to share another opportunity….

Darwin is the missing link Can we nurture the evolution of scientists? ARE WE MISSING THE POINT? Darwin is the missing link Can we nurture the evolution of scientists? Nothing in the NC about WHY study the scientists. Why those scientists? Can famous scientists be included to help children understand the process and nature of science?

Darwin is the Missing Link DO WE NEED TO CHANGE THE PERCEPTION OF SCIENCE EDUCATION? Evolving over time, Uncertainty Static body of knowledge: GCSE Science Science Conceptual Understanding Unconventional approaches, flexible, non-linear approach Fair Testing Scientific Method Working Scientifically We think that science is often perceived as…something static with fixed answers. If the work and lives of scientists are studied it can give children the opportunity to understand the messy and changing nature of science.

Darwin is the Missing Link What did people already know? Famous Scientist What did the scientist notice? What question do you think the scientist asked? What did the scientist do? Fill in for a modern scientist What did other scientists do next? What would you do next? What did the scientist find out?

HOW DO THESE ACTIVITIES FIT INTO THE MODEL?

Icthyosaur (Vertebra) Ammonite (Shell)  8cm   5cm   10cm   2CM   6cm  A Crocodile’s Tooth Snakestone Thunderbolts Devil’s Toe Nails Angel’s Wings Icthyosaur (Vertebra) Ammonite (Shell) Belemnoidae (fossil squid: rostrum) Bivalve Mollusc (Shell) Marcasite Mineral

Mackintosh

Darwin is the Missing Link What did people already know? People used lots of different ways to keep dry in the past – e.g. oiled silk and waxed clothes Charles Mackintosh What did the scientist notice? There were problems with making materials waterproof What question do you think the scientist asked? How can I make waterproof material more easily? What did Mackintosh do? He brushed different substances onto cheap cotton and compared how waterproof they were (fair testing). Fill in for a modern scientist What did other scientists do next? Since then…scientists have developed other materials including gortex and voomi What did Macintosh find out? Spreading glue between two layers of cotton was the best method to create waterproof cloth What would you do next?

Darwin is the Missing Link What did people already know? Famous Scientist KS2 What did the scientist notice? What question do you think the scientist asked? What method of enquiry did the scientist use and what did they do? Problem-solving, pattern seeking, researching, fair / comparative testing, observing over time, classifying and grouping Fill in for a modern scientist What did other scientists do next? What did the scientist find out? What would you do next?

- Using the scientists in the N/C is a good starting point - A range of scientists must be celebrated to challenge stereotypes - Local scientists and modern scientists could be integrated into all areas of the curriculum BOTTOM LINE: Scientific ideas change over time and we are continually building on the work of previous scientists’ work…

Fair-testing / Comparative Testing How could the model be used for future science developments / modern scientist approaches? Classifying Grouping and identifying new species Observing over time Climate change, melting ice caps Problem-solving Filtering straws and non-melting ice-cream Scientific Research Space theories based on other people’s findings Pattern Seeking drug testing Fair-testing / Comparative Testing Strength of new materials

Questions from today… Could famous scientists be used to model approaches of scientific enquiry? Can the science curriculum be developed to enable children to see that science knowledge is constantly evolving and involves uncertainty? Do children have flexibility and autonomy in their own methods of scientific enquiry? Are plenaries being used effectively to allow children to think about further questions and developments in their scientific understanding?

Cutting edge scientists

We got a Tweet from Sir David Attenborough…

Darwin is the missing link Alex Sinclair (alex.sinclair@stmarys.ac.uk) Amy Strachan (amy.strachan@stmarys.ac.uk) If you would like these slides or would like further information, please drop us an email. @SIMMSPriScience https://padlet.com/StMarysresources/StMaryScience