1. Darwin is the Missing Link
Famous Scientists
Adapted from workshop presented by
Alex Sinclair
Amy Strachan
(open access article)
@SIMMSPriScience

2. 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

4. 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

5. 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….
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.
NC scientific ideas changing and developing over time

6. May seem far fetched but this is what scientists thought at the time
What did people already know?
May seem far fetched but this is what scientists thought at the time
What did the scientist notice?
Observations instigate doubt about current understanding
What question do you think the scientist asked?
Importance of asking the right questions – ones that are investigable
What method of enquiry did the scientist use and what did they do?
Different questions require different approaches
Problem-solving, pattern seeking, researching, fair / comparative testing, observing over time, classifying and grouping
What did other scientists do next?
Enquiry is not linear, it is a continuous process
Emphasis on evaluation phase
Further questions should happen for all enquiries
What did the scientist find out?
What would you do next?
Identify further areas of enquiry to show dynamic nature of scientific knowledge

7. HOW DO THESE ACTIVITIES
FIT INTO THE MODEL?

9. Plesiosaurus
On 10th December 1823, Mary Anning found the first complete plesiosaurus.

10. Examples from Year 3

12. There were problems with making materials waterproof
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 method of enquiry did the scientist use and what did they do?
He brushed different substances onto cheap cotton and compared how waterproof they were (fair testing).
Problem-solving, pattern seeking, researching, fair / comparative testing, observing over time, classifying and grouping
What did other scientists do next?
Since then…scientists have developed other materials including gortex and voomi
What did the scientist find out?
Spreading glue between two layers of cotton was the best method to create waterproof cloth
What would you do next?

13. - 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…

14. How do we make it?

16. Darwin is the Missing Link
If you would like these slides or would like further information, please drop us an .
Alex Sinclair
Amy Strachan
@SIMMSPriScience