1. Darwin is the missing link
Alex Sinclair
Amy Strachan
@SIMMSPriScience

2. 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

3. 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. What kind of scientist are you?

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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….

8. 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?

9. 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.

10. 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?

11. HOW DO THESE ACTIVITIES
FIT INTO THE MODEL?

12. 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

13. Mackintosh

14. 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?

15. 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?

16. - 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…

17. 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

18. 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?

19. Cutting edge scientists

20. We got a Tweet from Sir David Attenborough…

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