All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
11 06, 2014

Teaching About Extinction Events at Key Stages 3 and 4

By | June 11th, 2014|Key Stage 3/4|Comments Off on Teaching About Extinction Events at Key Stages 3 and 4

Developing Thinking Skills – Challenging Current Theories

With the roll out of the new curriculum in England now only a few weeks away, it is an opportune time to reflect on how aspects of scientific enquiry will be taught at Key Stages Three and Four.  There is a greater emphasis on the individual science subject areas underpinned by the concept of applying scientific thinking and by “working scientifically”.

Teaching About Extinction

The fossil and dinosaur themed workshops conducted by team members at Everything Dinosaur already apply these principles, they demonstrate the links between observation, investigation and experimentation.  Team members are in the process of developing a range of new lesson plans, aimed at students in Year 7 and above.

Developing Creative Thinking to Challenge Established Ideas

Key Stage 3 model building

Looking at the evolution of Homo sapiens with Key Stage 3.

With subject areas such as genetics, evolution and natural selection now covered at the Key Stage Three level, it is important that teaching is directed towards encouraging the development of higher order thinking skills.

Students will be asked to build on acquired knowledge from previous studies and to make connections between science subjects.  For example, learning about Darwin’s theory of natural selection as outlined in his ground-breaking book, “The Origin of Species”, then applying this knowledge to other curriculum topics such as climate change, extinction and the interrelationships between living things.

The new curriculum in England is described as “rigorous”, it will challenge both students and teaching professionals.

To receive more information about Everything Dinosaur’s product range: Everything Dinosaur.

Higher order thinking skills can be seen as a hierarchy, with a taxonomic structure from simply knowing about something to moving through several cognitive phases where by the student develops greater understanding and can apply similar concepts in other related areas of study.

Teaching professionals should encourage students to analysis and evaluate ideas.  Ultimately, when combined with a method that embraces scientific working, more able, confident students might be comfortable with challenging theories and established ideas.

11 06, 2014

Dinosaurs, Fossils, Extinction for Key Stages 3 and 4

By | June 11th, 2014|Educational Activities, Main Page, Teaching|0 Comments

Higher Order Thinking Skills Encouraged in Key Stages 3 and 4

Science remains at the core of the national curriculum for the United Kingdom.  Although there may be differences in the structure of the education systems in Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland, there is a strong emphasis on studying science subjects and with the new curriculum due to roll out in England from next September, the focus is on learning how to work scientifically.

Dinosaurs, Fossils and Extinction

The dinosaur and fossil themed workshops conducted by Everything Dinosaur have always attempted to demonstrate the links between observation, investigation, experimentation and evaluation.  Staff are busy preparing new lesson plans, specifically aimed at students in Year 7 and upwards.

Dinosaur, Extinction and Evolution (Key Stages 3 and 4)

Looking at the evolution of H. sapiens with Key Stage 3.

Looking at the evolution of H. sapiens with Key Stage 3.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

For Key Stage 3 for example, science teaching is now directed towards outcomes such as the encouragement of higher order thinking skills.  Students are encouraged to build on acquired knowledge learned in Key Stage 2 and to make connections between different areas of science.  At Everything Dinosaur, we use real aspects of palaeontology to explore key elements such as food chains, the interrelationships between living things, environmental change and extinction.

We aim to enthuse, motivate and engage, there are some fascinating and intriguing lesson plans and schemes of work coming together.

To learn more about our dinosaur themed gifts and toys: Dinosaur Toys and Prehistoric Animal Crafts.

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