PED2022

Session 3

13/10/17

Learning objectives:

· To understand how living things, adapt and evolve to suit their environment and how this can be taught to children

· To be aware of some sensitive issues relating to this topic

· To develop an awareness of how other adults can support children’s learning in science

Links to: TS1,TS3,TS5,TS8

Children in year 6: Evolution and

Inheritance.

What exactly is evolution?

Year 6: Evolution and Inheritancerecognise that living things have changed over time and that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago

Any change in the heritable traits within a population across generations.

The Horse – how did this creature evolve over time?

Charles Darwin- Biologist, Scientist (1809–1882)

· Charles Darwin is best known for his work as a naturalist, developing a theory of evolution to explain biological change.

Much of our scientific thinking about inheritance can be traced back to Darwin's research.

Y6: Pupils should be taught to recognise that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parents.

Year 6: Pupils should be taught to identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution

· In ecological terms ‘successful’ plants and animals are those which survive to reproduce.

· Success depends on adaptation to the environment.

· An animals body structure, feeding habits, movement seasonal activity and reproduction are all closely related to its habitat.

· Many adaptations are related to availability and competition for food, to getting and /or avoiding becoming food.