A blog providing ideas and resources for those teachers hoping to teach the new GCSE Specification, first announced in April 2022. Draft subject content released for consultation in June 2026 - for first teaching from 2028 or 2029.
A page from the current issue of the 'Geographical' magazine on the decline in insects which spells trouble for many ecosystems as they a crucial part of the food web.
I have a subscription to this magazine, and it would be a useful source for those planning to teach GCSE Natural History.
Encounter Edu have organised a live lesson link up in September with Steve Backshall as part of Ocean Live.
The live lesson is on Tuesday 22 September, and will be pitched for ages 7-11, with all welcome to join.
We’re thrilled to launch an exciting new live lesson series, Ocean Live with Steve Backshall. Engaging young people with our ocean is one of the things Steve cares about most, and this series marks the start of a brand-new partnership with Nekton, an incredible ocean exploration charity using the latest technology to understand and protect our seas.
Join us live from The Deep on 22 September, as primary schools across the world tune in for the first broadcast.
Live from DEEP Campus, the UK’s leading underwater training and innovation centre, Steve will explore the cutting-edge technology opening up new frontiers in ocean exploration, and speak to the science team behind some incredible new species discoveries.
Expect live quizzes and interaction, segments on tech, exploration and discovery, and a full set of classroom resources and activities to extend the learning long after the broadcast ends. This live lesson will also be broadcast on Children United.
Further details to be confirmed over the summer ahead of the new academic year, but we wanted to get this in your diaries now.
I've blogged about this organisation previously, and also my liking for Robbie Cumming's 'slow' exploration of the UK in Canal Boat Diaries (available to stream on 'U' channel and app.) Earlier series are also shown on iPlayer.
The Canal and Rivers Trust don't just look after the network, they are also concerned about the biodiversity that is sustained by it.
Image: Canal basin, Wakefield - Alan Parkinson - shared on Flickr under CC license
Another person on the list of people who students studying the course should be introduced to is Octavia Hill.
Octavia Hill tried to improve access to nature for the people of the UK. In doing so, she was one of three founders of the National Trust.
She has also been involved in the creation of a few books of her work.
I have a copy of Angie's book 'Plants and Places' on my shelves, and other bits of her work.
I also own one of her limited edition etching prints.
It's one of her sea plant prints and sits on the wall in my lounge.
The pub has a marsh bar down by the salt marsh. From there you can see the low hills of Scolt Head Island.
Scolt Head Island lies just off the North Norfolk Coast.
This would make a great field study location for coastl ecosystems work and investigations.
Baz Scampion has created this website about the island.
The island is accessible by ferry.
The island is a National Nature Reserve, which limits the activity that can take place there. A good example of landscape management.
Image: Sea lavender on the salt marsh at Brancaster Staithe.
This starts in mid July - some schools will still be working, but this may need to be set as a holiday (or perhaps a pre-task for those who will be starting their GCSE courses in the following September - or between Years 10 and 11)
Sierian Sumner has written a useful post for 'The Conversation'.
She works at UCL.
The article makes some useful points about the GCSE Natural History and its draft subject content which is up for consultation.
This looks like being particularly good. I'm really keen on books like this which promise to tell the human history of physical / natural regions / biomes.
This BBC Sounds feature has many episodes.
Each one tends to focus on a species of bird, or something that may connect with birdlife. There is a large range of people who have contributed their voice to a programme, so plenty to catch up here, and they feature some of the species that appear on the lists of birds mentioned in the draft subject content.
The BBC's new Evolution series is now up and running.
Evolution is co-produced by The Open University and the BBC, and supported by leading OU academics specialising in evolution, ecology and the history of life on Earth.
Through Chris Packham's journey, the series explores the extraordinary story of life on our planet, from humble origins to the complex creatures we see today, shaped in surprising ways by the unstoppable force of evolution.
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
1 Peter 4:10
We are often told that no two snowflakes are alike. Is that really the case?
That statement is largely based on some work done by the photographer 'Snowflake' Bentley in the 19th Century who used innovative photography techniques to capture snowflakes before they
The OPAL resources are hosted by Imperial College.
I have several of these in physical format.
OPAL is the Open Air Laboratory.
Check them out
Via LinkedIn.
I'm delighted that my Solutions-Focussed Climate Education article has appeared in this month's edition of The Association for Science Education's School Science Review and is open access.
I've mentioned the Merlin ID app before on the blog. It will be a very useful resource for all those teaching the GCSE Natural History.
Heal the Land is a new film which was showcased at an RGS Summer film night.
From the website:
Heal the Land is a compelling, inspiring and hopeful film about the transformation of a former intensive dairy farm in Somerset into a thriving new place for nature and people.
A page from the current issue of the 'Geographical' magazine on the decline in insects which spells trouble for many ecosystems as t...
