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KS5: A Day in the Life of a Scientist
Teacher’s notes
A Day in the Life of a Scientist is an enrichment activity that gives students an opportunity to increase
awareness of how scientists are working scientifically in the Natural History Museum, to increase their
awareness of the relevance and application of scientific research, and develop scientific knowledge and
conceptual understanding of biology.
Purpose
This activity is designed to introduce students to the taxonomic research that goes on at the Natural
History Museum. Using botanical and entomological examples in the Darwin Centre, students will gather
information to be used in their own expedition plan.
Activities
• use the Natural History Museum’s resources to explore how scientists collect,
share and interpret evidence
• visit Cocoon in the Darwin Centre
• make an expedition plan for investigating malaria or leishmaniasis
Learning objectives
• to develop knowledge and understanding of how taxonomic research has
implications for medical research
• to understand how scientists share, interpret and collect evidence on a global scale
• to select and identify relevant information to use in an expedition plan aimed at persuading a funder
to support their trip
Resource list
• word expedition example and template
• interactive whiteboard for introduction to the whole class
• computer suite if you wish students to work independently in school
Challenges
Students have to collect evidence to produce an expedition plan.
The plan needs to cover the following:
• species they would be studying
• background information about disease
• location of expedition
• evidence to link the species with a medical disease (either malaria or leishmaniasis)
• cost estimate for carrying out their assessment of the human impact of the disease
www.nhm.ac.uk/a-day-in-the-life
KS5: A Day in the Life of a Scientist
Teacher’s notes
Syllabus links
Pearson Edexcel AS level (SNAB) 8BN0
Topic 2: Genes and health. 2.5
Topic 4: Biology and natural resources. 4.6
Pearson Edexcel AS level (SNAB) 9BN0
Topic 2: Genes and health. 2.5
Topic 4: Biology and natural resources. 4.6
Topic 6: Immunity, infection and forensics. 6.3
Pearson Edexcel AS level 8BI0
Topic 1: Biology molecules. 1.4
Topic 3: Classification and biodiversity. 3.1
Pearson Edexcel A level 9BI0
Topic 1: Biology molecules. 1.4
Topic 3: Classification and biodiversity. 3.1
Topic 6: Microbiology and pathogens. 6.5
OCR AS level H020
Module 4: Biodiversity, evolution and disease. 4.1.1, 4.2.1
OCR A level H420
Module 2: Foundation in biology. 2.1.3
Module 4: Biodiversity, evolution and disease. 4.1.1, 4.2.1
OCR AS level (context approach) H022
Module 2: Cells, chemicals for life, transport and gas exchange. 2.1.4.
Module 3: Cell division, development and disease control. 3.1.3, 3.2.1
OCR A level (context approach) H422
Module 2: Cells, chemicals for life, transport and gas exchange. 2.1.4
Module 3: Cell division, development and disease control. 3.1.3, 3.2.1
AQA AS level 7401
Content 3: Biological molecules. 3.4.5, 3.4.7
AQA A level 7402
Content 3: Biological molecules. 3.4.5, 3.4.7, 3.8.4.3
www.nhm.ac.uk/a-day-in-the-life