Diversity of Life

Session Summary

In this interactive workshop, your students will explore the diversity of life on earth and investigate what threatens it. This workshop provides students an opportunity to examine and get hands-on with real museum specimens, while covering adaptation, variation and classification.

At a glance

skull-photo-1_cropped

Cost: £50

Duration: 90 Minutes

Subject: Science

Numbers:  30 max.

Level: KS3

Adults: One adult per 15 students

“This was an excellent workshop that kept our students engaged throughout. It was very clear they enjoyed the session!” – Teacher comment

“I liked examining the skulls because I got to touch different animals” – Pupil comment

Session Activities and Outcomes

Pupils will:

  • Be introduced to the diverse and rich mix of living organisms on the planet.
  • Learn how a universal system of classification is required so that scientists all over the world can organise living things (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species).
  • Use keys to classify a range of specimens from the Museum collection.
  • Develop close observational skills by examining specimens carefully and identifying specific features.
  • Work in small groups to solve the tasks set in the session.
  • Be encouraged to explain and justify the conclusions they come to when presenting their ideas to the rest of the class.
  • Learn that inter-specific variation is the difference between organisms of different species.
  • Learn that intra-specific variation is the difference between organisms of the same species.
  • Be encouraged to ask questions about university life and careers in science.

National Curriculum Links for KS3

Links to the Science Curriculum
  • Developing scientific language and communicating scientific explanations.
  • Learning that the variation between species and between individuals of the same species means some organisms compete more successfully, which can drive natural selection.
  • Understanding that changes in the environment may lead to extinction of some species.
  • Understanding the importance of maintaining biodiversity.

Gallery Time

During this workshop students will visit our Living Worlds gallery.

If you are planning to spend time exploring other galleries at the Museum either before or after your session please tell us this when you complete our “Make a Booking” form, below.

Make a Booking

If you are unsure whether this session would be suitable for your group, please speak with our bookings coordinator on 0161 275 2630 or email school.bookings@manchester.ac.uk

Downloads

Risk Assessment Form