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Aims
of site
Mission:Explore
introduces the scientific process of assessing the geology and biodiversity
of an area. It enhances awareness of The Natural History Museum’s
role in collecting, identifying, conserving and displaying objects.
Target audience
The
core audience for this site is young people, principally those aged
between 7 and 13.
Questions
Mission: Explore enables teachers to introduce students
to questions which practising scientists at the museum frequently
encounter, for example:
-
How can we investigate what lives in a place? (e.g. Regaloam)
-
How can we investigate the geology of a place? (e.g. Regaloam)
-
What do we need to do to prepare for a collecting trip to Regaloam?
-
What tools should we use?
-
What records should we keep of our investigations?
-
Why should we make a collection of the life and geology of Regaloam?
Resources
In
order to help pupils make a record of their activities in Mission:
Explore we have provided a printable record
sheet (PDF).
Curriculum
links
Mission:
Explore is directly relevant to areas of the KS2 Science National
Curriculum and also has links to the mathematics, geography and
English curricula.
The
following links have been identified:
Mission:
Explore - curriculum links
KS2
Science
Mission: Explore encourages pupils to engage with the process of
planning and undertaking a scientific investigation. It provides
opportunities to practise the skills of collecting and recording
evidence, and identification. It helps to build pupil’s knowledge
of rocks and different plants and animals found in different habitats.
The
following relevant links have been identified:
Sc1
Scientific enquiry
Pupils should be taught...
-
to consider what sources of information, including first hand
experience and a range of other sources, they will use to answer
questions.
-
to think about what might happen or try things out when deciding
what to do, what kind of evidence to collect, and what equipment
and materials to use.
-
to make systematic observations and measurements.
-
to check observations and measurements by repeating them where
appropriate.
Sc2
Life processes and living things
-
to use keys.
- that
the variety of plants and animals makes it important to identify
them and assign them to groups.
- about
the different plants and animals found in different habitats.
Sc3
Materials and their properties
-
to describe and group rocks and soils on the basis of their
characteristics, including appearance, texture and permeability.
KS2
Geography
Mission: Explore encourages pupils to practise a range
of geographical skills and to build their vocabulary for describing
what places are like.
The
following relevant links have been identified:
Geographical
enquiry and skills
Pupils should be taught to...
- collect
and record evidence.
- analyse
evidence and draw conclusions.
- use
appropriate fieldwork techniques.
- use
maps at a range of scales.
Knowledge and understanding of places
- identify
and describe what places are like
KS2
Mathematics
Mission: Explore requires students to locate objects and
record discoveries using map co-ordinates.
The
following relevant links have been identified:
Using
and applying shape, space and measures
Pupils should be taught to...
- locate
and draw shapes using co-ordinates in the first quadrant, then
in all four quadrants. For example, use co-ordinates to locate
position in a computer game.
KS2
English
Mission: Explore can be used as a stimulus for children's
writing - either factual reports of the trip, or imaginative stories
associated with their adventures on Regaloam. Stories, reports and
artwork can be sent to the ‘Show and Tell’ section of
www.show.me.uk
for publication online.
E-mail to showandtell@show.me.uk
or send to Show Me UK, PO Box 3470, Brighton BN1 1DA.
Pupils can also share their experiences of exploring and discovering
on the Island in discussions and presentations.
The
following relevant links have been identified:
Speaking
and listening
Pupils should be taught to...
-
use vocabulary and syntax that enables them to communicate more
complex meanings.
-
gain and maintain the interest and response of different audiences
choose material that is relevant to the topic and to the listeners.
-
show clear shape and organisation with an introduction and an
ending.
-
speak audibly and clearly, using spoken standard English in
formal contexts.
-
evaluate their speech and reflect on how it varies.
-
to listen, understand and respond appropriately to others.
-
identify the gist of an account or key points in a discussion
and evaluate what they hear.
-
ask relevant questions to clarify, extend and follow up ideas.
-
recall and represent important features of a talk.
-
identify features of language used for a specific purpose.
-
respond to others appropriately, taking into account what they
say.
Group discussion and interaction
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make contributions relevant to the topic and take turns in discussion.
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