Information for schools

Many Darwin200 partners are developing dedicated teaching resources for the bicentenary such as science shows, resource packs, workshops, lectures and teachers’ courses. Find out about the key ones below or for more details download the Schools activities and resources media information file.

The Great Plant Hunt. In March 2009, every state primary school in the UK will be sent a Darwin Treasure Chest put together by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It will be packed with resources enabling the children to do real science inside and outside the classroom by exploring habitats, growing plants and collecting seeds.

Survival Rivals. Kit boxes of experiments are also being developed for every state secondary school. Different experiments are aimed at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 that illustrate the evidence for, and contemporary examples of, evolution such as mate choice and antibiotic resistance. Teachers can request the kit from early 2009 and it will be available from March 2009.

Darwin's Footsteps is an online interactive game, developed by a primary school in Bolton, aimed at children aged 7–11 years. Follow the journey of Charles Darwin around the world with a series of mini-challenges and information about his discoveries. Teachers' notes are also available. The project is supported by Rolls Royce Education, and won the Science Prize Award 2007.

Evolution Megalab is a Europe-wide, mass experiment run by the Open University and Royal Society asking people to record observations online about banded snails in gardens or in parks. Primary schools’ resources will be developed for 2009.

Take a look at the Natural History Museum's Great Debate school programme for Key Stage 4. Plunge your students into the fiery debate surrounding Darwin's theory of evolution.

See the Museum's programme for schools to find out about the Charles Darwin gallery character, Annie Darwin puppet workshops and performances of How the Giraffe got its neck.

Explore the Natural History Museum's Evolution web pages for a summary of evolutionary theory, and the Wallace Collection web pages for AS and A-level activities for history and history of science courses.

Darwin-Inspired Teaching and Learning is a framework for education developed by The Charles Darwin Trust which uses the intellectual and cultural heritage of Darwin through his approach and work at Down House, Darwin’s home for 42 years. During 2009, The Trust will deliver programmes for Key Stages 2, 3, 4 and 5 (to both students and teachers) at Down House in partnership with English Heritage which owns and opens the House and Garden to the public.

Browse the American Museum of Natural History's online educator's guide about Darwin.

If you have a question about evolution ask a biologist.