Check it! - Evolution and Inheritance - Year 6

The educational material from Focus Education (UK) Ltd explores the concept of evolution and inheritance, particularly how living things on Earth have changed over time. It encourages interactive learning strategies such as regular reviews of the children's understanding. Some creative ideas for reviewing include 'Brain dump', where students quickly jot down everything they remember, 'Give me FIVE', which could involve listing five key points, and 'Add to my mind map', where they visually connect new information. Additionally, 'Expand and Elaborate' prompts deeper thinking, and 'Retrieval Pyramids' help in structuring knowledge recall from basic to complex levels.

Within this framework, students are asked to engage with various aspects of evolutionary biology. They are prompted to consider examples of animals that have adapted to their environments, reflecting the dynamic process of evolution. The material also delves into the contributions of Charles Darwin, asking students to name three things learned from his work, and to state five facts about fossils, highlighting the historical evidence of evolution. Furthermore, the students are encouraged to expand and elaborate on concepts such as extinction, adaptation, and the significance of Charles Darwin's work. They are also invited to discuss why topics like evolution and inheritance can be controversial. The pyramid check structure ensures that all pupils can answer the fundamental questions, while more advanced students are challenged with complex inquiries.