Programmes for Primary Schools

How Scientists Work - Key Stage 2 Year 6

Working in partnership with English Heritage at Down House, The Charles Darwin Trust has developed and delivered a cross-curricular science and history programme. Pupils spend a day studying the history and science of Charles Darwin, experiencing Down House and three important locations in the garden and Downe village.

Pupils are encouraged to think about how living and non-living things work, establishing links between cause and effect, and testing ideas using evidence from observation and measurement. Pupils also consider the characteristic features of Victorian Britain including the ideas, beliefs, attitudes and experiences of men, women and children at that time, and their relevance today. In addition pupils consider the impact of significant individuals and events.

An optional second day allows the pupils to work in groups to deliver a creative Darwin presentation in the form of theatre, music, creative writing, slide show or lecture.

Darwin-Inspired Programmes at venues other than Down House

The Trust is also keen to work with community and botanic gardens and with learning organisations, to develop programmes for their local schools. Through this process, the Trust's own educators train the local educators in Darwin-Inspired Approaches so that these approaches can be later incorporated in resident programmes.

In 2009, the Trust held four Darwin Explore! workshops  for Wigmore Hall and north London primary schools in King Henry's Walk Garden in Islington, London.

The Trust is working with The Garden Classroom, engaging local primary schools in the Edible Islington project. The project launched with a Continuing Professional Development day for the teachers in October 2009 at King Henry's Walk Garden. The programme continues in 2010 when individual primary classes, together with these same teachers, visit Down House to participate in a Trust programme.