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January 2010 Newsletter
Dear Charles Darwin,
Welcome to the first newsletter from The Charles Darwin Trust. January 2010.
'Darwin’s ways of working can be offered to pupils now as an inspiration for an imaginative, creative and exciting approach to the life sciences in school classrooms and the world outside.'
Randal Keynes great-great grandson of Charles Darwin, author of Creation: Darwin, his daughter and human evolution and trustee of The Charles Darwin Trust
This newsletter will be delivered to your inbox regularly to let you know about forthcoming events and share our ideas on how Darwin can inspire learning about science and the natural world. In this newsletter you will find:
• Our projects in 2009
• Rose review – teaching evolution at Key Stage 2
• Explore with Darwin – global and online
• International Year of Biodiversity 2010
Darwin truly caught the imagination of the public during 2009. The bicentenary celebrations brought out Charles Darwin as a person and as a companion for learning. Darwin’s appeal in teaching is as much because of the man he was as for his great ideas. Our education programme builds on both Darwin as a family man and as a scientist.
The following responses from both pupils and teachers reflect the growing influence of the Trust’s work.
‘Very hands on active day; allowed the pupils to explore and express their thoughts and opinions’
Teacher on our Darwin Investigates, a KS4 programme at Down House, March 2009
‘Thank you – truly a day every child will remember for the rest of their lives. Out of the classroom experiences contribute greatly to IU’s work for disadvantaged inner-city children and demonstrate the need for this type of learning.’
IntoUniversity education leader on our How Darwin Worked, a KS2 programme at Down House, March 2009
'A wonderful opportunity to engage in cross-curricular learning making links in a variety of subject areas – if only every day was like this!'
Teacher on a visit to King Henry’s Walk Garden for our Darwin Explore!, a KS2 programme with Wigmore Hall, October 2009
‘The best bit was when we went on the Sandwalk because I could hear nature.’
Student 11 years after walking round Darwin’s Sandwalk at Down House during our How Darwin Worked programme, March 2009
During 2009, The Charles Darwin Trust provided the stimulus for many events and programmes inspiring far larger and wealthier organisations to recognise the importance of celebrating Darwin’s achievements.
Some of The Trust's specific projects are below – click on the links for more information:
- How Science Works a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme developed with the Natural History Museum and Science Learning Centre London for KS3/4 science teachers
- Advisor to English Heritage Education on development of the Discovery Visits at Down House
- Darwin–inspired Approaches CPD modules delivered with national and regional Science Learning Centres
- Darwin-Inspired Gardening with The Garden Classroom, Islington, engaging local primary schools in the Edible Islington project
- Darwin Explore! Combining Darwin-Inspired Learning with music at Wigmore Hall
- The Comedy of Change Rambert Dance Company’s Darwin ballet inspired schools workshops led by animateurs who were trained in our Darwin-Inspired ideas
Recent news stories have highlighted the recommendation in the Rose Review that evolution is to be taught in the new Key Stage 2 curriculum. If you need support, then contact us to find out about CPD for teachers and programmes for your classes. For more information click on the following link: The Charles Darwin Trust Education.
The Charles Darwin Trust has partnered with BBC World Class and the Field Studies Council to bring together schools around the world that have a special interest in Darwin, to share their projects exploring natural life. Schools from areas that Darwin visited on the Beagle have been joined by schools near Down House and schools in other areas of the globe to share their observations and experience of the plants and animals local to them. Click on this link to get involved or to learn more: Explore with Darwin.
International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) 2010
The Charles Darwin Trust is a founder partner in the UK IYB Partnership. Events and information can be found on the Biodiversity is Life website.
The diversity of life is a key theme in On the Origin of Species. In the book’s final sentence, Darwin expresses his assumption that evolution and the proliferation of life forms was an ongoing process:
'…from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.'
Randal Keynes has observed that Darwin’s assumption is now radically threatened by human impact on the world’s natural ecosystems. Understanding how natural ecosystems work was central to Darwin’s own work, and continues to be crucial today if we are to take action to preserve the natural world. Listen to Randal’s Origin Day comments after E.O. Wilson’s address at the Royal Institution on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of first publication.
We hope you have found this newsletter informative. Please contact us if you have any questions about the work of the Trust.
The Charles Darwin Trust
info@charlesdarwintrust.org
www.charlesdarwintrust.org
The Charles Darwin Trust – Registered Company Number: 3694613; Registered Charity Number: 1074914
Registered Office: 14 Canonbury Park South, London N1 2JJ, UK