Resource #V102043

Précis

This is a curriculum skills-based History task that enables students to practise their skills of information-gathering and processing/ summarising - a core part of History learning within the 2014 National Curriculum and, in Scotland, Curriculum for Excellence. Specifically, they are learning about the past using museum resources. The task links to specific exhibit content within Dinosaur Isle museum that is relevant to students in key stages 1-3.

Contextual Summary

Questions have been chosen because they link with the key areas of learning within the Dinosaur Isle museum. The skills the students will use to demonstrate learning about the past using museum resources are required as per the National Curriculum, and also test cross-curricular skills for example in the subjects of English (comprehension, literacy) and Science (rocks, fossils, properties of materials, states of matter etc.)

Curriculum Relevance

History → Historical Enquiry → Find out about the past using museum resources

Implementation

It is suggested to teachers that they introduce the topic before the visit, so the subject matter is familiar and they have an understanding of the geological periods, particularly those when the dinosaurs lived. Students should therefore be keen to find the answers to the questions, and may have already researched / guessed at some of the possible answers.

When on site, students will be able to use the challenge sheet questions as focused prompts to engage with the museum resources at Dinosaur Isle, thus gaining a more enhanced and enriched visit experience, and ensuring it is one that links with the expected curricular relevance and knowledge. The design of the challenge questions ensures engagement with all areas of the museum.

Key Skills Practised

• Reading / literacy skills
• Information gathering and processing / synthesis
• Summarising skills

Learning Opportunities

Pre-Visit

The geological periods, dinosaurs, and using museum exhibits for learning could all be discussed in class prior to the trip so students are aware of the subject matter and the areas of learning relevant to them.

On Site

Completion of the Historical Enquiry resource/s linked to this document

Post-Visit

Follow-up tasks could include: Whole class discussion about the responses to the questions; Groups presenting back their collated ideas to the class; Projects on an area of particular interest

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to demonstrate their information-retrieval, interpretation and collation skills, by answering appropriate questions and finding the required information. Students will also be able to demonstrate that they have understood their learning, by recording and summarising the information gleaned from the visit.