Key terminology

Mammals, birds, reptiles, dinosaurs, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, insects, plants, fungi, microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, fossils, genes, genetics, DNA, evolution, ecology, biodiversity, biology, research, careers

Common misconceptions

• Children often think that scientists have all the answers
• Some children using the website have expected the scientists to write them an answer but the aim of the scientists is to guide children to a place where they can find the answer for themselves, e.g. the scientists will recommend a website.

Screen – Scientific explanations

Scientists provide written answers to children’s questions.  Their explanations may include some scientific language but it is appropriate to Upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3.  Sometimes the scientist does not offer an explanation, but suggests a website that will lead the child to discover the answer for themselves.

Screen – what it does/how to use it

The screen has four options across the top:

• Ask a Question – Children can fill in an online form to ask a question about any biology topic
• Browse Questions & Answers – Here you can browse through the thousands of questions asked by children and answered by experts. There are two ways to do this: they are sorted by category, so select an area of biology you’re interested in and start browsing; or just use the search box on the right.
• Meet the Expert – Here you can scroll down a list of experts.  By selecting an expert, you can find out about their area of research, or scroll through the questions that the expert has already answered.
• From the Lab – Here you can view a list of articles about biology and careers in biology.

Teacher interventions

Teachers could send children to this website when a child asks a question that can’t be answered at school.

The Browse Questions & Answers section would be a useful tool when children are researching a topic in biology or careers in science.

Related lesson plans / class activities

• To illicit information at the start of a topic, ask children to spend 10-15 min browsing through Questions & Answers to find the most interesting question.  Ask them to explain why this is the most interesting question.
• To support a research activity, ask the children to scroll through the Questions & Answers screen and to draw a mind map on a given topic.

Links to related resources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment

Provides access to recent science news stories with excellent pictures – suitable for older KS2 children

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/animals

Provides access to recent science news stories and pictures for younger readers