Teaching Suggestions - Science at the Australian Museum

Page contents

• Instructions for teachers
• Jigsaw strategy

The purpose of this activity is to encourage students to have a more realistic view of what scientists do. They will learn about branches of science and research activities in which scientists at the Australian Museum are involved.

Instructions for teachers

• Make 5 copies of each 'Branches of science' sheet and 5 copies of each 'Research activity' sheet. If possible, use a different paper colour for the different 'Research activity' sheets.
• Organise students into Home Groups of five students each and give each group the 5 copies of one of the 'Branches of science' sheets.
• Home Groups focus on a particular branch of science. Ask them to read their 'Branches of science' sheet then, if possible, contact the Museum scientist on their sheet. You may wish to set a simple library task for them to find out more about their branch of science.
• Give a different 'Research activity' sheet to each person in each Home Group, then ask them to meet with members of other home groups with the same 'Research activity' sheet. This second group is their Expert Group.
• Expert Groups then do the short task on their 'Research activity' sheet. By doing this task, each student becomes an expert on one research activity.
• Ask the students to return to their Home Groups and decide whether their group's branch of science would do each research activity.
• Home groups can give a brief report to the class about their branch of science.

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Jigsaw strategy

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Branches of science (for Home Groups)

1. Anthropology and Archaeology
2. Entomology
3. Marine Invertebrates
4. Mineralogy and Petrology
5. Terrestrial Ecology
6. Herpetology
7. Ichthyology

Research Activities (to be done in Expert Groups)

1. Using a Scanning Electron Microscope
2. Communicating
3. Making and managing collections
4. Field work
5. Doing impact assessments

You can also choose other areas of Science at The Australian Museum, such as:

• Ornithology
• Mammalogy
• Arachnology
• Malacology

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