Biology Home Learning

SSERC Biology Learning from Home – some useful resources

Over the years SSERC has worked with colleagues within external partner organisations on the development of resources and many of these colleagues have delivered sessions at our professional learning events.  On this page we will gather some of their resources, together with SSERC resources, which may be useful for home learning for both teachers and pupils at this time.

Click Links Below for online Resources

The Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Edinburgh

Dr Cathy Southworth describes how using origami as an analogy for the role of stem cells led to the production of origami organs….you could make some.

https://www.eurostemcell.org/unfolding-collaboration

Also:

Hope Beyond Hype – the stem cell research comic

Start With A Stem Cell Outreach Kit

University of Edinburgh School of Biological Sciences

Dr Daniel Barker of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology has shared the following link which will take you to Bioinformatics workshops for National 4/5 Higher and Advanced Higher pupils.  Some of this may be useful for your own professional learning.

https://4273pi.org/teacher-resources

Science and Plants for Schools

A thought provoking film for students considering a career in science:

https://www.saps.org.uk/secondary/themes/849-careers-in-science

Inspire your science club:

https://www.saps.org.uk/secondary/science-club-activities

Online learning courses for your own professional learning, or for older students.

@SAPS_News        #LearnAtHome

SSERC Resources

It might be an appropriate time for learning about the immune system.  Via the following link you access some SSERC resources and a SSERCmeet on SSERC TV which supports the study of immunity at Higher level.

https://www.sserc.org.uk/subject-areas/biology/higher-human-biology/

SSERC TV YouTube Channel

University of Glasgow

Kevin O’Dell, Professor of Behaviour Genetics, University of Glasgow, has an interesting take on our inter-relatedness in the following TED talk:

https://www.ted.com/talks/Kevin O’Dell who do you think you are

Another selection of items from the Centre for regenerative Medicine:

Some of this may be suitable for your own home learning, or for your students.  The animations in

A Stem Cell Story are delightful!

“An award-winning introduction to the world of stem cell research. Innovative hand-drawn animation, beautiful cell photography and documentary interviews capture the fascination and complexity of this cutting-edge area of science.”

https://www.eurostemcell.org/stem-cell-story

“This six-minute film takes a closer look at how and why scientists grow stem cells in the lab. With the same visual style that makes A Stem Cell Story so appealing, this film’s mix of timelapse photography, live action and hand drawn animation transports viewers into the cell culture lab. Ideal for senior biology classes.”

https://www.eurostemcell.org/cell-culture

What is cloning and what does it have to do with stem cell research?

https://www.eurostemcell.org/what-cloning-and-what-does-it-have-do-stem-cell-research

Dolly and Beyond….Professor Sir Ian Wilmut and others the ethics of cloning and the use of stem cells:

https://www.eurostemcell.org/dolly-and-beyond

University of Edinburgh     

Science Insights Online

“Science Insights Online is an exciting work experience programme designed to give 5th year high school pupils a real insight into the work and life of research scientists.”

https://www.ed.ac.uk/medicine-vet-medicine/outreach/science-insights 

The Microbiology in Schools Advisory Committee (MiSAC)

http://www.misac.org.uk/about.html

Holds an annual competition.  The aim of the competition is to increase an understanding among teenagers of how vaccines work and their uses in controlling infectious diseases in children.  Certificates and prizes are available! This might make a nice wee project for students with an interest in microbiology who are currently home learning….and it’s topical.

http://www.misac.org.uk/PDFs/Misac%20competition%202020.pdf

Easter Bush Outreach Centre, Roslin Institute provided this link:

https://www.ed.ac.uk/easter-bush-campus/science-outreach-centre/home-classroom-educational-resources

From the Wellcome Trust’s Wellcome Genome Campus

Please note that if you are sharing these with learners, some activities require adult supervision.

“As a starter we have a home learning pack for primary and can be used for lower secondary that may be of use.”   https://www.yourgenome.org/sites/default/files/downloads/general/home-pack/yourgenome-homepack.pdf

From the Moredun Institute

• The presentation describes what germs are (bacteria, viruses, etc) and how to stop their spread through e.g. handwashing. Find it HERE
• A series of short animations, each focusing on an important livestock health topic: https://www.moredun.org.uk/foundation/outreach/animation-series

The Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health

Activities explore difference aspects of our food including healthy diets, nutritional components, health and wellbeing and impact on our climate. Where possible the activities have been related to the curriculum for excellence enabling their use in the classroom while being relevant for particular learner age groups. There are several resource packs that can be downloaded from the Rowett website: http://bit.ly/Rowett_Schools

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine have launched an exciting new course aimed at teenagers and young adults, on the science behind the COVID-19 pandemic.

The course is completely free for the learner to enrol, and covers some of the basics behind coronavirus (what is it, why it is different to other infectious diseases), with later steps going into detail on more complex topics such as R0, herd immunity, vaccines, testing and epidemiology.

The course can be accessed here: https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/course/view.php?id=5319