Course programmes are designed to meet the criteria of the specification as such they:
- Incorporate the specification content, apparatus and techniques skills as well as covering some of the mathematical skills that students must complete.
- Contribute to students’ requirement to Working Scientifically
- Help to deliver a rich practical experience for students that goes above and beyond the practical.
Example Timetable
Sample Day Programme: Fieldwork Practicals
Morning
10:00 Arrival and welcome: Introduction to the centre.
10:15 Classroom Introduction.
11:00 First practical of the day will be an ecological investigation using Random Sampling and Quadrats.
Afternoon
12:30 Lunch.
13:00 Second practical of the day will be an ecological invesitigation using a belt transect to investigate how an environment changes over a set distance.
15:00 Investigate write up.
16:00 Depart centre.
How this course fulfills the specification
Specification Links
AQA GCSE Biology
4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem
4.7.3 Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems
4.7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem
8.2.9 Required practical activity 9:
Measure the population size of a common species in a habitat
Use sampling techniques to investigate the effect of a factor on the distribution of this species.
AQA GCSE Combined Science: Synergy
4.4.2 Ecosystems and biodiversity
4.4.3 Inheritance
4.4.4 Variation and evolution
8.2.12 Required practical activity 12:
Measure the population size of a common species in a habitat.
Use sampling techniques to investigate the effect of a factor on the distribution of this species.
AQA Combined Science: Trilogy
4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
4.7.2 Organisations of an ecosystem
4.7.3 Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems
10.2.7 Required practical activity 7:
Measure the population size of a common species in a habitat.
Use sampling techniques to investigate the effect of a factor on the distribution of this species.
OCR Gateway Science Suite Biology A
Topic B6: Global Challenges
B6.1 Monitoring and maintaining the environment
Practical Activity Group (PAG) 3: Sampling Techniques: Investigate the differences in habitats using ecological sampling techniques
OCR 21st Century Science Suite Biology B
Chapter B3: Living together- food and ecosystems
B3.3 How are organisms in an ecosystem interdependent?
B3.4 How are populations affected by conditions in an ecosystem?
Practical Activity Group (PAG) 3: Sampling Techniques: Investigate the differences in habitats using ecological sampling techniques
OCR Gateway Science Suite Combined Science A
Topic B6: Global Challenges
6.1 Monitoring and maintaining the environment
Practical Activity Group (PAG) B2 Sampling techniques: Investigate the differenced in habitats using ecological sampling techniques.
OCR 21st Century Science Combined B
Chapter B3: Living together- food and ecosystems
B3.3 How are organisms in an ecosystem interdependent?
B3.4 How are populations affected by conditions in an ecosystem?
Practical Activity Group (PAG) B2 Sampling techniques: Investigate the differenced in habitats using ecological sampling techniques
Edexcel GCSE Biology
Topic 9- Ecosystems and material cycles
Core Practical 9.5 Investigate the relationship between organisms and their environment using fieldwork techniques, including quadrats and belt transects.
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science
Topic 9- Ecosystems and material cycles
Core Practical 9.5 Investigate the relationship between organisms and their environment using fieldwork techniques, including quadrats and belt transects.
Eduqas GCSE Biology
6. Ecosystems
6.1 Levels of organisation within an ecosystem
6.2 The principle of material cycling
6.3 Biodiversity
Specified Practical Work: Sp 6.3 Investigation into factor affecting the abundance and distribution of a species
Eduqas GCSE Combined Science
6. Ecosystems
6.1 Levels of organisation within an ecosystem
6.2 The principle of material cycling
6.3 Biodiversity
Specified Practical Work: BSP6.3 Investigation into factors affecting the abundance and distribution of a species
Added value of this course
- Develop personal skills
- Have fun
- Be inspired by a passion for the subject
- Build friendships