Our GCSE courses offer students the opportunity to contextualise specification content and complete a required practical in new and inspiring environments.
Tailored to awarding body specifications this course will cover key ecology subject content, as well as use of apparatus and techniques and mathematical requirements through enquiry-based activities. Students will develop their understanding of the natural world by working scientifically, developing their experimental and analytical skills.
Students will measure the population size of a common species in a habitat and use sampling techniques to investigate the effect of a factor on the distribution of a species.
Example Timetable
The following is an example of how this course might look. This course usually runs from 9.30am – 3.30pm, but times can be adjusted to suit your group and travel plans. There is also the option to extend the day to allow more time for fieldwork and more detailed follow up.
Morning
Organisms and their habitats
Students will use a variety of fieldwork techniques to measure abiotic and biotic factors within a habitat.
They will use random sampling to measure the population of common species and measure abiotic factors such as temperature and light intensity.
Reviewing the data collected, students will consider how environmental factors are affecting the distribution and abundance of organisms within a habitat.
Afternoon
Investigate change along a transect
Building on the fieldwork sills developed in the morning, students will carry out an investigation looking at how the distribution and abundance of particular plant species changes along an environmental gradient. They will use systematic sampling along an interrupted belt transect.
They will finish the day with analysis of the data collected and evaluation of their methodologies.
How this course fulfills the specification
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
- 8.2.9 Required practical activity 9
AQA GCSE Combined Science: Synergy
- 4.4.2 Ecosystems and biodiversity
- 8.2.12 Required practical activity 12
AQA GCSE 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
Edexcel GCSE Science and Biology
- Subject content from Topic 9 – Ecosystems and material cycles.
- 9.5 Core Practical: Investigate the relationship between organisms and their environment using field-work techniques, including quadrats and belt transects.
Edexcel International GCSE Science and Biology
- Subject content from Topic 4 – Ecology and the environment.
- Practical activities:
- 4.2 investigate the population size of an organism in two different areas using quadrats
- 4.4B investigate the distribution of organisms in their habitats and measure biodiversity using quadrats
OCR GCSE Gateway Science Suite Biology A and Combined Science A
- Topic B4: Community level systems – B4.1 Ecosystems
- Topic B6: Global Challenges – B6.1 Monitoring and maintaining the environment
- Biology PAG 3 and Combined Science PAG B2: Sampling techniques
OCR GCSE 21st Century Science Suite Biology B and Combined Science 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?
- Biology PAG 3 and Combined Science PAG B2: Sampling techniques.
WJEC GCSE Double Award Science and Biology
- Subject content from: 1.6 Ecosystems, nutrient cycles and human impact on the environment.
- 4.1/2.1 Classification and biodiversity.
- Specified practical work: Investigation into factors affecting the distribution and abundance of a species
Added value of this course
- Develop personal skills
- Have fun
- Be inspired by a passion for the subject
- Build friendships