Teachers

Social context

Letters to Wallace’s family illustrate the social context in which he lived and worked. Students can view digitised versions of primary source materials such as letters, photographs and research notes, along with newspaper articles, interviews, publications and even trays of insect specimens collected by Wallace.

Each letter is accompanied by a full transcription and interpretation. Students can use the text provided as a starting point to guide their own research and analysis.

Teachers could use the activities to support the taught part of the course, in the lesson or as homework. Alternatively, students might use a selection of the activities as a self-study exercise.

A range of Student activities is provided, suggesting resources available to use to develop research skills, and to provide a starting point for the literature review section of coursework.

Link activity - the Great Debate workshop

Students are invited to participate in the Great Debate workshop held at the Natural History Museum. This allows them to find out more about the historical context of the ‘evolution debate’.

The Great Debate addresses how the social context affected the development and acceptance of Darwin’s theory, and how controversies can arise from interpreting empirical evidence in different ways.

Students use Museum exhibits to support the evolutionist or creationist viewpoints, bringing their own spark to this topical Victorian debate, within the spectacular surroundings of our main galleries.

This innovative experience not only supports the taught part of the course (particularly Unit 4.5 Evolution: An on-going debate) but also gives students valuable practice in presentation skills, as preparation for their assessed work.

Teachers can book a session here.