APPENDIX 



To the Report on Animal Biology in the School Curriculum. 



Suggestions for Schemes of Biological Study in the Secondary School. 



After discussion with a number of teachers the following suggestions are made, 

 though it is realised that there are also other reasonable ways of arranging the work. 

 The Committee would indeed at this point call attention again to the closing paragraph 

 of the first section of this Report. 



It is expected that some Nature Study work will already have been done at an 

 earlier age, and it is understood that throughout the course every opportunity of 

 studying the living animal will be utilised. 



Work prior to Schemes A and B. 



In some secondary schools the pupils commence at age II plus, and the work of 

 the school is based on a five-year scheme before School Certificate. In such cases 

 the first year affords an admirable opportunity for carrying out some carefullv 

 arranged nature study. 



At this stage the work in biology and in phj'sics should be very carefully 

 co-ordinated. Should it be possible it would seem best that the teaching should 

 be in the hands of the same teacher, though it is realised that this may not generally 

 be permitted by the conditions of school organisation. 



Animals and plants should at this stage be studied in relation to seasonal change. 

 In autumn they may be observed before the winter rest ; their -nanter condition 

 may next be observed ; and in the spring the budding of trees, germination of seeds 

 and conditions of growth, awakening of hibernators, return of migrants, nests and 

 eggs, and life-histories of frog and insect, may be studied. The biological seasonal 

 change should be correlated with changes in the environment, and for the latter 

 purpose charts could be kept indicating seasonal changes in temperature, length of 

 day and altitude of the sun. The metric rule may be used in measuring leaves, &c., 

 to obtain data regarding variation which may be expressed by means of graphs. In 

 the spring the rapid growth of plant and animal can be investigated with some accuracy 

 by the use of the metric rule. Simple ideas of solution and of the physical properties 

 of water and air may be linked with the study of germination. 



Scheme A. 

 Suggestions for a Four-year Scheme leading to School Certificate Standard, 

 First and Second Years (12 plus and 13 plus). 



The work of these years should consist of some simple study of the structure and 

 physiology of a flowering plant and of a mammal, a consideration of human 

 physiology and hygiene being associated with the latter. 



The importance of sun to all living things. The green plant as physiological link 

 between the animal and the non-living world. 



During these years the physiological work will not necessitate a knowledge of 

 Chemistrj'. 



It would be useful at this stage if the Physics or other course should include some 

 study of solids, liquids and gases, also simple idea of diffusion in liquids and gases ; 

 the sun, seasonal changes, day and night ; the moon and its phases. 



The work upon soil included under (a) below may be expanded a good deal, par- 

 ticularly^ in agiicultural districts. 



It has been thought important to arrange the content of the syllabus for the first 

 and second years in such a way that, taken together, they furnish a course possessing 

 a certain completeness in itself ; this is to provide for the case of any schools which 

 may not be able to arrange for the continuance of Biology beyond a second year 

 except for those who proceed to the School Certificate standard, 



1928 y y 



