Jurassic island

A resource specifically designed to help BTEC students on principles of applied science pass part of Unit 4 learning aim A. This uses a simulation scenario where pupils have a population of dinosaurs on an island (counters are included if you don't have access to toy dinosaurs, however any toy animal would do). They then have some action cards to act out on their island (these are cut up shuffled and split into half) monitoring the number of dinosaurs at each turn. They can then draw a population graph and answer the questions in the booklet that progress up to Distinction or A grade, also included is a peer assessment sheet, this doesn't mention grades it uses pictures of dinosaurs instead however they correspond to pass, merit and distinction (or C,B and A).

I find modelling populations and their changes in this way really helps pupils (especially lower ability pupils) grasp the concept of what factors affect populations better than any other way I have tried to teach the topic.