Year 10 students were first up, tasked with dissecting hearts. The aim of the lesson was to enable the class to visualise the structure of the heart, as well as explain and understand how it pumps blood around the body through blood vessels. Around the room, eager students flourished in this lesson, keen to learn more and see first-hand the several parts of the heart. The students were interested to discover that the heart was heavier than they expected, and were fascinated by the complexity of organisms, as they successfully identified the various sections unaided.
Next up, Year 11 students had the delicate and complex task of dissecting an eye, which involved a lot of careful precision and patient hands to ensure they didn’t tear or break key parts of its structure. In teams, they were able to learn more about the eye’s structure, where the lens sits and how light travels through it.
The benefits of conducting dissections in class include providing students with valuable, hands-on learning experiences, providing a fascinating, awe-inspiring sense of discovery in which just cant be replicated with looking at diagrams or viewing infographics. In addition, by seeing organs first-hand, students are also having to learn how tissues are interrelated and where they sit internally. All of which is incredibly valuable knowledge for their exams. The experience will surely inspire even more curiosity in the Upper School Scientists as they continue with their study of the GCSE Science curriculum.
It was great to see students take a hands-on approach to their learning and it was an experience that will guarantee that they will not forget what is an important part of their studies! Participating in the lessons also allowed the students to exhibit key HPL behaviours through collaborative working, resilience, and the linking of previous lessons to their current studies.