Teachers can inspire students with practical work, says MP

Practical work can help teachers 'inspire' students to take an interest in science, it has been argued.

High Peak MP Tom Levitt made this statement at the launch of a new project aimed at teaching schoolchildren about Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

The Wellcome Trust has produced a teacher's pack about this subject to celebrate the naturalist's 200th birthday.

Schools have been provided with free science activities by the medical research charity, including a treasure chest from The Great Plant Hunt for primary schools and three free experiments from Survival Rivals for secondary schools.

Praising the initiative, Mr Levitt stated: "I know from schools in my constituency that practical work has great potential to help teachers inspire young people to develop science skills to understand the natural world."

He added that it is vital that "young people engage with science".

The MP's comments come the day after physics academic Professor Derek Raine of the University of Leicester argued that if they are to encourage more people to take up the subject, teachers must change the way they teach physics.


Published On 25/03/2009