Pupils will explore the fascinating world of plankton through art, discussion and science investigations. How do plankton feed? Why are plankton so small? What different body shapes do plankton have?

A PowerPoint presentation and discussion session on the range of feeding strategies throughout our oceans. How does competition affect populations? Pupils will carry out two studies (one in the field and another in the laboratory) to investigate aspects of a) feeding and b) competition in marine invertebrates.

Introductory seminar on animal behaviour, taking the pig as an example. Students then watch some video recordings of 2 different litters of pigs suckling, then a separate series of tests on the same piglets to determine their ‘personality’ when placed in an unfamiliar area. We try to identify whether there are particular traits associated with the greedy ones!

An observation of adult pigs feeding and then a construction of a pecking (social dominance) order; discussion of the role of social hierarchy in domestic animals and how best to provide for and so protect animals of low social rank

Can we be sure farm animals kept on farms are well cared for and aren’t suffering? The chance to look round a pig/cattle/sheep farm and to use an assessment form to judge for yourself whether their conditions are good or not. Then, back in the classroom, a debate on the ethics of keeping animals for meat

Opportunity to tour an organic farm, comparing the conditions of organically kept animals with those kept in standard conditions. Parasite testing: hands on session to identify worms from sheep faeces (School H&S policy permitting!). Test your taste buds: testing of a range of organic products with conventional ones: milk, eggs, vegetables!

Sheep, horses and elephants – they all do it, and sometimes there are advantages in using artificial insemination to assist animal breeding. This session combines an illustrated talk/seminar with slides and specimens (School H&S policy permitting) with a demonstration of the use of artificial insemination in pigs (free pink AI catheters for the best 5 students!)

As an earthworm you need to swallow a lot of dirt and the practical class will show that all of them can carry parasites. The microscope will reveal all!

DNA samples for potential suspects will be analysed. Up to you to find out who did the crime!

Seminar on the origins of man’s uses of animals across the globe