Not got a kit?
First of all, don’t worry! There are still lots of ways you can get involved with Survival Rivals. You can purchase kits or read the advice below about running the experiments without the kits.
I’m a Worm, Get Me Out of Here
This is the easiest experiment to carry out without a kit, all you need is spaghetti and food dye.
The protocol and teacher notes are available to download for free. Watch the video to find out more about how to run the experiment, simply buy some spaghetti and food dye and then you’re all set.
Download protocol and teacher notes
You can also play a game about natural selection online which will reinforce the lessons learnt in I’m a Worm, Get Me Out of Here.
Brine Date
There is a fantastic game about sexual selection in brine shrimp which is free to play online. This is a good starting point for carrying out Brine Date.
The protocol and teacher notes are online and contain a kit list detailing what you need to run the experiment and information about how to maintain your brine shrimp ecosystem. Algae are available to purchase from Philip Harris (link to their new selling page) and Artemia are reasonably easy to get a hold of.
Download protocol and teacher notes
The video will help to show you how to run the experiment. Brine Shrimp Ecology by Michael Dockery and Stephen Tomkins also provides useful information and further experiment ideas.
The X-Bacteria
This is the most difficult experiment to replicate without a kit as you need the particular strains of bacteria and the correct antibiotics in order to carry it out. These are available to purchase through Philip Harris (link to their new selling page).
You can also learn about how antibiotic resistance spreads in bacteria through the process of conjugation in this interactive animation.
Dialogue activities
There are a series of dialogue activities to engage students about some of the issues relating to evolution and selection. These are all free to download and use in the classroom.
From whether we should re-introduce particular species to how best to fight the obesity epidemic, these resources are all designed to get young people talking about topical science.
Other links
There are a lot of other education resources out there that relate to Darwin and his great theory. Have a look at our links page for more inspiration.
