Aberdeen Biodiversity Centre run a programme of twilight CPD sessions, which provide teachers with the knowledge, support and training required to lead your class in various biodiversity, science and outdoor learning topics. The programme has been developed in consultation with teachers, and more topics will be added over time.
We currently have two types of sessions. Teacher-led sessions provide you with all the background knowledge, resources and lesson plans required to enable you to bring your class back to the centre for a visit and lead the session yourself. Skill-building and topic-box sessions aim to build your confidence and background knowledge in a particular area to facilitate teaching topics in your own setting. Completion of the CPD gives you access to loan boxes of resources which may help deliver these topics.
Aberdeen City teachers can book the CPD through Aberdeen City Council; Aberdeenshire or independant teachers should contact the centre directly.
Summer Term Sessions 2019
For more information about these sessions, see the information below:
What's the point of plants?
The CPD session aims to train teachers in the use of the excellent resources and facilities found in Aberdeen Biodiversity Centre and Cruickshank Botanic Garden. This will enable teachers to lead activities that increase their pupils’ awareness and experience of the natural world.
The majority of this session will be based outdoors. Teachers will be introduced to 4 major plant groups and have a discussion session on the ways plants have been used by man. Using outdoor microscopes teachers will then have the chance to explore some of the evolved characteristics of these groups. We will do dome outdoor experiments with plants to look at their role in the environment. Finally, we will find some native Scottish trees, and learn how they are used by people.
This CPD will focus primarily on these areas of the CfE: SCN 2-01a, SCN 2-02a.
Aberdeen City teachers can book here. Other teachers should contact us directly.
Marvellous Minibeasts:
This CPD session aims to train teachers in the use of the excellent resources found at Aberdeen Biodiversity Centre and Cruickshank Botanic Garden. Participation in this workshop will enable teachers to deliver activities that increase the child’s awareness and appreciation of the diversity and importance of invertebrates in the environment. Teachers will also develop confidence in identifying mini-beasts and communicating their diversity and interdependency through 1) invertebrate handling which will engage the child’s observation skills, and 2) outdoor activities which identify mini-beasts in their habitats. Self-led visits can be booked following the CPD, but within a specific time frame.
CfE outcomes include: SCN 1-02a, SOC 1-13b
Aberdeen City teachers can book here. Other teachers should contact us directly.
Pond Dipping
This CPD session aims to train teachers in the use of the excellent resources found at Aberdeen Biodiversity Centre and Cruickshank Botanic Garden. Participation in this pond-dipping workshop will enable teachers to deliver activities that increase the child’s awareness and appreciation of the diversity and importance of freshwater invertebrates and their food chains. Teachers will also develop confidence in identifying mini-beasts from aquatic environments and in leading outdoor learning sessions.
Delivery of Pond Dipping sessions will engage the pupil’s observation skills, increase their awareness and understanding of different adaptations and habitats. Self-led visits can be booked following the CPD, but within a specific time frame.
CfE outcomes include:, SCN 2-01a, SCN 2-02a, SCN2 -14a
Aberdeen City teachers can book here. Other teachers should contact us directly.
Further CPD sessions, including our skills building and topic box linked sessions will be added throughout the year. If you would like to be updated when CPD opportunities become available then please email us on biodiversity@abdn.ac.uk .
