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Drama is very popular with pupils
and can be used to stimulate discussion
and debate. As part of Science Year
the British Association for the Advancement
of Science (BA) have commissioned
the Amoeba Theatre Company to develop
an innovative piece of theatre, introducing
pupils aged 11-13 to the world of
genetics. Entitled Footprints,
the play premiered in March 2002 at
the National Portrait Gallery. Future
performances during Science Year will
be at the Museum of Science and Industry,
Manchester, the Daresbury Laboratory,
Cheshire and Thinktank, Birmingham.
Alongside the script, Amoeba have
produced background resource material
to complement the theatre production.
The material offers an introduction
to:
- The terms DNA, genes, and the
genome project
- Genetic mutation and inherited
genetic disorders
- Ethical and moral questions surrounding
genetic screening
- What genetics can tell us about
our identity and issues of race
In the spirit of the Footprints
production the subject and related
issues raised will be explored within
a social context and illustrated with
the aid of practical exercises. To
request a copy of the final scipt,
please contact jenifer.burden@scienceyear.com
For more information about Footprints
performances, please contact Joe White
on 01923 677 466 or the BA on 020
7973 3052.
- Perform the play as an introduction
to variation.
- Use the play as a stimulus for
pupils' creative writing. Taking
on the role of one of the characters,
write a diary page reflecting on
some of the events that occurred
in the play.
- Follow-up the play with structured
research. Pupils highlight scientific
terms in the text, and select two
or three of these to follow-up.
The outcome should be a few sentences
explaining the term to a younger
pupil. Display all the explanations
together with illustrations. Several
of the recommended websites
have good sources of images.
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