ASE 2027 Annual Conference

Biology is full of phenomena that seem almost unbelievable: fish that shoot jets of water to catch prey, fungi that manipulate insect behaviour, mammals with unusual resistance to disease, plants that trap animals, and organisms capable of remarkable regeneration. Yet these examples are far more than curiosities. Used thoughtfully, they can become powerful tools for teaching fundamental ideas such as adaptation, natural selection, transport, communication, homeostasis, ecology and disease.

This session will showcase a range of striking biological examples most suitable for Key Stages 4 - 5. For each example, participants will consider the core concept it helps to teach, why it is memorable, and how it might be introduced through images, short video clips, questioning, retrieval practice or discussion. Examples will be chosen to show how a single case study can often be adapted for different ages and levels of prior knowledge.
The session will also explore principles for selecting effective examples: ensuring clear curriculum relevance, avoiding novelty for novelty’s sake, linking surprising contexts back to core biological ideas, and using examples to deepen understanding rather than replace it.

Delegates will leave with a bank of ready-to-use examples alongside a practical framework for identifying and evaluating further case studies of their own. Whether teaching GCSE or A-level biology, participants should gain ideas that can be implemented immediately to enrich lessons and strengthen student learning.

As a result of attending, participants will be able to:

• select unusual biological examples that align clearly with curriculum concepts from KS4 to post-16;
• use images, short clips and questioning to turn examples into effective teaching episodes;
• explain how curiosity, relevance and novelty can support memory and engagement;
• adapt examples for different age groups, specifications and levels of prior knowledge;
• identify further case studies that can enrich their own biology curriculum.

This session is grounded in a combination of classroom practice, cognitive science, subject-specific pedagogy and professional reflection.