The Great Debate - self-guided activity

This activity is free and has curriculum links appropriate for KS4 and post-16 pupils.

Pre-visit information and curriculum links PDF (127.4 KB)

Introduce your pupils to the historic debate surrounding Darwin's theory of evolution with this self-guided version of our popular Great Debate workshop for schools.

In small groups, pupils will use exhibits to collect evidence and prepare presentations about the views of key characters in the debate. Pupils can deliver their presentations either in our galleries or back at school.


Please note that the self-guided Great Debate activity is not scheduled for dates when the guided Great Debate workshop is on.

For available dates, please contact the schools booking team on +44 (0)20 7942 5555.


To book, call the schools booking team on +44 (0)20 7942 5555.

A comprehensive information pack will be posted to you prior to your visit along with confirmation of your booking.  The booking team will organise for student information and recording sheets to be available for you to pick up on the day of your visit.

Preparation and follow-up

Use the evolution pages below to support classroom learning before and after your Great Debate experience. These pages can also be used independently to reinforce understanding of how natural selection works.

  • What is evolution?
    What is evolution?

    Evolution can loosely be defined as genetic change over time, but there is much more to it than that.

  • What is the evidence?
    What is the evidence?

    Both fossils from long ago and organisms alive today provide evidence for evolution and help us to better understand how the process works.

  • Bust of Charles Darwin at the Museum
    How did evolutionary theory develop?

    Like many new ideas, the theory of evolution was not immediately accepted by everyone when it was proposed. Discover who was for and against the theory and why.