Stepping into Science
This resource, part of Stepping into Science from the BP Educational Service, looks at the topic of materials. Designed for children aged four to seven years it contains a short video, which introduces an investigation to see which materials are waterproof. It includes information on how to set up a fair test, make a prediction,…
Medicines from Microbes
Produced by CIEC Promoting Science, these resources help to put curriculum science in a real life context. The activities provide an opportunity for children to think about micro-organisms and come to understand that they can be both helpful and harmful. This approach makes the children's investigations more relevant and engaging. The…
The Voyages
This Cape Farewell video clip provides a general introduction to the voyage of The Noorderlicht to Svalbard and to the Cape Farewell scientists Simon, Val and Sarah. The scientists discuss their work with two teachers, Mike and Subathra. The presentation called Setting the Scene complements the first video clip by providing a…
The War Against Malaria
Produced by Understanding Animal Research, this resource is a Key Stage Three science or citizenship activity looking at malaria, one of the world's greatest killers. Why is such a small amount of research funding dedicated to this serious condition? Why should it take a celebrity sufferer, Cheryl Cole, to bring malaria…
Animals in Space
Produced by Understanding Animal Research, this resource looks at how animals have a central part to play in all sorts of research, not just in the development of drugs. This activity illustrates how animals have contributed to space programmes and encourages students to consider the ethical implications of science in an unusual…
Key Stage Four: Climate Change
In this resource form the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), students are asked to evaluate the evidence about climate change and think about ways to manage the worst of its effects. Students learn about the ways of modelling the effects using computers using data and knowledge of physical processes to 'predict'…
Key Stage Four: Carbon Dioxide
In this lesson from the Science and Technology Council (STFC), students use an experiment to see if carbon dioxide does cause global warming. The lesson starts with a presentation which raises questions to be answered by the experiment. Students are asked to evaluate the method and results before planning and running the experiment…
Key Stage Three: SO2 in the Atmosphere
A lesson from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)'s Seeing Science. Students investigate sulphur dioxide, its sources and its impact on the environment and on life. In the main activity, students create a animated presentation to tell the story of sulphur dioxide. Images and graphics for each act and scene…
Key Stage Four: Infrared
This lesson, from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), looks in particular at how infrared data is collected and used to measure changes in global temperature. Infrared radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum of light which has uses in astronomy, communications, surveillance and medicine. What can…
The Big Bang Lesson
The lesson activities and resources for 'The Big Bang Lesson' are provided here for teachers and lecturers to use in their own schools and colleges. The lesson outline includes links to many of the presentation slides used by Professor Cox in his lesson, and also to clips from Professor Cox's STAR lecture, which…
5/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Teacher guidance
Health and Climate Change
Published by the Wellcome Trust, the 'Big Picture' explores issues around biology and medicine. The Earth's climate is changing ever faster, and human activities play a role in speeding up this change. Find out how climate change affects our health. In a related activity, using an on-line simulation game, students…
Activity 4: Are Animal Experiments Painful?
This Nuffield Council on Bioethics investigates the levels of severity of procedures. It also investigates the ways in which data is collected during animal experiments. Students are asked to work in groups or as a whole class to develop skills in analysing information to build an argument. The resource includes a lesson plan for…
Activity 3: What Is Animal Research?
This Nuffield Council on Bioethics resource explores the purpose of different types of research and testing and why they are used. Students are required to work in either groups or as a whole class. The resource includes a lesson plan for the teacher.
Starter 1: What Animals?
This Nuffield Council on Bioethics resource explores the types and number of animals used in research. The activity is best conducted with a whole class or as group work. The resource includes a lesson plan for the teacher.
Carbon Footprints and the Greenhouse Effect
In this SATIS Revisited resource students consider the factors that contribute to the greenhouse effect, the possible effects of global warming, and how they as individuals are contributing to carbon dioxide emissions. Climate change is affecting the natural world. The distribution of some species appears to be changing and so…
Biomass and Biofuels
This SATIS Revisited resource looks at the environmental and ecological consequences of further expansion of biofuel crops due to deforestation, biodiversity and landscapes. Biodiesel is a fuel derived from biomass (made from plant materials) that can be used without modification in vehicles with diesel engines. Biodiesel is considered…
Air Quality
Air pollutants arise from natural processes and human activities. In this SATIS Revisited resource, students investigate air pollution, how it is monitored and some effects on human health. Air pollutants arise from a wide variety of sources, although they are mainly a result of the combustion process. It is easy to assume that…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Activity sheet
Pesticides and Food
In this SATIS Revisited resource, students examine data, perform a risk assessment, and see how risks are sometimes reported in the media. This unit focuses on the consumer and considers whether or not we should be concerned about any pesticide residues that may be found on fruit and vegetables. In the first activity, Pesticides:…
Taking Risks
In this SATIS Revisited resource the activities take students through a comparison of the risks associated with different activities using data at personal, community, national and global levels. There are three activities in this unit, which have been written to be followed sequentially. Students work through a comparison of the…
Difficult Decisions
This SATIS Revisited resource is a structured group discussion activity, which looks at the use and abuse of drugs to enhance sporting performance. The unit provides a rationale for teaching about ethical issues in science for students age 14–16. The aim is to introduce the idea that the discussion of controversial issues…
The Transport Problem
In this SATIS Revisited resource students consider the conflict between the increasing use of energy and the need to reduce the use of fossil fuels in order to lessen carbon dioxide emissions and tackle climate change. The aim of this unit is to introduce the idea that the discussion of controversial issues relating to the conduct…
Animal Research
In this SATIS Revisited resource, students consider the ethical questions that arise from the conflicts between concern for animal welfare and the need to use animals in medical research. The aim is to introduce the idea that the discussion of controversial issues relating to the conduct and application of science involves making…
Kidney Failure
In this SATIS Revisited resource students look at the role of the kidney and treatment of kidney failure by dialysis and with transplants, and explore issues around the shortage of donor organs in the UK. In 2010 the number of individuals requiring kidney transplants in the UK was approximately 8000 people. This number is greater…
- 4/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Activity sheet
Skin Cancer
In this resource from the SATIS Revisited collection, students learn about skin cancer and analyse data on the incidence of melanoma. They also learn about use of ultraviolet radiation index forecasts to assess risk. Skin cancers are extremely common, with more than 75 000 new cases registered each year in the UK. There are two…
Eruption Warning
In this SATIS Revisited resource students investigate how scientists monitor seismic activity and warn of impending volcanoes, the limitations of the scientific data collected, and resulting precision level of warnings. In June 1991, Mount Pinatubo erupted in the second largest eruption in the world, during the 20th century. The…
- 4/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Activity sheet
Magic Bullet
In this SATIS Revisited resource students trace the developments in drugs and medicines that led to modern chemotherapy. The activity focuses on 'magic bullets' - chemicals that target disease-causing organisms. The central focus of this unit is Paul Ehrlich’s imaginative idea that it should be possible to find…
MRSA
In this SATIS Revisited resource students find out about MRSA infection, whether metals have antimicrobial properties, and the type of work carried out in testing a treatment to assess its effectiveness. MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a highly contagious strain of the Staphylococcus aureus family of bacteria.…
Hilltop
In this SATIS Revisited resource students use real data to determine the cause of illness in cattle on a farm. They analyse the animals' diets to find that the illness is caused by mineral deficiency. This unit has three activities focusing on different farming methods and the relationship between diet and illness. The…
Gold Rush
In this SATIS Revisited resource, students consider the Californian Gold Rush and its impact on the environment through pollution in the food chain and analysis of mercury in fish from local lakes and rivers. This unit is made up of an introductory activity called ‘James and the gold rush’, and one main activity entitled…
Drama: Footprints
Footprints, provided by the Association for Science Education (ASE) focuses around the science of genetics. The play was commissioned by British Association of the Advancement of Science (BA) and developed by the Amoeba Theatre Company. It was premiered at the National Portrait Gallery in March 2002. Alongside the script, Amoeba…
Meet the Scientists
This resource, from the Association for Science Education (ASE) introduces a number of scientists working in a range of different careers and it consists of a set of careers activities shows science used in other work contexts. The resource is part of the SYCD: Science Year Can we; Should we? collection. The scientists describe: •…
Zoos
Zoos is a PowerPoint template from the Association for Science Education (ASE) for students to produce their own presentation on the habitat, adaptations and feeding relationships of a particular animal. The activity improves students' ability to select relevant information for a presentation, develops their ICT skills and…