Nuffield Physical Science: Sections 1-7
The first Student Workbook for Nuffield Physical Science began with an extensive introduction to this novel course for students. The Workbook was not designed as a textbook. The content of each section was arranged on the same plan, and each contained four types of material: 'Introduction', passages of 'General information',…
Fibres and Fabrics
This Nuffield Working with Science unit encouraged students to gather information about different types of fabric and the fibres from which they are made. The unit introduces aspects of fabric manufacturing processes and the different uses of fibres and fabrics. Students have opportunities to plan, carry out and evaluate practical…
Crime Detection
This Nuffield Working with Science unit featured experiments derived from forensic techniques but could only give the 'flavour' of a scientific investigation of a crime. The unit aimed to emphasise the basic needs, in a scientific investigation of evidence, of accurate observation, careful comparisons, and accurate recording…
Nuffield Advanced Physics: Students’ Laboratory Book
The authors of Nuffield Advanced Physics produced this book to give students support during their laboratory work. Part one of the book contained short notes on the use of some of the important equipment and apparatus which students would be using quite often in physics. Part two contained detailed notes on some difficult and lengthy…
Hair
This Nuffield Working with Science unit encourages students to explore some of the problems people have with their hair, why they happen, and what can be done about them. The unit investigates how hair is kept clean and healthy, what substances are used in hairdressing products and how to make some of them. Students find out about…
Nuffield Physical Science: Sections 8-14
The second Student Workbook for Nuffield Physical Science began with an extensive introduction to this novel course for students. The Workbook was not designed as a textbook. The content of each section was arranged on the same plan, and each contained four types of material: 'Introduction', passages of 'General information',…
Cosmetics
This Nuffield Working with Science unit was intended to help students to appreciate the purposes of different types of cosmetics, to distinguish between purely decorative and 'useful' preparations, to understand the reasons for the formulations of different types of cosmetics, to develop skills of working carefully and…
The Motor Car
The work suggested in this Nuffield Working with Science unit was planned so that students should: 1. be aware of the advantages of a systematic approach to car selection and purchase 2. be aware of the legal and social responsibilities of car ownership 3. understand the basic scientific principles of the physical systems involved…
Keeping the Heat in
This Nuffield Working with Science unit was designed to help students to understand the need to consume less domestic heating fuel, to know the main ways in which heat can be lost from buildings, to find by experiment which substances make good insulators and to write a short, illustrated report on their findings. Guidance for…
Revised Nuffield Chemistry: Experiment Sheets I
The Laboratory Investigation sheets for Stage 1A and Stage IB of the first edition of Nuffield Chemistry were revised and republished as a single set of Experiment Sheets for Stage I in the revised edition. The sheets gave instructions to students for experiments 1-40 in the revised programme. Some of the experiments featured…
Revised Nuffield Chemistry: Experiment Sheets II
The Laboratory Investigation sheets for Stage II of the first edition of Nuffield Chemistry were revised and republished as a single set of Experiment Sheets for Stage II in the second edition. The sheets give instructions to students for experiments 41-126 in the revised programme. Some of the experiments feature in both of…
Electronics
This Nuffield Working with Science unit aimed to enable students to design circuits to meet specific needs. The plan was also to help students to realise the range of electronics problems which they can solve by taking a systems approach. Guidance for teachers and technicians appears in Teachers’ Notes F. This unit was…
Pollution
This Nuffield Working with Science unit aimed to help students to recognise examples of pollution in their own neighbourhood and find out its origins. Students learn to appreciate that the problems of preventing pollution are very complex and that important conflicting interests may be involved. Students also find out about the ways…
Football
Like other Nuffield Working with Science units, this topic is intended to give students an opportunity to acquire relevant scientific information, skills, and attitudes, so that they may be able to put all these to practical use. Students learn and practice how to behave scientifically and to increase their knowledge about football…
Pottery
The first edition of this Nuffield Working with Science unit was devised for use by students living near Stoke-on-Trent. Some of the work described could only be done by schools and colleges within travelling distance of the Potteries. The unit was amended during the revision for CPVE so that it could be studied in any locality. Guidance…
Town and Country Trails
This Nuffield Working with Science unit aimed to excite interest in natural and built environment while encouraging students to take an interest in environmental issues. Guidance for teachers and technicians appears in Teachers’ Notes F. The unit was revised and republished for the CPVE edition of the project in the…
Recycling
The work suggested in this Nuffield Working with Science unit helps to make students aware of the inevitable need to recycle materials and of the practical and economic difficulties in the way of doing more at the moment. Guidance for teachers and technicians appears in Teachers’ Notes A. The unit was revised and republished…
Water Pollution
This Nuffield Working with Science unit encouraged students to consider water pollution problems at national and international level, by coming to understand a local example of pollution through their own investigations. Guidance for teachers and technicians appears in Teachers’ Notes C. Parts of this unit were incorporated…
Beyond Our Ken
This Nuffield Working with Science unit aimed to give students the experience of designing experiments, carrying them out, and evaluating the results. The unit explores the paranormal which is a field where there are many strongly held beliefs, often unsupported by evidence or supported only by hearsay. It is a field which can particularly…
Option 8: The Chemical Industry
Teachers and students had considerable freedom in their response to this Revised Nuffield Chemistry option because under O-level regulations it was teacher assessed. Practical work was based on a ‘real’ industrial process from the fine chemicals industry. Contents 1. The development of an industrial process 2. The…
Study of a Local Industry
This Nuffield Working with Science unit aimed to help students to analyse many facets of a local manufacturing industry. Students were expected to plan visits in detail, and well in advance. One of the aims was to give students practice in meeting and working with a wide variety of people. Guidance for teachers and technicians…
Understanding Old Age
This Nuffield Working with Science unit was designed to enable students to trace the way in which the age structure of the population has changed, to gain experience in interpreting and presenting data, to identify and discuss some of the problems of the elderly, and to study how far the welfare services meet their needs. In addition…
Sport
This Nuffield Working with Science unit was designed to give the student the opportunity to work scientifically and to acquire some of the positive attitudes associated with informed opinions and the use of objective argument based on evidence. It was also hoped that the students' appreciation of sport and what is involved in…
Option 10: Historical Topics
The purposes of this Revised Nuffield Chemistry option were to review the historical development of a field of chemistry with special reference to its applied and social aspects; to study the life and work of one or more famous scientists working in the field; to create an interest in the original writings of scientists; and to carry…
Fire
This Nuffield Working with Science unit was designed to encourage students to study fire in the context of safety at home, fire prevention and the role of the Fire Service. Guidance for teachers and technicians appears in Teachers’ Notes C. The unit was revised and republished for the CPVE edition of the project in the…
Mining and Minerals
This Nuffield Working with Science unit was designed to develop simple skills of mineral testing and identification and a broad view of the subject of mining and minerals. Guidance for teachers and technicians appears in Teachers’ Notes F. This unit was not included in the second, CPVE edition of the project. Contents Section…
Option 1: Water
The first option of Revised Nuffield Chemistry explored the remarkable properties of water and sought to explain them in terms of the polarity of water molecules and hydrogen bonding. Experiments also investigated the properties of detergents and hardness of water. A further topic was the monitoring of water pollution. Contents 1.…
Science Fiction
This Nuffield Working with Science unit aimed to help students to tell science fiction (SF) from science fact, to identify the science underlying ideas in SF, to appreciate how current scientific knowledge is limited and how the writers of SF imagine that it might be extended. Guidance for teachers and technicians appears in Teachers’…
Energy: 2000
This Nuffield Working with Science unit was designed to introduce students to the concept of Britain's impending 'energy gap', how it will occur, and what we might do to bridge it. The unit features a substantial decision-making element. Guidance for teachers and technicians appears in Teachers’ Notes F. This…
Farming
This Nuffield Working with Science unit featured a range of activities related to a farm visit. Students activities involve careful observation and recording, surveys and formulation of opinions based on evidence. Guidance for teachers and technicians appears in Teachers’ Notes E. The unit was revised and republished…
Psychology
This Nuffield Working with Science unit aimed to give the students an understanding of some aspects of human behaviour and personality. In particular the intention was to help students to realise some of the reasons why human beings behave as they do, to become aware of the stages of development through which individuals pass, to…
Efficiency
The work suggested in this Nuffield Working with Science unit encourages the students to start thinking about efficiency by presenting them with some problems which are a familiar part of their daily lives. They are asked to investigate problems which have been chosen to give them experience of a variety of experimental designs,…