GNVQ Science Intermediate Assignments
The Nuffield Science in Practice file of Intermediate Assignments began with a study guide. This was a compilation of short tasks covering the full range required for each of the four mandatory units. The tasks were designed to help students check that they have understood the content and to prepare for tests. The bulk of the…
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…
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…
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…
GNVQ Science Advanced Assignments 2
The Nuffield Science in Practice Advanced Assignments file two included study guides made up of short tasks covering the full range of each unit together with 24 additional assignments intended to complement those published in the first file. Since many of the assignments in file one were elaborate and challenging, this second…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
Brewing
The core of this Nuffield Working with Science unit is made up of sections covering the preparation and testing of beer, the science of brewing, and the effects of alcohol consumption. Guidance for teachers and technicians appears in Teachers’ Notes B. The unit was revised and republished for the CPVE edition of the…
Noise
This Nuffield Working with Science unit was designed to enable students to enquire systematically into the nature of noise, its sources and its impact on people’s lives.. Guidance for teachers and technicians appears in Teachers’ Notes B. The unit was revised and republished for the CPVE edition of the project…
Questioning Prejudice and Superstition
The work suggested in this Nuffield Working with Science unit helps students to understand the scientific method of testing ideas when it is impossible to do controlled experiments. They see the need for factual evidence to support ideas and statements. The unit focuses upon science as a way of testing. The knowledge to be acquired…
People and Roads
This Nuffield Working with Science unit used the context of roads and road safety to provide opportunities for students to collect and interpret data, carry out experiments and come to a point of view on an issue. Guidance for teachers and technicians appears in Teachers’ Notes E. The unit was revised and republished…
Mini Units B
The Nuffield Working with Science mini-units provide opportunities for students to develop their understanding of how to plan, carry out and interpret scientific investigations in a range of contexts. Guidance for these units appears in the Tutors’ Handbook. Contents • Parachutes • Questionnaires •…
Student Self-review Sheets
Produced by the Nuffield Foundation these resources offer four options of self-review sheets for students to use as they complete capability and resource tasks. • Reviewing your work in a capability task: Two A4 sheets that can be copied, backed, to form an A5 leaflet for students to complete at key points as they work…
GNVQ Science Advanced Assignments
The Nuffield Science in Practice Advanced Assignments file one offered comprehensive coverage of the mandatory units through a series of challenging set of 30 vocational assignments, most of which were developed for the project in the centres which piloted the qualification. Framework for assignments The components of an assignment…