Experiments in Science: Time Lapse Video
Richard Needham, from the National Science Learning Centre, demonstrates how to use time lapse video to speed up action that would otherwise be either too slow to notice within a normal school science lesson, or to provide opportunities to explore gradual changes outside a classroom. Examples of biology experiments which could…
4/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Video
Magic Melting Ice Cubes
Simon Quinnell, from the National Science Learning Centre, shows how to carry out some ‘magic’ at the Christmas dinner table using ice cubes, a plastic chopping board and a frying pan. When asked to feel the plastic and the metal, people usually describe the plastic as warmer to the touch. They are then surprised…
Magic Gas
Simon Quinnell, from the National Science Learning Centre, demonstrates the properties of gases in this surprising Christmas table experiment. He drops an effervescent digestion tablet into a wine glass containing some water to generate carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is heavier than air, and can be poured over a candle flame.…
Flying Tinsel
Simon Quinnell, from the National Science Learning Centre, demonstrates static electricity and charge using a balloon and a piece of plastic tinsel. Rubbing the balloon on a jumper builds up a negative charge on its surface. When the positively charged tinsel is dropped onto the surface of the balloon it is first attracted to…
Jumping Candle Flame
Simon Quinnell, from the National Science Learning Centre, shows how to carry out some ‘magic’ at the Christmas dinner table using a candle and a match. After letting the candle burn for a minute, Simon blows the flame out so that the smoke continues to rise above it. Then when a match is placed near the wick, the…
Jelly Liquidiser
In this Christmas table experiment, Simon Quinnell, from the National Science Learning Centre, demonstrates why pineapple should not be added to jelly. When he adds pineapple to a bowl of jelly, the jelly liquefies due to the action of an enzyme in the fruit which breaks down the gelatin. This is an example of a defence…
Essential Ideas in Electronics: Resistance
This article, from Electronics Education, is aimed at giving guidance to teachers and takes an in depth examination of resistance and conduction. It is also linked with an earlier article Essential Ideas in Electronics: Current. The article describes: • conductors and resistors • atoms, electrons, charges and current…
Essential Ideas in Electronics: Voltage
These articles, first published in Electronics Education, are aimed at giving guidance to teachers and help to describe the concept of voltage in an electric circuit. There are two articles in this resource. The first article introduces the following ideas: • A signal in a system is a voltage • A voltage is a difference…
Essential Ideas in Electronics: Current
Published in Electronics Education, this article is aimed at giving guidance to teachers and explains the ideas and models behind the understanding of electric current. The article begins by discussing the make-up of atoms and describes the charged particles, protons and electrons before moving on to consider charge interactions…
Session Four
This resource contains the fourth session of the Active Approaches to Level Three Applied Science, produced by the Science Learning Centres and the Nuffield Foundation. The session looks at developing assignments, their learning objectives and structure and warns against malpractice and plagiarism. It also recommends two activities…
Session Three
This resource contains the third session of the Active Approaches to Level Three Applied Science, produced by the Science Learning Centres and the Nuffield Foundation. The session looks at the use of scenarios to provide a real-world context, make connections between theory and practice and develop critical thinking skills. Instructions…
Session Two
This resource contains the second session of the Active Approaches to Level Three Applied Science, produced by the Science Learning Centres and the Nuffield Foundation, and concentrates on the issues of health and safety and risk assessments. The session identifies suitable practicals and includes activities.
Session One
This resource contains the first session of the Active Approaches to Level Three Applied Science, produced by the Science Learning Centres and the Nuffield Foundation. The session includes two activities: Gallery of quotes and Making sense of texts. • Gallery of quotes - students are asked to read and respond to a set of…
Ice Melting Blocks Demonstration
In this National Science Learning Centre video, Simon Quinnell investigates the way different materials conduct heat using conductivity blocks and ice cubes. The video shows how the ice cubes melt at different rates depending on the thermal conductivity of the materials they are sitting on. Simon explains how this experiment can…
Primary Science Activities for Winter
In this National Science Learning Centre video, Zoe Crompton shows two activities that primary teachers can use in the winter. Each one involves using snow or ice. The first activity is inspired by the question "Why do we put salt on the roads?" It demonstrates a fair test to compare the effectiveness of table salt and…
Demonstrations for the Christmas Dinner Table
In this Science Learning Centre video, Simon Quinnell demonstrates four experiments, with the theme of Christmas, that teachers can do in the school laboratory. These are: • Tea bag convection - see how a burning teabag mysteriously rises on convection currents in the air around it. • The candle demonstration - generate…
Cannon Fire Demonstration
In this Science Learning Centre video, Simon Quinnell demonstrates a spectacular and noisy experiment showing the oxidisation of hydrogen peroxide using ethanol and potassium permanganate. An exciting illustration of energy changes, the sound of these substances reacting with each other sounds like cannon fire.
Dry Ice Demonstration
In this National Science Learning Centre video, Simon Quinnell demonstrates an experiment using solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) and sodium hydroxide which is likely to impress students. The experiment can be used to talk about the properties of solids, liquids and gases, acids and alkalis or used as an open evening demonstration.…
- 4/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Video