These technical briefs focus on manufacturing on a small-scale. It is an important livelihood for many people in the developing world and businesses are usually run by a family or a small group within the same community.

Technical briefs are documents produced by Practical Action which are freely available...

In order to understand the orbits of planets, comets and other celestial bodies, it is necessary to examine the principles of how gravity, and the velocity of an object, interact to produce an orbit. It is a common misconception among students that planetary orbits are circular. This practical activity gives a...

Tom Harts is a marine biologist at the Zoological Society of London. This Department for Education clip illustrates the importance of mathematics in biology and provides an insight into a zoological career. Tom describes how he collects data during field trips in Antarctica which he then analyses back in London. He...

Could there be life on Mars? Perhaps so, although the high intensity of UV light means that it is unlikely to be found on the surface. The experiment demonstrates how bacteria grown on agar plates can be killed off by UV exposure. Curriculum areas covered: • Microbiology • Cell biology • Aseptic technique The video...

Cross-curricular work can be incredibly powerful, both in terms of student outcomes and staff Continuing Professional Development. However, it is easy to contemplate, but far more difficult to deliver. Effective planning is the key. At King James’s School, near Huddersfield, members of the mathematics and science...

This study, published in 2006, examined the deployment of science and mathematics teachers and support staff in maintained secondary schools in England. The research was conducted by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) on the behalf of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) during the...

Matt and Ellie build satellites.  They work in a clean room environment to help to construct and test satellites.  Matt and Ellie are both on an apprenticeship scheme with Airbus Defence and Space. 

There are two cuts of the video – one aimed at primary aged children, and one for secondary.

Primary:...

In this STEMNET resource, Assistant Head Teacher Matthew Evans describes activities undertaken in his specialist Technology College to support STEM subject teaching. The school runs many STEM Clubs and has worked with STEM Ambassadors for nearly 15 years.

Matthew works closely with the STEM Ambassadors and...

This publication from the National Physical Laboratory is an ideal resource for secondary teachers but could also be used by students at post-16 level. It can be used as a basis for best practice for taking measurements within the laboratory. The guide explains the basics of errors, uncertainties, spread, standard...

Purpose: Finding the speed of an object is a fundamental step in understanding the relationships between forces, acceleration and motion. Practical measurement of speed in a classroom can be challenging as methods employed can be complex and time consuming. Using the camera function in a mobile computer (smart...

The teaching unit ‘...

Mechanics and Properties of Matter is one of the titles in the series of ASE Lab Books that were published in the early 1970s for the Association for Science Education. Each title brought together the best of the teaching notes and experimental ideas from members of the...

The Institute of Physics's Medical Physics Group has produced a set of teaching materials which can be used to teach medical physics at GCSE/Standard level in schools. Much of the material is appropriate to use for A-level medical physics options.

The Institute's Teaching Medical Physics resources, that...