As the number of cells in a microbial culture increases, turbidity increases. In this experiment students calculate doubling time and growth rate constant using absorbance as the measure of growth. Turbidity is caused by suspended cells in the growth medium scattering light, and may be measured using a colorimeter...

This experiment is a continuation of Determining Doubling Time. Students create a standard curve of absorbance against yeast concentration, and use this to determine the concentration of yeast produced over time.

The standard curve (dry mass, grams per litre) is generated from known concentrations of dried...

This booklet contains a number of case studies of lessons that emphasise working with what students already know and working from concrete ideas to the abstract. Each case study explains the task, contains examples of students’ work and explains how the lesson was followed up. [b]The function game[/b] is one way in...

This National Strategies study guide offers tried and tested practical suggestions for teachers to use in the classroom when considering the teaching of How Science Works. A variety of tasks help teachers to focus on developing their own creativity and critical thinking, transferable skills which they can pass on...

In September 2002, eight new General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) courses in vocational subjects were introduced: applied art and design; applied business; engineering; health and social care; ICT; leisure and tourism; manufacturing; and applied science. This report covers the introduction of these...

In this resource from the DfE Standards Unit, students reflect on the reasoning they currently use when solving proportion problems, examine proportion problems and appreciate their
multiplicative structure and create their own variants of proportion problems. Proportional reasoning is notoriously difficult...

This booklet, developed for mathematics departments by the National Strategies, is based on materials developed by six working groups as part of QCA’s algebra and geometry project.

The project focused on the place of algebra and geometry in developing concepts and skills in reasoning. The booklet brings out...

The materials in this resource are from the Secondary National Strategy ‘Progressing to Level 6 and beyond in science’ project. They were intended for science teachers who are focusing on developing writing in science – specifically explanations, arguments and descriptions.

These materials consist of general...

In this resource from the DfE Standards Unit, students will learn to: use past examination papers creatively, explore, identify, and use pattern and symmetry in algebraic
contexts, investigate whether a particular case can be generalised further, understand the importance of counter-examples, develop the...

In this resource from the DfE Standards Unit students learn to use past examination questions creatively by selecting and using appropriate techniques and strategies to solve
problems involving numerical, graphical and algebraic manipulation. Most students will have solved problems such as these...

In this resource from the DfE Standards Unit, students use past examination papers creatively, analyse the demands made by examination questions, understand and use estimates or measures of probability from theoretical models, list all outcomes for two successive events in a systematic way and identify mutually...

In this resource from the DfE Standards Unit, students learn to use past examination papers creatively, recognise and visualise transformations of 2D shapes, transform triangles and other 2D shapes by translation, rotation and reflection and combinations of these. They develop their ability to generalise and...

This Core Maths activity investigates diamond smuggling.

The presentation gives details of how diamonds were smuggled out of Namibia in cans of pilchards. Students need to use the information given to calculate an estimate of the value of the smuggled diamonds. They need to use estimation and the formula for...

This activity requires students to generate patterns created by the subtraction of integers. Students are asked to record their findings and to explore whether they are able to work backwards.

The resource includes a hand out and a blank grid which can be duplicated for student use. The teachers' notes...

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...