This article from Catalyst looks at aurora borealis caused by the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field. It also explains how satellites are testing thoeires of how this happens. Auroral light emission occurs at roughly 100 km altitude. Energetic electrons in the solar wind cause the...

This topic, from the Association for Science Education (ASE), focuses on nutrition and looks at links between diet and health. Students are able to reflect on the nutritional and social values of different diets and then exchange information about their findings. As they work though the topic the students make a...

Work done in this Nuffield 13 - 16 module followed from the unit called ‘Food and digestion’. This B unit provided enough material for six double periods in the third year of secondary school (year nine). The teachers’ guide included four worksheets to supplement the...

This SYCD: Science Year Primary resource provides video clips of children working and on-screen text which focuses on evidence of children's development in a series of process skills. Criteria are given for assessing the skills, and the next steps in learning are identified, with suggestions for helping the...

This activity uses a humorous video to raise a serious question: can science tell us what animals are saying, and interpret their emotions? The Bow-lingual dog translator claims to detect animal emotions by analysing bark sounds waves. Students use research evidence to decide whether the device does what it claims...

This concept cartoon focuses on forces. Concept cartoons provide an approach to teaching, learning and assessment in science, they feature cartoon-style drawings showing different characters arguing about everyday situations. They are designed to intrigue, to provoke discussion and to stimulate scientific thinking...

These diagnostic questions and response activities (contained in the zip file) support students in being able to:

• Understand that a force makes things change: the speed, direction and/or shape of an object.

• Explain changes caused by more than one force acting on an object at the...

Using real data from CensusAtSchool 2000/2001, this resource explores issues around the disposal or recycling of the empty aluminium cans in schools. Students discuss the issue, calculate statistics, draw graphs and look further into what happens to empty cans in their own school. 

From the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), this resource describes the new and exciting subject that brings together many different branches of science. Astrobiology is the study of how life formed and developed on the Earth, the conditions that made this possible and whether these conditions can...

This Catalyst article looks at Biochemistry, the study of chemical reactions in living things, exploring how it differs from other biological subjects and how examples can be found in everyday life.

This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2011, Volume 22, Issue 2.

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A Catalyst article about the many roles of chemists at work. The links with biology, physics and geology are examined as are many other subjects. The article looks at some of the areas in which chemists work and it explores what makes it distinctive from other sciences.

This article is from Catalyst:...

Geothermal energy is the heat produced by decay of radioactive isotopes deep within the Earth. The temperature at the centre of the Earth is thought to be around 5,000°C, with the temperature reducing toward the surface. It is estimated that 99.9% of the planet is above 100°C. Geothermal energy is considered a...

This activity, from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), provides an opportunity to assess students understanding of remote surgery.

It is intended that students will:
• Understand what remote...

This is one of three readers published by the ASE's SATIS 16-19 project as a way of linking together a selection of the individual units. 'What is Science?' addresses philosophical questions about the nature of knowledge. The aim is to use stories and examples to show...