This is a classroom-based activity from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute that allows students to explore the features of two bacterial pathogen genomes. The aim of this activity is to highlight the role of different genetic components in two closely related subspecies of Salmonella enterica, and to identify how...

In this activity students design and model a robot arm in 2D, need to be able to name the main parts of a robot arm and to be able to design and make a 2D card model of a 3D product. Robot arms are an example of a programmable system. They are used in a wide variety of industrial applications, ranging from loading...

With just a few materials, building a paper model of the International Space Station (ISS) can become a class project. This publication contains a brief overview of the ISS, its parts, the science that occurs on board, instructions, and extension fact sheets. Learn about the ISS, explore fun facts, simulate...

This maths/history scheme of work from Badger began as a joint project between a Key Stage Three Strategy Consultant and a Head of History, with the intention of improving practice within a history department. This scheme of work does not claim to solve all of these problems but it does seek to alleviate some of...

This booklet is part of the ‘Innovations in Practical Work’ series published by the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme (SEP). Building materials and construction methods provide an interesting context in which students can develop their understanding of basic ideas...

This rich task from Cre8ate offers pupils the opportunity to develop their personal learning and thinking skills. It involves using recycled materials to construct a scale model of a silo and is well suited to group work. The task can be extended for more able students by investigating the resizing of their model...

In Building a town, from Cre8ate maths, students are encouraged to consider the mathematical shapes which form the net of a building. Some simple models are shown and students could use these to construct their nets, before building the models themselves.

[b]Ordering units of weight:[/b] the objective of this activity is to assess prior knowledge of learners and their understanding of metric units. Students are presented with a set of cards on which are written metric weights in grams, kilograms and in words. Students are required to place the cards in order of...

Learners discover the BIFoR FACE (Birmingham Institute for forest research free air carbon enrichment) experiment and the infrastructure associated with it. They are introduced to the arrays, met masts and flux tower and encouraged to think about the research questions that this experiment can answer. Learners are...

This Salters’ Chemistry Course unit from the University of York Science Education Group covered:
* Properties of building materials including their reactions with acid.
* Factors which affect rate of reaction.
* The relationship between the properties and...

This Science upd8 activity draws on a recent Government warning about poisonous mercury from low energy light bulbs being a risk to users.

But is this risk worth the benefits of using low energy light bulbs? In this activity students rank risks and benefits to help them decide.

This assessment task from Bowland asks students to work out how much material is needed to make bunting to go round a garden. The key processes involved are representing, analysing, communicating and reflecting. Students are given a number of basic facts upon which to base their solution and two steps are suggested...

This Salters’ Chemistry Course unit from the University of York Science Education Group covered:
* causes and control of fire
* flash points & controlled burning
* energy changes in chemical reactions
* bond breaking and making exothermic and...

These buying guides from CLEAPSS look at what should be considered before investing in key pieces of school laboratory equipment, as well as listing the essential and desirable features.

These guides focus on:
* Low-voltage power supplies
* Portable autoclaves and pressure cookers
*...

As a technician sometimes you need to make equipment for practical work that might be hard to source, unavailable or too expensive to buy in. 

CLEAPSS have developed a range of make it guides that can support you in creating resources for practical work. The make it guides are easy to follow and allow you to...