How do the lights and sound at a nightclub coordinate together? The lights appear to flash in time to the beat, and change colour with the pattern of the sound. How is the signal from a sound source such as a CD player or DJ deck converted into a pattern of lights? In this project,...

Students investigate the best material for a pizza box, with possible tests including:

• Thermal conductivity - Design a test to see which materials keep a pizza the hottest.
• ...

In this independent research project, students investigate how cooking pasta affects its properties and see if this is linked to how starch in pasta in altered during cooking. They can investigate the effect of...

In this independent research project students investigate the properties of materials, electric circuits and electronic devices in order to design, build and test a device to measure the steadiness of someone’s hand ...

Students investigate how well different sun creams and sun blocks protect against UV radiation from the sun and research:

• Information about the electromagnetic spectrum and radiation from the sun.
• Why UV radiation is damaging to...

Students investigate the effect of industry or agriculture on a water course, by comparing levels of pollution with those in an ‘unspoilt’ body of water. They will need to consider what form any pollution...

In this project, students make their own toothpaste and compare it to toothpastes available in the shop. They then do some tests to find out which toothpaste cleans the best by testing on egg shell.   Students are asked to consider the following questions:

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In this independent research project, students investigate the fat and salt content of different crisps and then suggest which crisps would be best for a patient with coronary heart disease. They start by finding out about the effects of high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and what...

In this practical lesson from the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), students complete a number of different tests on a selection of materials and identify each one from its particular properties. The tests include Eureka cans, electrical circuits and other...

This hands-on classroom activity from Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute for Key Stage Two and Key Stage Three students aims to aid in the teaching of respiratory health and hygiene topics. This interactive, practical activity demonstrates how microbes, such as bacteria...

In this video from the Teachers TV series Demonstrating Chemistry, Professor Hal Sosabowski demonstrates a solid...

Find out more about earthworms and the soil they live in by observing and counting earthworms and analysing soil. The survey should take around sixty minutes. This resource fits in with topics on animals in the local environment, habitats and improving the environment and could be used for all ages. Included in the...

Produced by Solar Spark, this is a simple practical activity that can be used to show how a solar photovoltaic cell works. During a 45-60 minute session, students make solar cells out of cheap and readily accessible materials. The mechanism behind the solar cell is similar to that used in a dye-sensitised solar...