The Supporting Physics Teaching initiative from the Institute of Physics is intended to support specialist and non-specialist teachers who teach 11-16 physics.

Each topic contains a physics narrative, teaching and learning issues and teaching approaches:

• The physics narrative explains the physics of...

Produced by the Hamilton Trust, this resource aimed at Year Six gives details of six lessons on balanced forces. Children learn about gravity, air resistance, friction and upthrust of liquids. Working scientifically they investigate what happens when an elastic band stretches under force and develop an...

From the Centre for Science Education, and with support from Shell Education services, these materials help children to investigate forces and motion.

A wide variety of buggies can be constructed and powered by a jet of air escaping from a balloon. Such a vehicle may run for a distance of 20 to 30 metres...

From the Centre for Science Education, and with support from Shell Education services, these materials help children to investigate forces and motion as well as making their own elastic band powered vehicle.

This activity is a variation on the 'cotton reel tank'. The elastic band roller is easy to make and...

The video begins by showing the misconceptions people have about weightlessness in space (space station). It explains how gravity exerts a force on the moon and so would also exert a force on the space station. It then shows that the astronaut is falling along with the space...

This resource links to science and D&T but in a moon context. Children analyse the importance of having shelter for protection on Earth and in space. They compare the environmental conditions on Earth and on the Moon, then  work together to design and build their own Moon shelter using materials comparable to...

This lesson is designed to generate discussion in students regarding the common Lunar conspiracy theories. Through looking at statements, analysing the reliability of the sources, and critically analysing the comments and applying scientific principles, students will come to their own conclusions about whether the...

Students investigate why the moon turns red during a lunar eclipse by exploring refraction, dispersion and the scattering of white light through different media.

These resources cover a variety of activities linked to the theme of the Moon.

This animated clip investigates the idea of orbits. It begins with Alice and Bob wondering why the Moon doesn’t fall to the Earth but an apple does. Alice throws an apple hard enough that it goes into orbit around the Earth. This clip could provide a lead in to topics such as gravitational force, acceleration,...

This book looks at several aspects of the science of motor vehicles: * Oil and its uses * The four-stroke cycle * The battery * The electrical system * Hydraulic systems * Cooling systems * Corrosion * Safety *Friction Science of the Motor Car was one of the Science at Work series. All the booklets in the series...

A quick game, from the ASE SYCD: Science Year Primary CD-ROM, for up to four pupils to reinforce their knowledge of some aspects of Physical Processes.

The resource comprises of cards and instructions for playing the game. Pupils compete to collect the starts and ends of statements or questions. Areas...

From the Centre for Science Education, and with support from Shell Education services, these materials help children to investigate forces and motion.

Water rockets can be made using plastic bottles and these are propelled by pressurised water. The rockets need to be launched in a suitable open area such as...

Published in 2012, by the US Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences,  this paper detailed how researchers examined...