This Nuffield Advanced Chemistry Special Study enabled students to see something of the scope of the field of ion exchange, and to appreciate its dependence upon chemical principles. The objectives were to show: *the nature of ion exchange materials, and in particular that they are all insoluble acids or bases or...

This is one of the six Background Books published for Stage I of the Nuffield Chemistry Sample Scheme. The books were highly illustrated and designed to be attractive. This book describes aspects of the history of chemistry by exploring the discovery of chemical cells...

Almost every scientific experiment or industrial process requires a measurement of temperature. For example, the specification of the length of an object is meaningless without reference to the temperature at which the measurement was made. And all chemical and biological processes are intrinsically temperature-...

This Catalyst article investigates how honeycomb (cinder toffee) is made using a thermal decomposition reaction to produce the gas bubbles. Sodium hydrogen carbonate (also known as sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda) has the chemical formula NaHCO3. When it is heated above about 80°C it begins to break down...

This activity provides the opportunity for students to appreciate how mathematics plays a part in everyday life. The town council has allocated £100,000 to spend on reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries due to road accidents. Students are expected to adopt the role of planners who work in small teams...

Steve analyses the flow of air over racing cars. He studied aero-mechanical engineering at university and following a two week summer placement, at Lola cars, he was offered a position in the company.

This report, by the Autism Centre at Sheffield Hallam University, analyses the case studies produced for the Science For All Project to identify those parts of each study that may have particular relevance for students on the Autistic Spectrum in relation to teaching and learning.

The report gives an...

This Science upd8 resource is set in the context of astronomy. Astronomers have found the most Earth-like planet outside our Solar System. Through analysing data students justify whether or not they believe the 'new' planet to be Earth-like. 

In the STEAM activity pupils will use their understanding of air resistance to design and make a parachute for a pilot. Pupils will use a range of materials and test their parachutes before recording and analysing the data. This resource is part of a series of resources produced by Rolls Royce and covers key areas...

This 'unplugged' activity by Barefoot Computing, introduces pattern recognition and the idea that algorithms can be repurposed. Cooking recipes are analysed to find parts that are common to more than one. Reusable parts are then borrowed to create new recipes which the children share with the class. Additional...

In this activity from Nuffield, students are asked to develop an experiment to measure and test people's reaction times. They can use any equipment available in the school/classroom, and will need to consider the reliability of their experiment and how any data collected will be analysed and presented.

Published in 2009 by LSIS, this report describes an action research project by John Leggott College. The project used a range of qualitative methods such as focus groups, interviews and thematic analysis to identify what was ‘wrong’ with current college systems and to develop ‘learning skills’ in students on Level...

Although written to support the Scottish Advanced Higher Project, this is a useful resource for all advanced independent research projects.   The philosophy behind the booklet is that students should be supported in developing their skills of investigation. Students should not be abandoned to their fate, nor should...