This review was published in 1999 for The Scottish Council for Research in Education. It was in response to national and international surveys which highlighted weaknesses in pupils' science performance at upper primary and lower secondary school. The book looks at aspects of science education that have an impact...

Published in 2012, this review focused on examining which  science programmes had been proven to help primary school students to succeed.  To find out, the University of York’s Institute for Effective Education, Johns Hopkins University and Durham University completed a research review on the topic. The review...

A Catalyst article looking at climate change. In particular the science of phenology, the study of the times each year that certain life-cycle events occur, is examined. It involves recording data on when birds migrate, eggs hatch or when leaves change colour. If the climate is changing, the timing of these events...

A number of images from Practical Action showing the effects of climate change and climate change adaptation. The images can be freely used by students and/or incorporated into teaching resources by teachers. The following text describes each of the photographs: *Drought in Kenya means there is little water left...

This video uses a comparison between an LED light and filament bulb to introduce efficiency (η). 

The equation, %efficiency (η) = (useful energy out/total energy in) x100 is explained and then linked to rate of energy transfer (P=E/t).

The work suggested in this Nuffield Working with Science unit encourages the students to start thinking about efficiency by presenting them with some problems which are a familiar part of their daily lives. They are asked to investigate problems which have been chosen...

A simple and effective practical demonstration of inertia using a spinning raw egg.

When the egg is spun its contents also spins.  Momentarily stopping the egg does not stop its contents from spinning.  On release the egg begins to spin again. The contents of the egg resist any change in its motion.

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In this resource from ESA, students' mission is to design and build a vehicle that will protect their Eggnaut from the perils of re-entry from space. The objective is to have your Eggnaut survive the fall without a crack. The project can be adpated for either primary or secondary students. The resource was produced...

This simple experiment explains how to test the protective effect of fluoride on teeth. Children are shown how to treat half of an egg with a fluoridated toothpaste before comparing the effect of immersion in vinegar on both halves. This activity has been provided by The Online Dentist.

This activity from Science upd8 focuses on physicist Helen Czerski who, in order to celebrate Einstein year in 2005, worked out a new bike stunt.

It involved a BMX rider performing a full-loop against gravity using curved surfaces to go upside-down. This activity communicates the excitement of physics and...

Aimed at primary level, the twelve activities within this pack explore forces and solids, liquids and gases in the context of a birthday party for Albert Einstein. Designed to demonstrate key ideas and concepts and to spark an interest in science, they could be used in class or within a science week or club. The...

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...

This resource contains six activities that link to Electricity. In this unit, children take part in a National Sensory Art Association (NSAA) project, working as designers of an electric art installation. These resources are designed for use with mixed age groups classes of Year 5 and 6. Activities include:

Being more energy efficient helps the environment, as well as our bank balances. But this is only part of the bigger issue surrounding electricity consumption. The everyday choices we make in our homes about which electrical appliances to use and when to use them have...

From the Institute of Physics, this resource provides extensive teacher guidance and suggested classroom activities to support the teaching of:

• Modelling simple electrical loops
• Adding elements to circuits
* Power and voltage

Each topic is explored from the following perspectives:...