A scheme of work produced as optional guidance from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) to support the teaching of science at Key Stages One and Two (students aged 5-11), and intended to cover all the requirements of the 2000 National Curriculum programme...

The Science Focus course provides a rich variety of different types of learning activities, which are described in sufficient detail to be taken and adapted into any Key Stage Three scheme of work.

This guide covers...

This activity, from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, is designed to help students find out all about the Moon, and some of the other 200+ moons that orbit other planets in the solar system.

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This resource, from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, helps students to understand how we see things, and in particular how light travels.

There is a short video introduction accompanied by two suggested activities.

In the...

‘Design a city that has everything you'll need for a happy, productive and safe life on Mars.’

In this chapter students work out they could overcome Martian conditions to create a sustainable habitat, including

• mapping what is required by a community,
• designing buildings/domes that...

‘Work with your rover to collect scientific samples then head to the lab. It's time to experiment!’

In this chapter students think about the challenges of running experiments on Mars using a robotic rover, including

• programming the rover to navigate,
• decrypting coded messages,
• ...

‘Explore your new home, from its climate to its terrain, then build a rover to help your research.’

In this chapter students figure out more about the surface of Mars, including:

• finding out about the weather on Mars,
• creating a newspaper article about water on Mars,
• ...

‘Recruit your crew, pack your bag and design your rocket to launch your mission!’

In this chapter students find out about some the challenges that will be presented with space exploration to Mars, including:

• comprehending the changing distances between our planets
• describing the skills...

This resource, from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, is all about helping pupils get to know the solar system.

• There is a lively song and animation in a...

This resource, from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, is a video explaining an elegant method of creating a small model of the solar system, using very simple equipment.

Using a small torch and a transparent ball (for example from a...