Snow and Ice
Relate learning to the real world with this list which incorporates topics related to snow and ice. Teach children about thermal insulation when they are wearing clothes designed to insulate. Incorporate songs and stories into science with younger children. Learn about friction when ice and snow are making life very slippery. Try comparing real and artificial snow when looking at the properties of materials and design a test to see is snow melts faster with table salt or rock salt when looking at changing state.
Magic Melting Ice Cubes
A short video which can be used when teaching about thermal insulators and conductors. Ask children to predict which ice cube will melt first then set up an investigation and ask them to observe and explain what they have observed. Or use as a plenary having carried out a similar investiation when wrapping ice in different materials and seeing which melts the fastest.
Primary Science Activities for Winter
A demonstartion of ideas for practical activities involving snow or ice. The first activity is inspired by the question "Why do we put salt on the roads?" It demonstrates how to set up a test to compare the effectiveness of table salt and rock salt in melting ice. In the second activity, students compare real snow with instant snow, looking at their different properties. This activity could be adapted for use with Key Stages One or Two
Investigating Ice
Lesson ideas for Key Stage One and Two involving observation, measuring and recording the melting of ice. This resource is a set of lesson activity ideas including questions to investigate, levelled assessment and suggestions for further activities.
Friction Lesson Plan
A BBC schools lesson plan about testing friction on different surfaces which is suitable for Key Stage Two work on forces. It includes detailed teacher notes to set up a fair test, interactive activities and links to a quiz and extension sheet.
KS1/2 Antarctica: Teachers in the Freezer
This video follows a group of British teachers on a four-week expedition to Antarctica. The programme begins with an explanation of where Antarctica is, what the climate is like and what it takes to live there. Discussion on clothes people should wear in Antarctica, how they should travel and what food they should eat in order to survive such cold conditions is also included.This video could be used geography and science lessons, linking to thermal insulators, forces and the effect cold temperatures have on the body.
