This teaching package, aimed at Key Stages Two and Three, investigates the science of tree rings (dendrochronology). Linked to the topics of plants and living things and their habitats, it looks at cut tree trunks to determine the age of the tree, how fast it grew and...

Helen Walker and Karen Ashforth from Birley...

This cross-curricular activity introduces the concept of vaccination, specifically for COVID-19, using stimulus materials enabling student discussion opportunities. The way in which vaccines work, what they contain and the most common side effects are explained using simple scientific terminology. Some anti-vaccine...

This Double Crossed activity, from the Centre for Science Education and supported by the Astra Zeneca Teaching Trust, is set during World War Two. There is a mystery to solve, following an air raid, and students will need to use both science and history skills to get to the bottom of it. They are expected to...

This activity away from the computer is from the Barefoot Computing project. It is intended to provide a theoretical understanding of why and how variables are used in computer programming, using the example of score-keeping in a classroom quiz. Involving several volunteers from the group, the activity uses...

This activity shows how Earth observation can be used to study human geography by comparing the satellite images of Las Vegas over the last few decades. Linking to measurement of irregular areas and addition and multiplication of fractions, it asks children to measure the area of Las Vegas at three separate times...

Aimed at students aged 5-14 years, this pack contains a range of different activities based on the theme of waste. The activities cover a mixture of topics including: the environment and pollution, recycling, separating materials, waste degradation, and digestion. Designed for use in class or within a science week...

This brief activity uses false-colour images of the Columbia glacier to introduce the idea of using sequences of satellite images to monitor change and focuses on the selection of appropriate data for an investigation.

This activity uses satellite images of the Earth to show how a glacier has changed over almost three decades. Children are asked to measure the glacier to find out how much it has changed in size and to compare false-colour images to suggest how this helps us find out more about environmental change. Guidance on...

This activity looks at water consumption on a local and global scale. Students learn about the main water contaminants and various methods of purification and the role of engineers and their approach to design challenges. The resource aims to inspire an interest in water conservation and to introduce students to...

In this set of activities, children learn the difference between weather and climate. They identify different climatic zones and collect their own weather data. They analyse and compare daily and monthly air temperature measurements. Finally, they  learn about different climate scenarios and identify what it means...

This short activity introduces students to the ideas of the footprint and resolution of an image, asking them to choose and use appropriate methods to calculate how these quantities would change as they moved a camera to a series of vantage points above the surface of the Earth

These evidence-based, question and answer style classroom resources can be used to engage students of all ages...

These evidence-based, question and answer style classroom resources can be used to engage students in the climate...

In this activity students take on the role of Earth observation scientists submitting a request for an image they would like for their research. This gives them the opportunity to consider the possibilities of pictures taken from orbit (and the limitations) and to write scientifically for a specific audience. It...