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This multimedia package was developed by the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme to support and extend the teaching of sensors to students aged 14-19. The development and use of sensors is a rapidly growing area. Students should already have some familiarity with sensors through their use in a classroom context in...

This Nuffield Working with Science unit was designed to enable students to enquire systematically into slimming. It was intended to give them information about such things as balanced diets, the dangers of undereating and overeating, the social pressures on people to be...

Produced by Solar Spark, this is a simple practical activity that can be used to show how a solar photovoltaic cell works. During a 45-60 minute session, students make solar cells out of cheap and readily accessible materials. The mechanism behind the solar cell is similar to that used in a dye-sensitised solar...

Produced by Solar Spark, this activity looks at the relationship between light and absorption in solar cells. Using a photovoltaic cell and different colour acetate sheets, it demonstrates the ability of solar cells to absorb at different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum and shows how the more it can...

From NASA, Solar Energy for Space Exploration is a problem-based learning activity. The project requires students to propose and defend a design to provide power to a lunar or Martian research base for six astronauts. To prepare for the final project, students investigate the variables that affect the operation of...

These resources from NASA look at why telescopes are put into space. Students build simple spectroscopes and telescopes to learn the answer to this question. This educator guide is divided into units of study that include science demonstrations, lesson plans and student sheets so that students may learn about Earth...

This Nuffield Working with Science unit was designed to give the student the opportunity to work scientifically and to acquire some of the positive attitudes associated with informed opinions and the use of objective argument based on evidence. It was also hoped that...

This Nuffield Working with Science unit aimed to help students to analyse many facets of a local manufacturing industry. Students were expected to plan visits in detail, and well in advance. One of the aims was to give students practice in meeting and working with a...

This Unilever Laboratory Experiment, published in 1967, describes an experiment to measure the contraction of hair in a hot solution of phenol. The procedure is based on a school-made apparatus to measure the changes of length. The results are discussed in terms of hydrogen bonding and disulphide bonds between...

This Nuffield Working with Science unit used the study of survival techniques to give students opportunities to collect evidence, advance hypotheses, and design experiments. Students were encouraged to investigate situations in which people can be faced with unexpected...

Several different treatments are used to autolyse yeast cells. The viability of the autolysed yeast is then tested by: plating out on agar; testing for dehydrogenase activity; microscopic examination with methylene blue.

In this activity, students investigate the three main types of memory - sensory, short-term and long-term. An explanation is given for each one and linked to a memory experiment. Students are also given five memory tasks to complete which include looking at factors that affect peoples' memories and ways in which to...

Details of this challenging experiment were published in this leaflet from the Unilever Laboratory Experiment in 1965. Requirements included a pyrophoric nickel catalyst supplied by Unilever, hydrogen from a cylinder and a vegetable oil treated with activated charcoal to remove impurities. The necessary apparatus...

The work suggested in this Nuffield Working with Science unit was planned so that students should:
1. be aware of the advantages of a systematic approach to car selection and purchase
2. be aware of the legal and social responsibilities of car ownership
3...