From NASA, this resource looks at how bodies in the solar system are classified. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) defined the terms "planet" and "dwarf planet". The IAU's decision created an opportunity for students to understand the solar system better by considering the definitions of planet,...

The Gaia spacecraft is a European Space Agency mission to map one billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

This resource includes a teacher’s guide, with suggested teaching sequence for the resource, and background information for both the teacher and student on the Gaia mission.  It also includes an...

The Gaia spacecraft is a European Space Agency mission to map one billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

‘Using the LCO and ESA Gaia data archives to find Type Ia supernovae targets – Student Guide’ – this guides the students through the process of data-mining the Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) and Gaia...

The Gaia spacecraft is a European Space Agency mission to map one billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

‘Introductory Activity – Hubble expansion’ – Students use spreadsheets and sample data from historical supernovae to produce lightcurves and calculate the distances to the supernovae, leading to a...

This series of activities from NASA take a mathematical approach to looking at the Earth and its atmosphere. They are intended as supplementary problems for students looking for additional challenges in mathematics and physical science from age 11 to 19 years.

The problems were created to be authentic...

The Eco-design web is a useful tool to help students’ analyse an existing product or design. It can also be used to indicate areas of the product that can be redesigned to improve its environmental sustainability.

These activities allow students to model how environmental scientists compare diversity in different ecosystems by using ordinary playing cards as ‘species’ to generate data to calculate Simpson’s Diversity Index. This can be completed in a single lesson. Some students find the concept of species diversity quite...

Two worksheet based activities that can be used to identify the impacts of technology upon people to sustain their communities in the future. The first activity considers the economic impact upon sustainability with key questions to research and the second task is an analysis activity looking at cultural, economic...

This resource from the Institute of Physics, describes how electrocardiagrams (ECGs) record the activity of the heart through electrodes placed on a patient's skin. The teacher's notes contain an introduction to ECGs and lesson notes for the associated PowerPoint file. A mark scheme for the worksheet is also...

This series of activities from NASA take a mathematical approach to looking at electromagnetic radiation. They are intended as supplementary problems for students looking for additional challenges in mathematics and physical science from age 11 to 19 years. The problems were created to be authentic glimpses of...

These resources have been produced by The Centre for Industry Education Collaboration (CIEC). Activities explore the work of people who develop and test blends of PVC for use in medical equipment.

Topics covered include how PVC is produced, why PVC is used for medical applications and how it is tested with...

These activities, from the Institute of Physics, look at electrical circuits. They provide a review of previous knowledge and introduce the language needed to cope with the greater depth of learning at post-16 level. Activities include: • a discussion about electrical circuits to reinforce knowledge and highlight...

This excel program is about finding the equation of straight lines in the form ax+by+c=0. The first two sheets deals with the equation of the line through two given points and the equation of the line through a point perpendicular to a given line. The resource is an...

This set of resources are based on Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BiFoR) work. The activities provide an innovative way to introduce the issues surrounding the estimation of biomass. For pupils aged between 11 and 14 there are engaging activities to introduce the concept of biomass and pyramids of biomass...

There are teacher notes and student materials which describe the research into the potential effects of climate change on a Coralline algae species. Curriculum links include biodiversity, sampling techniques, student t test, Simpson’s Index, photosynthesis, climate...