This challenge is an opportunity for students to explore, experiment and innovate whilst designing a specialised wetsuit for paratriathletes who need specialised equipment to allow them to compete. Whilst the development in technology of prosthetic limbs, racing wheelchairs and handcycles has been substantial, no...

This Catalyst article looks at sperm whales and their ways of communications. Sperm whales can dive deep into the ocean. They use sound waves to communicate in the dark and to detect their prey.

This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2016, Volume...

A Catalyst article about whaling. During the last century whales were hunted and killed by many nations for the valuable materials they provided. Whale populations collapsed as a result. The article looks in detail at this example of human impact on the environment and details whale populations throughout the world...

This animation explains the influence that genes have on our everyday lives, from the colour of your eyes to the way your body works, grows and develops. The resources include: * An animation which explains how we are made of cells, where our genes can be found, what genes do and how this leads to variation between...

This Catalyst article explains the use of stem cells to treat medical problems, and outlines new possibilities for the use of adult stem cells in treatment.

Currently, stem cells used for treatment are embryonic stem cells, since they have the ability to form any cell type in the body. The example of the use...

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

This article from Catalyst looks at aurora borealis caused by the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field. It also explains how satellites are testing thoeires of how this happens. Auroral light emission occurs at roughly 100 km altitude. Energetic electrons in the solar wind cause the...

This topic, from the Association for Science Education (ASE), focuses on nutrition and looks at links between diet and health. Students are able to reflect on the nutritional and social values of different diets and then exchange information about their findings. As they work though the topic the students make a...

Work done in this Nuffield 13 - 16 module followed from the unit called ‘Food and digestion’. This B unit provided enough material for six double periods in the third year of secondary school (year nine). The teachers’ guide included four worksheets to supplement the...

This SYCD: Science Year Primary resource provides video clips of children working and on-screen text which focuses on evidence of children's development in a series of process skills. Criteria are given for assessing the skills, and the next steps in learning are identified, with suggestions for helping the...

This activity uses a humorous video to raise a serious question: can science tell us what animals are saying, and interpret their emotions? The Bow-lingual dog translator claims to detect animal emotions by analysing bark sounds waves. Students use research evidence to decide whether the device does what it claims...

This concept cartoon focuses on forces. Concept cartoons provide an approach to teaching, learning and assessment in science, they feature cartoon-style drawings showing different characters arguing about everyday situations. They are designed to intrigue, to provoke discussion and to stimulate scientific thinking...

These diagnostic questions and response activities (contained in the zip file) support students in being able to:

• Understand that a force makes things change: the speed, direction and/or shape of an object.

• Explain changes caused by more than one force acting on an object at the...

Using real data from CensusAtSchool 2000/2001, this resource explores issues around the disposal or recycling of the empty aluminium cans in schools. Students discuss the issue, calculate statistics, draw graphs and look further into what happens to empty cans in their own school.