The growth of plants in space is a keen area of experimentation, including ongoing work aboard the International Space Station. Successful crops will help astronauts to spend longer in space, boosting their healthy diet while reducing the mass of prepared food that must be transported from Earth.

Using a...

From NASA, this activity helps students see the relative distances from the sun of the planets in our solar system. Astronomers refer to the distance from the sun to the Earth as one 'astronomical unit' or AU. This activity demonstrates an easy way to calculate the distances of the other planets from the sun and...

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...

Purpose: Good practical science should include a variety of types of investigation and locations. Digital technology can support activities that involve outdoor work and observations over time, without being disruptive to school routines. 

Teaching approach: In the example described in the link below, data...

This was the first National Curriculum for Science in England and Wales. One intention of the National Curriculum was that all students aged 5 to 16 learn science – that there should be ‘Science for All’ – and that this should include both the ‘methods of science’ and the acquisition of ‘knowledge and understanding...

With a population of over eight million and many people commuting to London for work every day, transport is a key issue for everyone.   Modern technology has developed to cope with the movement of such large numbers of people. However the reliance on combustion for transport over time has resulted in problems of...

The texts for Revised Nuffield Biology offered an amended version of the third year of the five-year course to O-level. The revision was based on the experience of numerous teachers with the original edition. Extra...

The search for life on other worlds is one of the most fascinating contexts that science lessons can have. In this guide, several of the resources focus on practical experiments or investigations that link astrobiology to the science curriculum. In all cases, regular scientific concepts such as factors affecting...

Sanjeev Gupta is a geologist who uses his understanding of rocks and physical processes such as plate tectonics, mountain building, deposition of sediment and erosion by water to understand how particular landscapes were formed from remote deserts, under the sea in the English Channel and on Mars!

He came to...

In this activity students are about to get their first car. They also imagine that increased carbon dioxide emissions have led to huge financial incentives to buy renewable fuels. Filling stations provide hydrogen and biodiesel fuels, and recharging points for electric cars are commonplace. Students are presented...

breakthrough was a termly resource for teachers published between 1999 and 2001. Each edition highlighted a number of discoveries and inventions and the people who made them. This edition was published in January 1999. Each edition of breakthrough included feature articles and regular items such as profiles of key...

Within this lesson, students will learn about the classical force of gravity, put forward by Newton. They will learn the difference between mass and weight, the equation that relates the two and perform an investigation into the strength of gravity on Earth. Students will then use a 3D model of space to better...

Measuring the diameter of our star This simple exercise allows students to measure the diameter of the Sun using a metre rule and two pieces of card. An image of the Sun needs to be projected on the card using a small hole in one piece of card.

Measuring the number of hours in a day...

In this activity, students will learn about the properties of the different types of Earth rocks and the rock cycle. They will also learn the basics of meteorite hunting. They will then apply this, along with the use of a classification chart and scientific testing, to identify the samples in their meteorite hunter...