Design and Technology Provides Safe Lift Off

by Michelle Evans at Science Learning Centre West Midlands Flying is relevant to most of our lives, as ‘foreign’ holidays have become the norm. Yet it is often only when we are sat on a plane and ‘past the point of no return’ that we begin to wonder if it’s safe and even about the [...]

Teaching Triple Science

By Marianne Cutler Triple sciences at GCSE are an increasingly popular option with young people and the number of schools and colleges which are successfully delivering triple sciences continues to rise. I’ve been working with a number of schools and colleges to produce case studies on how they have successfully implemented triple science, exploring some [...]

How fresh are your fruits? – A gas measurement exercise

By Richard Needham This is a simple exercise involving measuring gases, which reveals some surprising secrets. It can give rise to interesting discussions around what we mean as scientists by the term ‘living’. You can do this activity at any level in school – the data you collect could be used: Key Stage 1 – [...]

Professional Award in Science Teaching and Learning

By Clare Warren “Does outdoor learning contribute to children’s enjoyment of science?” I am currently studying on the Professional Award in Science Teaching and Learning programme which recognises the completion of a period of CPD which has had an impact on teaching. Teachers who achieve the Professional Award have demonstrated their ability to effectively reflect [...]

Valentine’s Day Science Lesson Planning Ideas

by Mark Langley. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, no doubt many of you will be looking for ideas to link your class activity with a day that may be on many of your students minds.  In our video, Mark Langley, one of the Professional Development Leaders at the National Science Learning Centre demonstrates how to [...]

Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Science Leaders’ Conference: Achieving Excellence in Science in the New Educational Landscape

by Emily Perry The 2012 Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Science Leaders’ Conference has Achieving Excellence in Science in the New Educational Landscape as its theme. We will be exploring what we mean by excellence through two themes: leading a science team and managing the curriculum, while placing these themes in the context of a [...]

Bring Science to Life: CSI Forensics

Our latest video is a spoof based around our course Bring Science to Life: CSI Forensics.  The footage is taken from the actual course and features Brian Hook and Clive Donner, both former members of New Scotland Yard’s anti terrorist branch. The course provides an exciting and interactive way to bring science to life in [...]

Merry Christmas from the Science Learning Centres

Welcome to the last of our resource and activity gifts for Christmas. A huge thank you to all of our delegates who have participated at one of the Science Learning Centres across the country this year. Here are the last of our resources for you to share, use or take inspiration from. Primary (Please scroll [...]

12 Christmas activities in the science classroom

Ho ho ho.  It’s the last few days of school before the Christmas holidays and your pupils are all far too excited to concentrate on anything other than the looming visit by the big man in red  – and the possibility of making snowmen. So how do you keep their minds engaged on the subject, [...]

Five easy things to help enrich your science teaching

By John Walker How do we really bring STEM subjects alive for learners?  How do we provide those memorable and stimulating experiences to help them see beyond the limits of the school curriculum and realise that STEM subjects are both relevant and exciting for real?  Teachers usually recognise that the answers to these and similar [...]