This innovative activity uses the context of the distribution of dwarf willow to carry out virtual quadrat and transect sampling techniques.

Initially pupils are asked to discuss the unique characteristics of trees and then debate whether dwarf willow is a tree.

To carry out the field work, pupils can...

Students research the theoretical principles of thermography and create a thermogram.  They will need to:

• find out about hot body radiation and the medical uses of thermography
• Create a thermogram. Temperatures are...

These are science resources will encourage and enable students to get involved with practical science. A wide selection of materials is presented within each resource, allowing a teacher to tailor the activities for a specific group of students.

The resources in this section are:

*Coastline Protection...

The resource pack, written by Peter Freeland, contains 50 practical investigations designed to introduce aspects of applied biology and biotechnology. The topics are wide ranging, including enzymes, food manufacture and fermentation technology, together with health education, plant propagation, pest control, waste...

This brief resource provides five ideas for investigating the effects of eutrophication on aquatic plant life. Each activity is based on setting up a range of solutions with increasing amounts of minerals and following the growth of aquatic plants. The resource offers suggestions of how the mineral content could be...

This resource, from the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB), allows students to investigate the behaviour of ants, and includes:

• Background information about British ants.
• A step-by-step approach to the collection and maintenance of some British ants with particular reference to...

In this activity from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS), students investigate what causes a Venus’ Fly Trap to shut. These experiments are related to a series of investigations that Darwin carried out as part of his work on evolution and adaptation and background...

A Catalyst article about the astronomer William Herschel who discovered Uranus in 1781. He became the first person since ancient times to identify a new planet. However, he is also known as the ‘accidental’ discoverer of infrared radiation. The article asks is this a fair description and can such discoveries really...

In this activity students discover how a Tanzanian initiative reduced iodine deficiency diseases, and look at lessons the UK can learn from the example of this African nation. According to recent reports, up to 70% of British young people do not take in enough iodine. Iodine deficiency causes goiter and brain...

This article from Catalyst looks at ionic liquids which are a developing area in chemistry. Ionic liquids are liquids which have the potential to provide greener ways of carrying out chemical processes.

The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2014, Volume 25, Issue 2.

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

• Interpret an ionic formula as representing the ratio of ions.
• Recognise the limitations of what is represented by a dot and cross diagram.
• Recognise the uses and...

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

• Describe the difference between radioactive particles and radiation.
• Describe what happens when radiation causes ionisation.  
• Explain why ionising radiation does not make...