This classroom resource for secondary computing lessons outlines the history of development of computers. It covers thousands of years of history, including:

• the abacus
• log tables
• the calculators of Pascal and Leibnitz
• Jacquard looms
• Babbage's Difference Engine and...

In these activities, produced by the European Space Agency, students work in groups to create timelines: first, one of their own lives and then one of the main events in the history of the Universe. The activity guides students to calculate the events in the history of the Universe to a scale of one year. Students...

Origami squares are shown with different colours on each side of the paper. Two folds are made and then a hole is punched through all of the layers. The challenge is to determine where the holes appear when the squares of paper are unfolded. This resource is suitable for Key Stage 3 and could be used as an...

Students first evaluate existing alarm systems and learn about a burglar’s attitude towards them using a video featuring reformed criminals. They are then briefed to create a working door access and alarm system using a BBC micro:bit and selected input and output components such as LDRs, reed switches, buzzers and...

Reducing energy usage in the home saves money, increases energy security and reduces the need to burn unsustainable fossil fuels. The first step in doing this is monitoring how much energy is...

In this Science upd8 activity students analyse information and evidence about homeopathy to decide whether it is based on scientific theory. They then choose the best arguments for and against homeopathy to decide whether they would use it, and whether it should be freely available to all.

This resource from Defence Dynamics helps students to gain a better understanding of homeostasis and, in particular, the regulation of body temperature (thermoregulation). Students consider the needs of a polar explorer on a mission to the South Pole, thinking about the equipment needed as well as the challenges...

The family tree for honeybees is given together with rules for reproduction. The challenge begins with identification of male and female bees in a diagram. Further rows are then added and the information collected in a table. There is an extension to then find the number of bees in other generations without drawing...

It is long journey from basic stem cell research to a reliable stem cell therapy. This comic book explores the role of stem cell researchers and the process they undertake as they try to move stem cell research on towards clinical trials and therapies. A selection of card games is provided which can be used to...

Produced by The Centre for Industry Education Collaboration (CIEC), these activities help students to investigate the absorption of radiation, heat transfer and heat capacity.

Taken from a real-life scenario, the students look at the effects of different colours on the amount of heat a container absorbs....

In this Bowland assessment task, students consider two different methods for converting temperatures from degrees Celsius to degrees Fahrenheit. Students have to select a way of comparing the two methods, explore the effects of varying temperature, make accurate calculations and devise a method of deciding when the...

This booklet is part of the ‘Innovations in Practical Work’ series published by the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme (SEP). Thermocolour film is a fascinating material that changes colour depending on the temperature. It allows a very wide range of phenomena to be...

Act 1

A giant cup is being used as part of a world record...