This report draws upon evidence from design and technology (design and technology) subject survey visits by Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) to primary and secondary schools between September 2007 and July 2010. The inspections evaluated how well the subject was meeting its National Curriculum aims and promoting high...

This is a standard standing waves investigation, where you hang masses off an elasticated piece of wire/string to see how this impacts the vibrations.  It is good to provide this in the everyday context of a guitar or violin string and you can look at altering the length of the wire or the masses hung on it.

In this Catalyst article scientists investigate the basis of memory using lab animals; this can lead to insights into human memory, and treatments for people suffering deteriorating memory.

The article focuses on two aspects of memory:

*the hippocampus, the part of the brain belonging to the limbic...

This Catalyst article looks at the topic of human memory. While it is clear that memory is essential in so many ways, there are many myths about how memory works.

This article explores some of these fairytales and explains what modern psychological science has discovered about how memory really works and why...

Students are presented with two calculation ‘tricks’ involving squaring two digit numbers. They then use algebra to explore the reasons why the method works.

The short presentation can be used to show examples to illustrate each of the methods.

The teachers...

Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study tackles the theme of progression through STEM subjects. It looks at a mentoring scheme set up by St Francis Xavier College to support students in mathematics. In the scheme, A2 students were paired with AS students and given advice about...

This article shows how a new understanding of how cells respond to lack of oxygen can help to reduce the tissue damage caused in heart attacks and strokes. The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2015, Volume 25, Issue 4.

Catalyst...

This resource consists of a self-study sheet and suggested practical activity.  Students will:

• Use fully annotated diagrams to describe the structures of more than two metals and relate their structures to physical properties 
• Carry out tests on samples of metals they have work-hardened,...

This is one of the 14 Background Books published for Stage III of the Nuffield Chemistry Sample Scheme. The books were highly illustrated and designed to be attractive. This book describes applications of chemistry.

There are four parts to this book:
*Part 1: Extraction of metals
The extraction...

In this lesson, students will investigate some of the meteorites and associated rocks in the loan box. They will test them for magnetism, do a visual analysis and measure their mass to calculate the densities of their items. This activity is particularly geared towards getting students to estimate the volume of the...

A Catalyst article about careers in meteorology (weather forecasting) and climate science. The article explains the work of EMARC (Environment Monitoring and Response Centre) and provides some advice on training as a meteorologist.

This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2004, Volume 15, Issue 2...

This group of resources from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) looks at methods of conducting social research and the ethical questions to be considered. Resources explains the qualitatitive and quantitative methods used, and allows students to debate important questions about how research is...

This Core Maths resource contains two activities concerned with sampling.

The first activity asks students to review and summarise the key features, advantages and disadvantages of Random, Systematic, Stratified, Quota and Cluster sampling methods.

The...