This short activity introduces students to the ideas of the footprint and resolution of an image, asking them to choose and use appropriate methods to calculate how these quantities would change as they moved a camera to a series of vantage points above the surface of the Earth

This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing discusses fat as a class issue, as well as a feminist issue. Research shows that middle class families are more likely to be health-conscious eaters, and chances are the shops in their neighbourhoods offer a wider range of healthy food. The resource...

This resource explains how important it is that social research is conducted in a scientific way, following definite rules that have been developed over time with the aim of ensuring that the results are not just the product of the researcher’s own beliefs. The paper stresses the importance of research being valid...

These evidence-based, question and answer style classroom resources can be used to engage students of all ages...

These evidence-based, question and answer style classroom resources can be used to engage students in the climate...

In this activity, students consider what is meant by ‘energy efficiency’ and how this applies in the context of a house to reduce energy consumption. Students interpret graphs taken from an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and then brainstorm ideas about how energy...

In this activity, students investigate what is meant by fuel poverty. This could be used as a starter activity in mathematics or design and technology, with a focus on economic reasons for the development of sustainable power sources. Using the slides as stimulus...

A poster for teachers to use within the classroom, produced by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). On the front is a timeline featuring prominent figures who developed the use of statistics, with accompanying teachers’ notes on the back. The timeline looks at landmark events in social science from 1662...

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...

In this activity children 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...

This briefing, produced by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), looks at a study which shows that girls are twice as likely as boys to smoke. Researchers looked into the peer pressure put upon young people to smoke, comparing the pressures on girls and boys. They give recommendations for anti-smoking...

This resource looks at the impact of climate change, in particular flooding and drought, and how science can be used to mitigate against it. Students first explore perceptions about climate change, then look at ways to communicate the significance of climate change to different groups of people. They then explore...

There is much debate about reducing greenhouse gases and how renewable energy sources might form part of the answer. Most people agree that renewable energy is a good thing, but how do people react when a wind farm is proposed to be built near them? The following...

From Practical Action, this challenge asks students to design a simple wind turbine capable of lifting a cup off the floor to bench height. The winning team will be the one producing a machine that lifts the most weight. The resource includes an instruction sheet, wind turbine images, links to videos and...