This Catalyst article explores the complex structure of cells, and numerous theories of how they were formed. It describes how the development of electron microscopes has allowed greater detail of cellular strutures and organelles to be understood. The article includes detailed electron micropgraphs, along with...

This worksheet in this resource introduces students to the topics of classification and binomial nomenclature. The idea of hierarchy is illustrated, before explaining Linnaeus’s system of classification and the terms kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species. There is also a useful introduction to...

A Catalyst article about the naming system used for biological species, devised by Linnaeus. The purpose of biological names is investigated and the article also explains how the naming system works.

This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2009, Volume 19, Issue 3.

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Produced by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), these activities help students to practically investigate the process of evolution. Using the context of wheat, students are able to consider its evolution from wild grasses. This can be used to demonstrate the dramatic effect of both...

This Catalyst article explains why there are many anti-bacterial drugs but few antivirals. There are millions of bacteria everywhere – on skin, in the gut, and on food. Bacteria have been troubling human beings for as long as they have been around, so a lot of effort has been directed into finding ways to fight...

This podcast from the Natural Environment Research Council's (NERC) Planet Earth Online collection looks at how scientists are using fish scales to figure out why the UK salmon population is falling; and how carbon dioxide emissions from power stations could be used to make household bricks.

Salmon numbers...

From Understanding Animal Research, these materials help students understand the process of drug discovery and development. It shows that the drug discovery process is long and complex and involves several different stages, including basic research, animal testing and clinical trials. The materials include: *...

This resource, from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), provides support for a series of lessons on medicines – what they do and how to use them safely. It looks at how medicines are discovered, developed and tested through the eyes of a young girl.

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This Catalyst article introduces Tom Denbigh who describes how he has worked as a volunteer on scientific projects to gain experience before his degree course.

This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2011...

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) has created teaching activities based on climate change. Students discover how an invasive species (water hyacinth) has caused eutrophication and destroyed fish stocks. Students are given a series of cards containing information. Working in small groups, they are...

In this card game from the IET, pupils learn about animals that hibernate during winter such as hedgehogs, bears, bats, bumblebees, ladybirds and moths. There is also an extension activity of a crossword.

The Linnaean collections hold many types of specimens (the first member of species to be scientifically described) for taxonomic study. Making use of the Linnaean collection online, this worksheet focuses on Hymenoptera (including bees, wasps and ants). It looks at the importance of the hymenopterans, particularly...

This resource, from the Association for Science Education (ASE), is based on a well-known quiz format. It is a PowerPoint presentation, and works well in class or as a lunchtime competition using overheads. The quiz could be run during lunch times as an inter-form competition, or within class time. After teachers...

From the Association for Science Education (ASE), Who wants to be a scientist? is based on a well-known quiz format. It is a PowerPoint presentation, and works well in class or as a lunchtime competition using overheads. The quiz could be run during lunch times as an inter-form competition, or within class time....

This resource, from the Association for Science Education (ASE), is based on a well-known quiz format. It is a PowerPoint presentation, and works well in class or as a lunchtime competition using overheads. The quiz could be run during lunch times as an inter-form competition, or within class time. After teachers...