Understanding the osmotic potential of plant cells is a key part of understanding...

From Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS), this practical activity was developed for Scottish Highers specifications, but the protocol can equally well be used for other specifications. 

Students look at potato cyst nematodes, a serious pest of food crops. This is a good example of parasitism to study as...

In this small-scale scoping study, the questions around whether and how teachers of STEM subjects access information about cutting edge research to inform their classroom practice, and how this impacts on the students they teach, was explored.

This study supports STEM Learning’s aims to explore the effective...

In this resource, pupils carry out an investigation into the presence of vitamin C, an antioxidant, in the different parts of different plants. This is put in the context of Dr Jess Chu, a young scientist researching Malaysian rainforest plants to see if they have any antioxidant, anti-cancer or antibacterial...

In this resource, students investigate the antibacterial properties of plants. Their investigation is placed in the context of a case study of Julian Ma, ...

In this resource, students investigate the biodiversity of different habitats, looking at the relative abundance of different plant species. Students carry out a practical activity in the school grounds or other green space, comparing the diversity of habitats using Cairns' sequential comparison index.

Their...

Aimed at students aged 11-14, this worksheet explores the causes of different illnesses, focusing on the contribution that DNA makes. The questions explore the role of DNA in health and how genes play a role in causing single-gene disorders and multifactorial conditions. The resource is part of a collection of...

From Nelson Thornes, these activities encourage students to consider their understanding of an ecological niche. Students investigate the idea of a niche and look at the concepts of a fundamental niche and a realised niche. They are also asked to use information on a particular species’ niche, to predict where we...

In this investigation, students learn about carrying out a fair test, by running a blind trial of organic and non-organic herbs to see if they can identify any differences in taste. The investigation is put into a STEM careers context through an initial case study of James Seymour, a scientist who works as a...

This resource from the Nuffield Foundation provides material for teaching 'the nature of science' for students aged 11-16. The units were designed to help teachers and learners explore questions such as:
*How and why do scientific ideas change and develop?
*...

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...

This protocol allows students to investigate the effects of the hormone auxin (Indole Acetic Acid or IAA) as a plant growth regulator. The investigations give opportunities to look at auxiliary bud development, root development, and leaf abscission in Coleus. The method is suitable for independent investigations by...

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...