Scientists at the University of Oxford are developing and improving computer programs that can learn. Often it is useful to feed computer programs a series of images and to get the computer to identify or sort them in some way, but how do computers create or store...

This activity is a set of five puzzles relating to pie charts. The first three puzzles can be solved without the use of algebra. Each of the remaining two puzzles require students to write then solve a linear equation involving fractions. Students who complete the five puzzles are encouraged to write similar...

The first sheet of this excel file shows a frequency table for up to four different colours. Sometimes the angle 359⁰ or 361⁰ is shown in the table rather than 360⁰ and this can be used to aid discussion about rounding. Students need to calculate the angles so that a...

In this activity, from the Institution of Engineering and technology, students work in groups to investigate how Piezoelectric materials can be used in a variety of different ways. For the development element of the project, students propose an innovative application...

This problem uses number bases. Farmers identify a pig by using notches in different parts of the pig’s ears. Pictures of four pigs are presented and the challenge is to work out the code. A final challenge is to represent a given number. This resource is suitable for Key Stage 3.

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A simulation from Science upd8 that looks at how a viral disease spreads in a model population (the school). It is interactive, relevant and involves large numbers of students. There is the potential for family involvement. The simulation continues for around 5 days, after which students can use ICT to analyse the...

The simple pinball machine in this activity is made from a cardboard box, with ice lolly sticks as the flippers. It provides a great opportunity to explore the science of forces and motion. Game on!

Learning outcomes:

• Investigate simple mechanisms and Newton’s Laws of Motion
• Use...

This resource by The Centre for Industry Education Collaboration (CIEC) puts curriculum science into real-world contexts and provides a cross-curricular approach to salt.

Children undertake a range of hands-on investigations that look at the use of salt. This includes the use of salt to treat icy roads and...

This resource provides the instructions for making a pinhole camera, taking a photograph and developing the photos in a dark room.

This resource looks at how engineers collect natural gas from the seabed below the North Sea and transport it back to shore. Children are asked to investigate the best shape for the pipelines by creating a model pipeline and making observations on how they work.

Aimed at Early Years this game provides many opportunities for developing number recognition, counting skills and discussion.

Each player is given a certain amount of coins at the start and as they travel along the board they will gain or lose coins depending on the cards that they are required to pick up....

This Pirate themed game provides many opportunities for children to use their times tables knowledge. It includes three versions of the game which use different multiplication facts so can be used with children at different stages of learning. The arrangement of the numbers on all of the game boards has been...

Aimed at early years and lower primary this resource supports the learning of basic programming. It contains a printable pirate themed programmable robot mat on a grid. Children can program a Bee Bot to visit several sites on the pirate island and reach a treasure chest. It is designed to be printed in several A4...

This Science upd8 activity is inspired by the film Pirates of the Caribbean. What are the contents of the treasure chest? What metal is the key made of? What happened to the treasure after decades under the sea?

The number of fish in a tank is given, together with the percentage of the fish that are small. The challenge is to work out the number of the small fish to remove to achieve a lower given...