Resources

My Skills My Life

My Skills My Life is a resource, developed by WISE, to be used by young people to discover careers suited to their personality types.

The activity comprises an online activity that can be found here: www.myskillsmylife.org.uk.

The students can complete the quiz online or by using the paper resource (downloadable). Once they have completed this, it shows them all the real life role models that have the same personality as them and the career they have in STEM (Science, Technology & Engineering).

It shows career pathways that the role models have taken. It’s an opportunity for students to find out about lots of different careers before making a decision about their future.

To find the resources, search ‘My Skills My Life’ on TES.

For more details about the resource, please click here.

STEM Careers Resource Database

The National STEM Centre has developed a searchable database of up-to-date STEM careers information from across the web.

The STEM Careers Database provides easy access to careers information from a range of high-quality sources, including professional bodies for fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

KS2 resource booklet 'ACT ON STEM'

ACT ON STEM is the first bilingual STEM resource for Years 5-6 of its kind in Wales. It clearly brings the employer and industry messages into the classroom and promotes STEM skills in the region to promote safeguard the future of our local economy.

The free bilingual resource is available on-line with a variety of fun and interactive classroom activities linked to promoting STEM for KS2 pupils. It also has a short You Tube film to accompany the activities showing children role playing adults in the workplace. The film should be shown hand in hand with the activities to add value.

• View the online resource pack here.
• Watch the regional film here.

The North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB) is very grateful for your full cooperation in our efforts to promote key messages from employers in relation to STEM skills and the opportunities young people have to work bilingually in a vibrant and growth sectors in North Wales.

Please contact Ffion for more information ffion.jones@careerswales.com.

Let Mathematics take you further – Careers in Maths Talks

Very few jobs are entitled 'Mathematician'. But Maths can lead to some of the most exciting and well-paid careers. Being skilful in Mathematics is a priceless asset.

FMSP (Further Mathematics Support Programme) Wales is able to deliver careers in maths talk free of charge to all state funded schools. Students will be given an insight into how specific Mathematics topics are used in real life, examples of careers where Mathematics-rich degrees are required, University information and they will receive leaflets with information related to careers in Maths-rich subjects. If you would like to book a Careers in Maths Talk please contact the FMSP team on 01792 606845 or email s.lyakhova@swansea.ac.uk.

Big Ideas Wales

There is a section on the Big Ideas Wales website which outlines the teaching resources available, the curriculum materials are for young people aged 5-7, 7-11, 11-14 and also 14-19 learning pathways and key skills and 16-19 Welsh Baccalaureate.

People Like Me – resource pack targeted at girls aged 11-14

The People Like Me pack from WISE equips teachers and STEM Ambassadors with materials that can show girls from a diverse range of backgrounds that, if they continue with at least one STEM subject post-16, they are likely to have better prospects and more career choice.

WISE recommends using the pack in an all-girl setting, where girls have been found to feel more comfortable sharing their strengths and aspirations. The activity can work equally well in a science, maths, PSHE or careers session.

"If you want to open girls' eyes to who they are and how their science and maths can help them access a HUGE variety of roles in the workplace, then this resource is for you!" Kate Bellingham, Engineer and Broadcaster

Download resources here.

Sparxx – inspiring the next wave of women engineers

As part of our goal to get more girls into engineering, we've launched a new initiative Sparxx specifically for girls between 11 and 18. The aim of Sparxx is to provide ongoing support to girls who show an interest in CRESTA (Creativity, Engineering, Science, Technology and Art) by providing targeted stream of communication through Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and newsletters.

For further details, contact the Sparxx team at sparxx@wes.org.uk.

Institute of Acoustics

Institute of Acoustics have just launched a new website (www.ioa.org.uk) with a careers section aimed at young people looking to make university/careers choices. There's useful info about the profession – eg where to study, specialist areas, people profiles…

All students can now join the Institute free as a student affiliate on website. Principally aimed at sixth formers and undergraduates but will also be of interest to other school pupils wanting to learn more about the subject.

Founders4Schools

Founders4Schools connects teachers with entrepreneurs and founders of growing, successful businesses. It is a free programme for teacher in the UK.

On the 'about us' page they say: "Students also hear about real-life applications from Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects, making a critical link to how learning STEM directly relates to growing and scaling successful enterprises".

STEM – Pathways and Options

A PowerPoint presentation about the joys, benefits – and potential pitfalls – of a STEM career. Created by Environmental Biology postgrad Ross Davies, its informal graphic style will engage and inspire students who may be considering a STEM career. You can download the presentation here (right-click) – and there's also a Word version of the text here.

Future Morph

Future Morph has been created to show that studying science, technology, engineering or maths beyond the age of 16 isn't just a one track road to becoming a scientist or engineer – the skills and knowledge you gain are valuable in almost any career and will make you very employable. More… www.futuremorph.org.

10 Amazing Jobs You Could Land With the Right STEM Education

More at http://mashable.com/2013/02/05/10-awesome-stem-jobs/

Research Councils UK (RCUK)

Research Councils UK (RCUK) has released a podcast which discusses the importance of engaging young people in science and research, following the launch of its School-University Partnerships Initiative (SUPI). The initiative, which exceeds £3.5 million in total, is funding 12 projects over the next three years, each of which involves a variety of activities to develop longer-term engagement between universities and schools.

Podcast and further details here:

• www.rcuk.ac.uk/media/Pages/films.aspx#winston
• www.rcuk.ac.uk/media/news/2013news/Pages/130212.aspx

Details to the original press release with the list of successful projects here:

• www.rcuk.ac.uk/media/news/2013news/Pages/130130.aspx

Tomorrow's Engineers

Tomorrow's Engineers is a careers programme led by EngineeringUK and the Royal Academy of Engineering which aims to promote engineering to young people aged 11-14.

Tomorrow's Engineers produce a range of careers resources which are available online. These include, a 'What is Engineering?' PowerPoint presentation, postcards for students, a leaflet for parents, career route maps and a resource pack for teachers. They are a great resource for careers events, STEM clubs and for STEM activity sessions. For more information visit the Tomorrow's Engineers website: www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk/resources.cfm or contact contactus@tomorrowsengineers.org.uk.

Tomorrow's Engineers parents' guide

A parents' guide to engineering careers is now available. This is the latest in the suite of free Tomorrow's Engineers careers resources, developed collaboratively with the IMechE, ICE, IET, IOP and Royal Academy of Engineering.

Classroom Medic Career Finder App

The app tells you what the job entails, what qualifications in school are needed and where to find more info with direct links to the NHS Careers website. It is completely FREE to download and is a quick and easy way to discover the 45 careers in Health Care Science. There is a film to accompany each career. For more information contact tom@classroommedics.co.uk.

The Institute of Physics career videos

The IoP and National HE STEM Programme have produced a series of short careers video clips to illustrate the breadth of options available to those who study physics at A-Level and beyond. Each clip is 5 – 8 minutes long, designed to appeal to 14-16 year olds, and is linked to the GCSE curriculum. More… www.iop.org/hestem/careerclips.

Plus website – maths careers information

A new maths careers section on the Plus website bringing you all you need to know about the wide range of careers that use mathematics – from avalanche research and planning the Olympics to designing computer games or saving lives in developing countries. The section gives you easy access to career profiles and in-depth career interviews, as well as advice from employers and useful information on how to enter a career with maths. More… http://plus.maths.org/content/Career.

Science, Engineering and Technology for the New Generation

If you want to inspire your students to study STEM subjects, remember this brand new interactive website www.gradcracker.com. Your pupils can find information and news about STEM subjects, industry sectors, apprenticeships, colleges, universities and leading employers. There are free iPhone apps to download, there is a video collection (goTV) and they can access hundreds of web resources dedicated to STEM.

Visit the 'For Teachers' section where you can find links to great teaching resources, fun days out and forthcoming local STEM events. Order free pocket cards to give out to your students and A3 posters to brighten up your classroom!

Gocracker has also launched a monthly competition for schools – 'The Gocracker Champion School'. To enter all you need to do is encourage as many of your students to register on gocracker.com and you could win the Champion School Trophy engraved with your school name and the month and year you have won.

Army in Education STEM Careers Presentation

A suite of FREE materials for students aged 14-16 from Army in Education which focuses on the importance of STEM across a variety of careers. More here – they also offer a presentation by an army careers advisor.

WISE on the Web careers resources for girls

A new web area for WISE has been launched on the UKRC website – www.theukrc.org/wise. The WISE pages have exciting role models, access to networks and newsletters, interactive resources on apprenticeships, and a wealth of information for girls, teachers, parents – and women at all career stages in STEM.

Chilled Education – inspirational career ideas

Chilled Education provides imaginative resources and inspirational career ideas for science teaching. Whether you're a student, teacher or already in the industry this site has something for you, including information on chilled careers, free bespoke teaching resources and information on the UK chilled food manufacturing industry.

Resources available from the British Science Association

Here at BSA we are  working on new and exciting resources for you and your students to get stuck into. And as always, all of our resources are free to access via our CREST resource library.

For older students, why not dive into the topics of Ageing Society, AI and Data, Clean Growth and Future of Mobility? We have packs of resources on all these topics at all levels.

From designing a wind turbine, to designing an accessible messaging service, there are loads of project ideas for young people to develop new and exciting ideas.

Details here.

OurFuture.Energy

OurFuture.Energy is the place for teachers to find all the energy themed resources you'll need for your classroom. The website features an ever growing bank of curriculum-aligned resource materials for schools in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It's also brilliant for 11 to 16 year olds to use when studying for homework or exams.

To get the latest updates delivered straight to your inbox, sign-up for the OurFuture.Energy newsletter!

More details here.

Oxfam Education

Oxfam Education offers a huge range of ideas, resources and support for developing global learning in the classroom and the whole school. All of the resources here support Education for Global Citizenship – education that helps pupils understand their world and make a positive difference in it.

Some suggestions to get you started:

Back to School with Global Citizenship - Global citizenship is all about encouraging young people to develop the knowledge, skills and values they need to engage with the world. Ideal for use at the start of the academic year, school term or a new topic, the following activities support learners aged 7 to 14 to develop some of the key elements of responsible global citizenship: to ask questions, make connections, and explore viewpoints and values.

Climate Change Quiz - Climate change is the single greatest threat to the progress which has been made to end poverty. It will most profoundly affect the world's poorest people who are less able to deal with shocks and have contributed least to the changing climate. This quiz can help your learners explore the causes and effects of climate change. It will also encourage them to think about how the impacts can be mitigated and adapted to.

Main website here.

Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project

The Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project (@BlackSeaMAP) was a three-year interdisciplinary expedition researching ancient coastlines and seafaring history of the Bulgarian Black Sea which included the discovery of the world’s oldest, intact shipwreck.

Free resources now available for teachers, community groups and archaeology communicators to inspire pupils with real-world STEM and introduce them to careers they may not realise exist.

Meet the individuals and teams working on the project, see STEM skills and technologies in action and experience the challenges of solving problems at sea to uncover the past.

Find out more about our short films, classroom and club activities, career profiles and posters.

More details here.

STEM Projects Activity Boxes

The STEM Projects boxes have 28 unique STEM project cards in each box, one for each of the four learning strategies: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Physical Sciences. Designed for group or individual use, the project cards give the pupils guidance in how to research, prepare the materials and then carry out the project. Suitable for different age groups

Please contact See Science to request to borrow a box or if you wish to purchase please contact (davidc@prim-ed.com) or telephone 020 3773 9620.

More details here.

RMS Microscope Activity Kits

The Microscope Activity Kit Scheme is completely free for all UK Primary Schools.

A Kit can be borrowed for an entire term and contains enough microscopes and resources for a whole class of children! 

With 6 curriculum-mapped activities spanning both Key Stage 1 and 2, there are plenty of ways to bring microscopy to your classroom. You can even use the microscopes in your own science lessons, maybe you could take them on a minibeast hunt, or find out what's living in your pond!

We organise the delivery and collection of the Kits, all we ask is that you let us know how you got on!

Details here.

The National Marine Aquarium’s School Outreach Programme

The National Marine Aquarium’s School Outreach programme is currently available in South Wales for Primary and Secondary Schools. Our very own Marine Biologist will travel to your school for a full day of workshops, bringing the wonders of the ocean and an exciting experience which your pupils will remember forever. Using our Virtual Reality headsets, pupils get to explore underwater as they are fully immersed in a unique and exciting deep-sea learning experience! As well as VR, we also have a range of marine artefacts that allow pupils to get hands-on with creatures from our oceans. Our workshops and activities are thematic, objective-led learning opportunities interwoven with cross-curricular links. All our sessions have been designed by teachers to reflect and complement the National Curriculum.

If your school are passionate about marine conservation and providing pupils with unforgettable learning experiences, then get in contact with our team for more details!

Hotspots of Science in Wales

Hotspots of Science in Wales looks to discover and explain interesting  real world science from 30 themed locations all around Wales covering Physics, Chemistry and Biology for GCSE to A-Level students.
With video, interactives, activity tasks, teachers notes and downloadable worksheets, Hotspots of Science in Wales takes science from the classroom to the great outdoors.

More details here.

Experiments on Film

This video based resource focuses on the core and compulsory practical exercises as highlighted in the WJEC's new specifications for AS and A level Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The library of 80+ videos aims to help learners to strengthen their practical skills in preparation for written examination papers and to create their 'laboratory book' as required in the new courses. The resource is designed to be used for independent learning and revision as well as in the classroom to help teachers support learners' practical skills.

More details here.

Arctic Live

Arctic Live is the northernmost live education stream from the UK Arctic Research Station in Svalbard, at 79 degrees north.

Use the Frozen Oceans resources with your class. The event is underpinned by standards-aligned learning resources for science and geography classrooms covering core curriculum areas.

Download additional resources for educators of ages 5-7.

Chilled Education – cool free lesson plans and much more

Chilled Education provides imaginative resources and inspirational career ideas for science teaching. From free bespoke lesson plans (for KS 2-4) to innovative practical resources the initiative uses food as a classroom resource. Its ultimate aim is to harness students’ interest in science to set them on a wide range of rewarding careers in the chilled food production sector. Find out more and download the plans here.

Groundwork North Wales

Groundwork North Wales have a wide range of programmes produced by qualified teachers and practitioners using modern teaching strategies to include and challenge all learners, inspiring them through a holistic and participatory approach to discovery and engagement.

All programme content is diverse and cross-curricular with an emphasis on Environmental Science, Biology, Geography, Maths and English.

Programmes include Energy Agents, Body Works +, Celts, Forest School, Waste Warriors and Homes & Habitats. these can be delivered on-site at our Wrexham Base, as half days at your school (from £130 for a single group up to 35 pupils) or as full days at your school (from £255 per single group or 2 x single groups repeated)

All programmes support the ‘Eco School’ and ESDGC ethos designed for sustainable progress and development, which allows the whole school to grow and develop both, educationally and as a community.

More here – contact Education@groundworknorthwales.co.uk or 01978 757524.

IRIS – Institute of Research in Schools

Young people and their teachers lack opportunities to make valuable, recognised contributions to the scientific community, as the current education system does not offer students and teachers the experiences that are necessary to participate in authentic STEM research while at school.

The IRIS mission is three-fold:

• To increase the number of young people and teachers who engage with STEM research at school in a way that raises aspiration, participation and attainment so that more young people, especially those from disadvantaged groups, continue with careers in STEM
• To enable teachers to be connected as key partners in STEM research and so retain them in the profession
• To contribute new ideas and approaches to tackling global challenges including anti-microbial resistance, climate change, energy production, engineering and materials science

IRIS makes cutting edge research projects open to school students and their teachers so that they can experience the excitement and challenge of science. We do this by making data accessible to schools, providing teacher training and resources, and by lending out scientific research equipment. For example, we recently launched the Genome Decoders project with the Wellcome Genome Campus, where students annotate a human whipworm genome.

You can view a summary video here.

RAF100 centenary project: free STEM materials, pupil workshops and CPD for teachers and techs

The RAF100 website offers free STEM activities written by the IoP and historical material, including short videos, from the Historical Association. You can sign up for access to our programme of events, which will be held around the UK during 2018, and enter your pupils for competitions.

Universe in the Classroom’s Space Education Resources

Universe in the Classroom now offer all its classroom activity guides in both English and Welsh.

Universe in the Classroom works with a higher percentage of Welsh medium schools than the national average, with 22% of our partner schools being Welsh medium. Therefore, the provision of Welsh language materials is a priority.

We now offer all but one of our resources in Welsh language. This includes a selection of printable activity booklets, cut-out models and classroom activity guides.

English and Welsh education materials here. Printed resources here. Teacher activity guides here.

FREE Principia Space Diaries & Resources: be like Tim Peake!

The Principia Space Diary is back. Once again thousands of school children have the chance to become space experts as they learn about British European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake’s historic space mission.

The Space Diary programme aims to empower children and engage them in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) learning by giving them the chance to create and personalise their very own book while they follow Tim’s mission.

All lesson plans are differentiated for P1-5 (KS1 and KS2) for teachers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and extension activities provide extra challenges for those who need them. Download the first chapter of the Principia Space Diary here.

Is There Anyone Out There?

This resource is based on the quest to discover more about the solar system through space projects such as the European Space Agency’s Aurora programme, and NASA’s Curiosity mission seeking to gather evidence of life on the planet Mars. It is funded by the UK Space Agency and developed by ESERO-UK and CIEC Promoting Science. Students take on the role of space scientists or space engineers to discover more about Mars. The activities in this resource are designed for students aged 9-12 years. Read more…

The BP Educational Service (BPES)

The BP Educational Service (BPES) provides inspiring and engaging resources to support the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. We provide real-world examples, challenges and information using videos, interactive activities, worksheets and much more.

The resources are developed with the help of teachers and educational specialists and are FREE for teachers and parents of 4-19 year olds. They are curriculum linked and reflect our focus on energy, environment, leadership and business skills within the key curriculum areas of Science, Geography, Citizenship and PSHE/PSE/PSD, Literacy, Business Studies, Design and Technology, Engineering and Enterprise. For more information contact bpes@bp.com

Teachers’ Club Science

Teachers’ Club Science is a new website where science teachers can get resources including videos, lesson plans, TV listings, scientific biographies, homework activities and more. All resources are free and new items will be added every month.

Host company Smart Learning’s aim is to create exceptional resources that are flexible enough for teachers to use in a variety of ways, yet when time is short provide enough support to save time!

These are some examples of the resources on offer:

• Find out more about what happens when science goes wrong with this resource on Genetic Mutation
• This useful video explains DNA to KS3 students
• This free worksheet contains questions about DNA which are based on the model used in the Smart Science series.

Free supplies to run your school science classes!

VWR International enables science by supplying critical products to the world’s top companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech, industrial, educational, governmental and healthcare industries. We supply an expansive choice of premiere products, such as chemicals, furniture, equipment, instruments, apparel and consumables, from a vast group of leading scientific manufacturers.

VWR UK hold a list of extensive stock items which are surplus to requirements and we would like to offer your school the opportunity to view this list and request items which you think would assist your school science – free of charge (there will be a standard delivery charge).

This is the first time VWR have undertaken this venture, and as we do not know what response we will get we would like to trial this for a period of one month. The first 50 schools to respond will be dealt with on a first come, first served basis.

If you would like a copy of the current list please contact Corporate Social Responsibility at csr@uk.vwr.com.

Citizen Science project – Worm Watch Lab

The Zooniverse have launched a new Citizen Science project, which may be of interest to schools. The Worm Watch Lab asks contributors to watch and wait for a wriggling worm to lay eggs, and hit the ‘z’ key when they do. It’s very simple and strangely addictive. By watching these worms lay eggs, the contributors help to collect valuable data about genetics that will assist medical research.

You can find out more and get involved here. Please forward to any of your contacts and networks who you think might be interested in participating.

Charles Darwin Trust

The website www.charlesdarwintrust.org contains resources for teachers including lesson ideas, images, interactives and videos and resources. Enquire with Darwin is a fantastic new suite of resources for KS2 and 3 science which supports science enquiry and learning outside the classroom.

e-Bug

The e-Bug school resource is an exciting, fun, FREE educational resource on microbes, hygiene and the spread of disease. It contains detailed lesson plans, a bank of resources including images, presentations, games, quizzes fact files and much more… Resources are tailored to primary and secondary students. More at www.e-bug.eu/eng_home.aspx?ss=1&cc=eng&t=Welcome to e-Bug.

The EdComs Teachers website

The EdComs Teachers website offers free, high quality resources and ideas for lessons across a full range of subject areas for both primary and secondary schools. All the free resources are produced in collaboration with teachers and linked to the UK curricula.

Register here.

In the Zone

In the Zone is a London 2012 education and engagement initiative run by the Wellcome Trust. All UK schools have received an investigation kit to explore the vast capabilities of the human body. There is a complementary interactive exhibition touring the UK as well as an engaging laboratory experience visiting local festivals and events across the UK. More… www.getinthezone.org.uk.

LabAid

Donate unwanted science equipment to schools and colleges in the developing world. Every year LabAid sends tonnes of perfectly good, useful apparatus which would otherwise be destroyed to countries in Africa, Asia and Central America. For more details go to www.labaid.org or email labaidtrust@labaid.org.

Science Museum online games

Futurecade is a suite of four online games, Bacto-Lab, Space Junker, Cloud Control and Robo-Lobster, which engage students with current and future applications of science through gameplay and powerful questions. Intended to provoke discussion rather than teach the science, the games are supported by teachers’ notes giving top tips for using Futurecade in the classroom. More here.

Classroom Resources from the Science Museum

The Science Museum provides a range of classroom resources that are free or sponsored. They can be used at school, at home or in after school clubs. More here .

Suntreck – Take a journey into space and find out more about the Sun and its effect on the Earth…

This interactive website has a wide range of classroom resources, school projects and ideas for space activities. More here.

CREST Wales resources

CREST Wales resources developed with funding from the Welsh Government through the National Science Academy. These resources are for teacher of KS3 pupils to run Discovery CREST Awards. www.britishscienceassociation.org/new-welsh-resources.

The Royal Microscopical Society Microscope Activity Kit

Everything that you need to deliver exciting activities linked to the National Curriculum. The scheme is completely FREE!

Many schools have microscopes, but with so many constraints on time and resources it can be a challenge to plan lessons that use them effectively. We have worked with teachers to develop ideas for lessons and activities, and we have collected the resources necessary so that you can deliver them with confidence. Everything is contained within the Activity Kit. Primary schools can borrow the Kit for up to a term free of charge, it contains eight microscopes, a digital camera, activity worksheets and samples.

All we ask for in return is that you let us know how you used them. To book a Kit fill in our online request form. If you have any other queries contact Kate Wooding kate@rms.org.uk / 01865 254761.

ARKive

A unique online collection of the very best films and photographs of over 15,000 of the world’s wildlife, providing a stunning audio-visual record of life on Earth, freely accessible to all at www.arkive.org.

Curriculum-linked FREE educational resources which can be found on the education section of ARKive: www.arkive.org/education/resources arranged by age category (5-7, 7-11, 11-14, 14-16 and 16-18 years) which include teachers’ notes, classroom presentations and activities arranged by age group. Suitable for 5 to 18 year olds. They cover a range of key science and biology subjects including: adaptation, endangered species, food chains, Darwin and natural selection, classification, identification, conservation and biodiversity.

‘Survival’: a free quick-fire mobile game to raise awareness about the world’s most endangered animals

Immersive, interactive and educational, ‘Survival’ is a great way to encourage children’s curiosity for the natural world. At home, in the classroom or on-the-go, kids and adults alike will have a whale of a time as they race against the clock to tap, pinch, drag, scroll and swipe their way through a series of mini-games whilst learning about the world’s endangered species. Explore ‘Survival’ at www.arkive.org/apps/survival.

Woodland Trust

This is a good website with activities and competitions.

• Suitable for children under 13.
• Join the nature detectives CLUB – only £18 for a whole year of adventures
• 350+ activities – get weekly wildlife challenges, a giant wall chart and stickers, plus activity packs in the post – perfect for inquisitive young explorers.

More… www.naturedetectives.org.uk/club/

Adventures at Sea

Adventures at Sea is a fun, free online resource is designed to raise aspirations while introducing children to the Merchant Navy. It revolves around eight core STEM activities that require children to design, build, launch, load and propel their ships. Each of the activities are supplemented with a short video which brings the maritime industry to life. Aimed at years 5/6, this is suitable for classroom activities and STEM/science clubs, and includes a downloadable teacher’s guide.

Funded by the Maritime Educational Foundation.

Paxi animations

These short animations of Paxi, a friendly alien explores are a great way of introducing children to the Solar System, comets and finding evidence for life on Mars. More here.

Mission X: train like an astronaut

Carry out PE and science challenges to learn about keeping healthy in the context of space exploration.

Mission X uses the excitement of space exploration to inspire students to learn more about nutrition, exercise, science and space exploration. Schools who register for the challenge will receive invitations to a range of additional space outreach activities.

The activities in this resource are designed for students aged 8 -14 but can be adapted to older and younger age groups. They can also be used for afterschool clubs and informal learning events. Read more…

The Crunch

The Crunch, created by the Wellcome Trust, aims to get children thinking about how our food, our health and our planet are all interconnected. Examining our relationships with food, and exploring cutting edge research, so that we can eat in ways that can keep our planet and ourselves healthy.

There are curriculum linked activities for children of all ages and plays which can be performed in school and which explore many issues around food security, sustainability and healthy eating.

Dig into The Crunch kits with your class this term. The kits have amazing resources for every age group to explore the links between our food our health and our planet. You will also find the resources and plays for 4-11 year olds which have been translated into Welsh.

Read more…

Wellcome Trust Explorify

Explorify is a free new programme by the Wellcome Trust for primary school teachers that sparks pupils’ curiosity and develops their thinking skills. It’s free to use, requires very little preparation, and is easy to slot into your everyday timetable.

The programme is open to all teachers of primary school pupils aged 5-11. There are over 50 activities as part of structured programme stages.

The Wellcome Trust has created high-quality activities with images, video and other materials to stimulate curiosity, discussion and debate about the world around us.

Explorify helps teachers to encourage questioning, observation, comparing, wondering and discovery. It can stretch what pupils think about science – that it is more than just potions and explosions.

Thinking this way means that everyone can get involved. There are no wrong answers. Every answer is another step along the way to greater understanding.

Children can be really inspired by science and Explorify provides an excellent platform to teach it regularly. Most importantly, this programme helps children to explore the many traits of being a scientist.

Find out more about Explorify here…

Bee Scene

Discover whether your local green space is good for bees or not by downloading the new resources here. This resource can help promote an understanding of the interdependence between bumblebees and wildflowers and support the development of observational skills and the use of keys.

Energy Chest

A treasure-trove of information and activities to support energy studies in UK schools. Energy Chest has been developed for pupils aged 8-14 years and is divided into three modules: Energy in Buildings, Energy and the Environment, Energy Sources. More… www.energychest.net/.

Energy Home

Do you know what energy is and what uses energy? What do you think a day without energy would be like? Explore the E.ON Energy Home by clicking on the rooms. More here.

Microscopes for Schools

A new website to support microscopy in primary schools funded and run by the Medical Research Council and Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine. More… www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/microscopes4schools/index.php.

Primary Upd8: Free Darwin 200 resources

As part of the Darwin 200 celebrations, ASE’s Primary upd8 team are providing free Primary upd8 activities for primary school pupils. The Evolution Megalab and Primary upd8 Darwin 200 resources are available on the Primary ipd8 website www.primaryupd8.org.uk.

Catalyst Magazine

Catalyst Magazine is published termly and is aimed at students aged 14-19.

It’s packed full of interesting articles on cutting-edge science, interviews and research written by leading academics.

Find out here how you can subscribe today.

Oxford University Press resources

Oxford University Press have create a range of free posters, available here.

Most are for KS3 but there is a graphs poster for A Level (scroll down to ‘Free Post-16 science resources’) and more GCSE ones will be available in September and through the next school year.

Society of Cosmetic Scientists – Resources for 11-14s

Resources for teachers and KS3 lesson plans, worksheets and an interactive online bath bomb experiment. Teachers notes are also included. Information and downloads here.

Copper Development Association

The Copper Development Association supports education through a collection of online resources spanning Biology, Chemistry and Physics. These FREE materials have been developed in conjunction with, and reviewed by teachers.

The table on this resource page presents a wide range of subjects. matched to secondary age ranges – although most of the linked pages and downloads have valuable information for all age ranges. Each page has a set of questions and a link to an answers page.

If you have any comments or queries on any aspect of our education resources, please email cda@copperalliance.org.uk.

Medicine Makers

The Biochemical Society and the British Pharmacological Society have produced an interactive outreach activity about drug-target interactions called Medicine Makers. The guidance and instruction notes can be downloaded FREE here.

The Crunch WellcomeTrust

The Crunch kit is packed full of scientific equipment, lesson notes and practical activities for every age group to help you and your students explore the links between our food, our health and our planet. From finding out what a chocolate biscuit and an orangutan have in common, to encoding green fluorescent protein, the kits have everything you need to use practical science to explore some of the most important problems we face today.

There'll also be loads of online resources to help you bring The Crunch to your students, with videos, cross-curricular resources and specially commissioned plays.

Watch how The Crunch activities have been used by teachers, students, young people and The Crunch Ambassadors. Discover what you can do with the free resources both inside and outside of the classroom.

Sense About Science: Ask for Evidence campaign

Sense About Science is launching a lesson plan and resources to give 13-16 year olds the opportunity to explore whether what they see, read, and hear is true, using evidence as the gold standard to evaluate claims. It’s free to download here.

Resources from BPES

Free video resource on light waves, lenses and photosensitive material for 11-14s

What happens to light when it passes through a lens? Take a trip to the Tate Liverpool and find out how photography works with the science behind photography video. If you want to go further, see how you can build your own pinhole camera , step by step. The videos have been designed to give the Light Waves content on the new curriculum a relevant real-world context.

Learn about polymer production and properties in the real world – free video and animations for 12 to 16s

The Polymer Production and Plastics video will help students understand why alkenes are useful for making plastics. The follow-up Polymer Properties animation will then show students how plastics with different properties are manufactured through the polymerisation of alkenes. Watch the video and animations here.

Free Motion and Forces video for 11-14s

How does an aircraft fly? This Motion and Forces video will help students to learn about the different forces – lift, weight, drag and thrust – which help keep planes up in the air.

Resources to support practical work at A level in Wales

The Society of Biology with the support of the Nuffield Foundation, Science and Plants for Schools, British Ecological Society, Biochemical Society, Field Studies Council, Society for General Microbiology and the Wellcome Trust have put together a document to highlight resources to support practical work at A level in Wales.

URENCO Richie Lecture

URENCO, in partnership with the British Science Association, invited students in year 7 and 8 to the first Richie Lecture “Powering our Future Planet”. Sir David King, the UK Government’s Special Representative for Climate Change gave a speech introducing the school children to the topics of energy usage and sustainability. Watch the video highlights here.

ESA teaching films

ESA Education has released five new teaching films, aimed at an international A Level student audience or equivalent. These were written and presented by the National Space Academy with graphics produced by ESA.

The themes are:

• ATV1 Jules Verne – gravity, ballistics, gravity, multistage rocketry
• ATV-2 Johannes Kepler – orbits, Kepler’s Laws, simplified orbital mechanics, orbital reboost of ISS
• ATV-3 Edoardo Amaldi – cosmic rays, solar weather and challenges of operating ATV in the space environment
• ATV-4 Albert Einstein – special relativity, general relativity, time dilation, GPS and relativity
• ATV-5 Georges Lemaitre – Doppler effect, spectroscopy, the expansion of the Universe, dark energy

The films are available here.

Brain: the inside story

A free interactive online resource on the brain and nervous system aligned to A2-level biology exam specifications, including:

• Brain structure
• Brain functions
• Homeostasis
• Synapses
• The nervous system
• Brain chemicals

The site will be finalised for launch later this year – in the meantine you can preview it and register for updates here. The site:

• Has been reviewed by teachers and tested by students
• Is curriculum linked
• Is relevant for all major exam boards
• Includes teaching resources and revision tools

This resource is being developed by Parkinson’s UK to help raise awareness of Parkinson’s and other conditions affecting the brain.

Inspiring Science Education

The Cardiff University School of Physics and Astronomy is proud to be a partner in the Inspiring Science Education (ISE) programme. Inspiring Science Education aims to motivate and stimulate teachers to attract youngsters to the world of scientific discoveries, natural and scientific phenomena and much more by providing them with access to the latest, interactive tools and digital resources within their classrooms.

As the UK National Coordinator of Inspiring Science. we will be disseminating educational resources and learning scenarios which encourage inquiry-based learning. The resources are being developed by us and partners from across Europe, and will be made available through a web-based portal.

You can find out more about the project on our website or by contacting us at ise@astro.cf.ac.uk.

To see what’s currently on offer have a look at our Educational Resources web page here at the School of Physics and Astronomy. Teachers who participate will also get a copy of Logger Pro, a data analysis and collection suite, for free (retail value: around £260). This software is available to teachers who we meet at one of our events (such as the one on 16th July – see below). We can also arrange for regional meetings if enough teachers will be present, and there will be webinars to support teachers as well. If you would like to investigate organising a more local meeting, please get in touch at ise@astro.cf.ac.uk.

The participation process for Inspiring Science is relatively brief. There is a sign-up form to register your interest, following The next two steps are for each school to complete an e-Maturity questionnaire and an Action Plan. We can assist with those – details are here.

Discover Materials with IOM3

The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) Schools Affiliate Scheme (SAS) aims to provide support and resources which enrich the teaching of the materials topics in the 11 to 19 curriculum, provide teachers with the knowledge and understanding necessary to teach these areas with confidence and enthusiasm and provide links to members, organisations and universities that can provide additional support.

Standard membership of the scheme is free and gives teachers access to a wide range of resources through the SAS website. These include newsletters, support literature, magazines and journals, presentations, links to the Institute’s network of local societies and access to the Materials Information Service.

Members also have access to additional resources such as curriculum-related materials sessions in school, Materials Discovery Boxes or attending a conference for teachers, which incur a small charge.

The resources produced for members are appropriate to the materials topics featured in the science and D&T curricula from Key Stage 3 upwards and we are always open for suggestions for new resources that would improve your materials teaching.

To find out more about the Schools Affiliate Scheme please visit www.iom3.org/sas or contact Dr Diane Aston, diane.aston@iom3.org or 01476 513882.

CREST Discovery Award

Focus on fun, teamwork and transferable skills. They are typically completed by 11-14 year olds in 5 hours (usually in one day). Often whole year groups or classes do the awards together.

Want to get started straight away? Why not try the brand new Community Garden Challenge – downloadable pack and introduction video to get started with this new activity from the National Science & Engineering Week team.

For more information about the CREST Discovery Award, click here

CREST Discovery has also already linked with a number of partner schemes, including the IET Faraday Challenge Days and London Transport Museum’s Inspire Engineering days. Find out more about these new links here.

CREST resources from MP Futures – quarrying, pyramid designing, modular clinics and much more

Ideal for the summer term, these resources get students to debate the origins of pyramids, how they were made and design a modern day pyramid! Find out how quarrying, mineral products and mining impact everyday life and relate to the STEM curriculum.

The resources link with CREST Discovery, Bronze and Silver awards, and include Powerpoints, teacher guidance and student packs.

More details here.

Debate kits from I’m a Scientist - Get me out of here

I'm a Scientist have released their latest debate kit for student, this time the topic is global food security, sustainability and making sure people around the world have access to a healthy balanced diet. The kits can be used to develop students’ debating and discussion skills around difficult issues, and encourage them to consider problems from a range of different aspects.

Find out more and about all the other debate kits here.

GSK Scientists in Sport

GSK's Scientists in Sport programme aims to inspire 11-14 year olds to think differently about science, using sport to show how exciting it can be. The programme provides teachers with resources including interactive activities, lesson plans, lab ideas and worksheets, to help bring science to life in the classroom. More… www.scientistsinsport.com

Enough food for everyone if?

The new IF resources are designed to help pupils get to grips with some of the key issues connected to food and hunger, and learn about the impact on real people’s lives. Pupils are encouraged to think critically about the challenges we face in tackling global hunger, and to come up with their own ideas and solutions. More…

BioNet

The Society of Biology has launched a new grade of membership for 14-19 year-olds which aims to bridge the gap between the classroom and ‘real world’ biology. School and college students can join for just £5 per year. Membership will give them access to a great range of services, including an online subscription to The Biologist magazine. More… www.societyofbiology.org/membership/bionet.

Futurecade

Futurecade is an innovative online suite of games that allows students to explore how science and technology impacts on their everyday lives. Futurecade’s four games – Bacto-Lab, Robo-Lobster, Cloud Control and Space Junker – are based on scientific research happening today. Use them as a stimulus to engage your students in a fun, interactive way, and get them thinking about how technology might impact on their future. More… www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/futurecadelearning.

Institute of Physics STEM Club pack

The IOP STEM Club pack is available for download at: www.iop.org/education/teacher/extra_resources/stem/page_41714.html.

Nuffield Council on Bioethics – biofuels teaching resources

Based on the Council’s report, ‘Biofuels: ethical issues’, which was published earlier this year, these resources aim to help students consider the advantages and disadvantages of different types of biofuels that are being produced or may be produced in future as renewable sources of energy for transport.

The activities include case studies and a role-play exercise to help explore the various motivations that are driving the biofuels industry in different countries, and the possible impact that biofuels can have on people’s everyday lives. It’s all free to download at www.nuffieldbioethics.org/education/education-teaching-resource-biofuels.

Practical Biofuels Activities

An extensive practical biofuel activities for school engagement and outreach has been developed by BBSRC that enable researchers and teachers to engage young people with the science and issues surrounding bioenergy and biofuels. The resources provide general introductions to biofuels and practical activities with further information and supporting powerpoints to help in the delivery of the activities. More… www.bbsrc.ac.uk/society/schools/practical-biofuel-activities.aspx.

Learn Chemistry Partnership

More than 1,300 schools have signed up for the Learn Chemistry Partnership this year. By registering they hear about new resources via the monthly e-newsletter, get print copies of Education in Chemistry and The Mole student magazine, and complimentary Royal Society of Chemistry membership.

The Royal Society of Chemistry ‘Chemistry in the Olympics’ website and global experiment

The global experiment will test the effects of sports drinks on athletic performance. Alistair Brownlee, twice world champion triathlete and former chemistry student, introduces our global experiment site and talks about the role chemistry played in his own education and how chemistry is vital to his sport. More… www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/collections/sport.

The Royal Society of Chemistry – Spectroscopy in a Suitcase

The RSC’s Spectroscopy in a Suitcase scheme is an outreach activity that gives school students the chance to learn about spectroscopy through hands-on experience. As well as covering the principles of spectroscopic techniques, the activities use real-life contexts to demonstrate the applications of the techniques.

Delivered by university students, the events have a strong emphasis on encouraging school pupils to consider studying chemistry and the career opportunities available.

For more information about the scheme and to book a visit, please visit: www.rsc.org/sias or email the RSC Regional Coordinator for Wales, Dayna Mason: masondn@cardiff.ac.uk.

Solar System that could be used with Android devices

You can access them from this blog post http://alessiobernardelli.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/the-virtual-sky-android-apps-for-the-physics-teacher/. Please leave a comment on the blog.

Virtual Experiments – online Physics experiments

Virtual Experiments have been developed at the University of Reading for students at GSCE-level and above. These virtual experiments are recorded versions of real experiments. They enable students to carry out experiments online. Most of the experiments have basic interactive prompts to explain the equipment and which buttons to press. Students feel in control of the experiment, choosing different variables and collecting different measurements in whatever order they choose.

Some of the videos also have simple scripts and worksheets for teachers, although these will need to be targeted at the appropriate level for your students. The videos are high quality and the instructions are clear. It’s a great website for demonstrating and discussing the experiments you are unable to carry out in the classroom.

Topics include reflection, rates of growth and photosynthesis, resistors, Hooke’s law and many more. More… www.reading.ac.uk/virtualexperiments/index.html.

The Virtual School: calling all physicists!

The Virtual School’s vision is to create an innovative, FREE education resource that reaches learners all over the world. To help us achieve this we need the support of passionate physics teachers! More information at http://thevirtualschool.com.

Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute – new schools resource on malaria

Malaria challenge is a free multimedia educational resource for 14-18 year old students and their teachers. The aim of the resource is to raise awareness of malaria by exploring the different stages of the Plasmodium lifecycle and discussing methods for treating and preventing the disease. The resource contains 3D animations, scientific images and videos of the parasite as well as interviews with world leading malaria researchers.

Teachers can download the resource for free from www.yourgenome.org/teachers/malariachallenge.shtml but there are also free CDs of Malaria Challenge that that can be sent out to teachers across the UK. If a teacher would like a free CD of Malaria Challenge they can be requested be email at pubengage@sanger.ac.uk with their name and school address. This offer will operate on a first come first serve basis.

Hunt for the elusive Higgs Boson using their iPhone or Android device! NEW

The App designed by physicists at the University of Oxford, Collider, allows users to search for the Higgs Boson particle using real data direct from the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. The App also includes games – and a successful identification of the Higgs can be shared to Facebook. More information can be found at http://collider.physics.ox.ac.uk/.

Nobelprize.org

You don't have to be a genius to understand the work of the Nobel Laureates. These games and simulations, based on Nobel Prize-awarded achievements, will teach and inspire you while you're having FUN! More information at www.nobelprize.org/educational.

BBC Super Movers - Active Times Tables and more!

Super Movers is an exciting partnership between the Premier League and BBC which aims to inspire primary school children to get active.

Stars from across the worlds of football and television are brought together in fun curriculum-linked Brain Booster song and movement routines for use by teachers in the classroom. Routines focus on Literacy and Numeracy and range from fractions to punctuation to times tables. Active children do better and get more from their school day.

Super Movers can also be used at home with our range of Just for Fun videos and games designed to get children and grown-ups moving together in their living rooms.

Super Mover schools can benefit from great football-inspired incentives like a visit from the Premier League trophy, or Scottish Professional Football League Premiership Trophy if you are in Scotland. Find out how to enter your school for the monthly prize draw.

The Times Tables videos are available in English and Welsh.

Join the Super Movement!

2050 debating toolkit

2050 debating toolkit has now been launched by the DECC to support the 2050 simulation tool. It includes resources for activities and workshops – example lesson plans, curriculum links (including some interesting maths ideas linked to sustainability). For more details go to www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/tackling/2050/2050.aspx or contact david.pugh@g24i.com.

Brightonline

This website was created for schools to find maths resources online resources. More… www.brightonline.org.uk/Maths/index.html.

Junior Tax Facts

Junior Tax Facts explains to children, in very simple terms, what tax is and why it is needed – to provide the money to pay for the things that‎ are essential to them, their families, communities and society as a whole. The programme consists of a short animated video, available on YouTube, supported by a comprehensive teachers’ pack, with lesson plans and interactive exercises, available to view or download from the TES website. The video is also available on DVD – simply email hmrc.taxeducation@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and we will send out as many copies as are needed.

All the material, including DVDs, is available free of change.

Tax Facts

HMRC has produced an award-winning tax education programme for secondary school pupils age 14 to 17. Tax Facts was named ‘Best Free Educational Product of the Year’ in the 2016 Education Resources Awards. There are four YouTube Tax Facts, and the supporting teachers’ pack is also on the TES website.

For more information or to request the video on DVD email hmrc.taxeducation@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.

Bowlands Maths

19 case studies with cross-curricular themes and all you need to run the activities which would be short term projects. More… www.bowlandmaths.org.uk.

The NRICH maths website

There are loads of activities for all age groups… plus a link to their Maths and Sport website http://nrich.maths.org/public.

Help children think like an engineer with Bitz & Bob

Bitz & Bob is a new pre-school series on CBeebies which explores science and engineering through creative play. The ‘Rocket Rescue’ activity encourages children to think like an engineer by helping Bitz rescue a toy.

BT STEM Crew

BT STEM Crew is a new digital education programme for 11-16 year olds, brought to you by the 1851 Trust and Land Rover BAR, the British team challenging for the 35th America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport.

With BT STEM Crew, teachers and students can harness the power of the America’s Cup to bring STEM subjects to life through free films, worksheets and interactive quizzes. Explore the resources here.

James Dyson – JDF Resources Challenge Cards

These 44 STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) challenges will stretch your brain, get your hands on and help you to develop the skills you need to be a design engineer. More here.

IPolar Explorer programme

STEM Learning is running the new education programme focused on the ship and its remotely controlled autonomous underwater vehicle, Boaty McBoatface. More about the resources available for teachers here…

F1 in Schools

Any school participating in the F1 in Schools programme will get free Autodesk 3D CAD software for students and schools, which is worth many thousands of pounds. For more details go to www.engineeringinmotion.com or contact David Larkin – 0207 344 8444.

Food-a-fact of life

FREE resources about healthy eating, cooking, food and where food comes from. Provides stimulating learning and supports curricula throughout the UK. For more details go to www.foodafactoflife.org.uk.

James Dyson Engineering box

The Engineering Box is a reverse engineering kit that takes students through the design process by disassembling a Dyson machine – understanding how a machine works by taking it apart. It contains:

• 1 Dyson vacuum cleaner as a case study
• 7 Dyson turbine heads for disassembly
• 1 Dyson carbon fibre cleaner head as a case study
• 8 Torx screwdrivers
• Teacher’s Pack with instructions and curriculum
• Posters for the classroom

The Box and training materials are available to classrooms completely free of charge. The Box is loaned to a school for 4 weeks at a time. It’s ideally suited for students in Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 but can be adapted for any classroom. Request the Engineering Box here.

To infinity and beyond – Moonshots that are changing the world

If you are looking to get your students engaged in how design and technology can shape these global issues, the Wired Audi Innovation Awards are a great place to start. The awards showcase UK based moonshots, with each one demonstrating how both design and technology and STEM can make a difference to society. Read more…

Engaging in Engineering

Dr Emma Carter of the University of Sheffield has been making a series of films aimed to appeal to 9 to 14 year olds and the first 6 are now available via Vimeo (and Youtube) as an online resource.

Such as hydrogen fuel cell (use on their GCSE programmes) and 3D printing.

IET resources

Search the IET database of award-winning curriculum resources that use real engineering case studies. Download free resources here.

The Institute of Physics & Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)

Did you know that studying Physics or Engineering can lead to a huge variety of careers in medicine?

The Institute of Physics & Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) have produced three careers videos on the range of rewarding physics and engineering careers available at all levels in healthcare. They use first-hand accounts to show some of the many different roles, including direct work with patients, those in backroom positions that help ensure the safety and effectiveness of treatments, and researchers and developers who are improving treatments and equipment. Watch them on Future Morph.

TechFuture Girls

Online and offline bite-sized tech challenges in fun topics with badges for girls to collect, all free to use in club or classroom. More here.

Computer Science Education Resource Guide

SmartScholar's Computer Science Education Resource Guide provides a wealth of resources, including: general computer science resources, computer science study resources, learn to code resources, computer science podcasts, computer science blogs, major branches of computer science, major figures in computer science.

Micro:bit case study booklets

We asked three engineers to design a program for their micro:bit that would help them to carry out a task within their working environment or everyday life. The result is a case study booklet and video for each, highlighting the problem they were faced with; the micro:bit’s solution; a link to the real code on the micro:bit website; and a quiz to ensure your students have understood the code.

Download the booklets and bring the micro:bit to life in your classroom!

Apps for Good

Apps for Good is a linked scheme with CREST Awards; students will submit for CREST Bronze automatically through their apps for good forms.

• Open to UK primary and secondary schools, FE colleges
• Flexible course framework that can be delivered to students 10-18 within curriculum time, as a club or within timetabled enrichment
• Any level of teacher experience or subject knowledge
• Free for non-fee paying UK schools.

Techfuture Girls

TechFuture Girls (formerly CC4G) is the girls-only after-school club that has been exciting 9-14 year old girls about computing for 10 years. Thanks to HP and other supporters it’s now available FREE to all schools.

Go Beserk website design tutorials

Go Beserk have written a book which teaches both primary and secondary school children how to make their own websites, using HTML and CSS. As well as the book they have created an e-book version, an iPad app, Amelia Earhart’s Flight Code Challenge, and online code checker. Go Beserk were recently been chosen as the Talk Talk Digital Hero for Northern Ireland.

CS4FN – Computer Science for fun

Welcome to the fun side of computer science! Explore how computer science is also about people, solving puzzles, creativity, changing the future and, most of all, having fun. More… www.cs4fn.org