This activity introduces the idea of using family trees and symbols to represent the individuals in a family and identify who is affected by genetic conditions. Students can look at the family trees provided and discuss the different inheritance patterns for certain genes that cause genetic conditions (dominant,...

A Catalyst article about encountering the fossils of the bones or shells of individual animals embedded in sedimentary rocks. This article looks at some extraordinary fossils of plants and animals preserved together in an ecosystem - it is even possible to see the cells of which they were made. The article also...

This Catalyst article looks at the use of polymers in the manufacture of household items. The exciting thing about polymers is that it is possible to make polymers behave in so many different ways by organising their long chain molecules in different ways – polymers are the ultimate designer material. The article...

This booklet is part of the ‘Innovations in Practical Work’ series published by the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme (SEP). Plastics – or polymers as they are more correctly called – look set to be the material of the future. Think of any product and it is likely that it consists, at least in part, of a polymer...

Faraday Challenges are designed to promote team work, curiosity and raise the profile of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, so are particularly relevant as part of an enrichment and enhancement programme built into your curriculum.

This guide, from triple science support,...

In this Bowland assessment task, students decide the rate at which taxi fares are set. Students are provided with the price of diesel over the past eight years and use this data to decide what would be a fair price increase. Students are required to process the data to find a relationship between fuel costs and...

Farming & Countryside Education (FACE) aims to educate children and young people about food and farming in a sustainable countryside. FACE works with members and partners to promote visits to farms, and to provide easy access to a wide range of high-quality educational resources and activities to complement...

Scheduling jobs in a fashion workshop is the context for this Nuffield exploration. There are six people in the workshop and a series of jobs to be completed in one day.

The key processes which developed include:...

This activity requires students to investigate the mathematics behind fashion trends. The software contains an introductory short film that shows the CEO and Store Manager of a London boutique discussing how to be successful in running a fashion business. His...

This range of practical activities and resources provided by ASE is aimed to teach about plants and flowers in schools.Growing fast plants can provide rewarding results in a short time span and the ideas encourage all students to be involved with the activities....

This Mathematics Matters case study looks at how Formula One teams use mathematical methods such as fluid mechanics and Navier-Stokes equations to improve performance. Every second counts in the fast-paced world of Formula One, so race teams use advanced mathematics to squeeze the best performance out of their cars...

Fat is essential. In these articles we get to grips with the world of fats and lipids to find out what they do, not just inside us and other organisms but also understand our dependence on fats and relationship with the world around us.

A Catalyst article investigating a few of the uses of naturally occurring oils. These oils are extracted from animal fats or plant seeds and can be turned into a variety of compounds including soaps, fuel and margarine. The article looks at oils as fuels, their use in paint and detergents and problems with their...

This task is designed to assess how well students understand maximising a volume.

The task looks at designs for freight containers made using metal frames. For the first task, 60 metres of metal tubing is available and students must design a container in the shape of a cuboid that maximises the volume of the...