Produced by Solar Spark, this is a simple practical activity that can be used to show how a solar photovoltaic cell works. During a 45-60 minute session, students make solar cells out of cheap and readily accessible materials. The mechanism behind the solar cell is similar to that used in a dye-sensitised solar...

Produced by Solar Spark, this activity looks at the relationship between light and absorption in solar cells. Using a photovoltaic cell and different colour acetate sheets, it demonstrates the ability of solar cells to absorb at different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum and shows how the more it can...

Students investigate the generation of electricity by solar cells and how this can transform the lives of people without access to mains electricity.  The challenge is based on Practical Action's work in Gwanda, Zimbabwe.  

From NASA, Solar Energy for Space Exploration is a problem-based learning activity. The project requires students to propose and defend a design to provide power to a lunar or Martian research base for six astronauts. To prepare for the final project, students investigate the variables that affect the operation of...

This booklet is part of the ‘Innovations in Practical Work’ series published by the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme (SEP). Solar cells use light from the Sun to generate electricity, and it is now quite common to see solar-powered consumer devices. What has held...

This booklet is part of the ‘Innovations in Practical Work’ series published by the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme (SEP). Sound is an important part of our lives. Many people enjoy listening to music, and watching television would not be the same without sound. On...

A Year 11 module from the Salters’ Key Stage Four double award science course. The science content of this module covers electromagnetism, the inductive effect and the motor effect. These topics are developed in the context of recording and reproducing sound. Students begin by recording and playing back their own...

Four groups of practicals, produced by Institute of Physics (IOP), which help students to understand the properties of sound.

In addition to the guidance included for specific activities, please refer to the generic health and safety information before commencing any practical activity.

This resource...

Aimed at primary level, this pack contains twenty activities which explore the links between science and music. Linked to the topic of sound, the activities investigate: how vibrations travel through different materials, making instrument on which the notes may be changed, creating animal noises using voices and...

This resource describes how students can investigate the sugars in food and drink. Background information is provided about complex and simple carbohydrates.

In the first activity, students use clinistix to test for glucose. The second worksheet describes the use of Benedict's Reagent to test for reducing...

These resources from NASA look at why telescopes are put into space. Students build simple spectroscopes and telescopes to learn the answer to this question. This educator guide is divided into units of study that include science demonstrations, lesson plans and student sheets so that students may learn about Earth...

This resource, aimed at primary level, contains an activity which investigates how to detect starch in everyday foods using iodine. Linked to the topic of animals, including humans, it contains teachers' notes on how to run the activity, worksheet with answers and background knowledge.

This resource has been...

This Nuffield Working with Science unit was designed to give the student the opportunity to work scientifically and to acquire some of the positive attitudes associated with informed opinions and the use of objective argument based on evidence. It was also hoped that...

A Year 11 module from the Salters’ Key Stage Four double award science course. The context for this module is the use of scientific ideas to explain human performance. Students discuss what is meant by being ‘fit’. They compare different uses of the word 'work' and are...