Technology in science – the Motic WiFi microscope (first impressions)

I’ve been meaning to buy a new microscope for ages.  My students struggle with microscopes (as do I as a spectacle wearer) so I’ve been keeping my eye out for something that makes life easier.  Credit to Catherine Mellor from Timstar who dropped me a catalogue off at work and then gave me a demonstration …

The Christmas lesson – I’ve given in this year (free resources)

Last year I didn’t bother with Christmas lessons (bah humbug I hear you say!) although I did the classic Cookie mix up the year before. I recently followed a link on an email from the RSC which led me to this delightful page and I thought that I would give this a shot with my …

Reduced scale chemistry – the way forward for saving money?

Times are hard.  With resources being diverted to save front line staff, money to pay for chemicals and practical activities may be reduced.  I’ve come across reduced scale chemistry before (at ASE events) but was impressed by this video from CLEAPSS that I decided to give it a go. Like all good science teachers I …

Using low/mid range visualisers for chemistry demos and why homemade might be best.

I’ve had a visualiser for a while now after I saw them in everyday use in Chinese schools.  Mine is an Avermedia CP130 visualiser which I generally use connected to a PC (greater resolution/ability to capture video/images).  I’ve used it to project up examples of student work for which it works very well.  It works …

Pepping up teaching the electromagnetic spectrum for SEN students

We’ve been looking at the EM spectrum this week which is difficult with SEN students who find the idea incredibly hard to grasp. To make this topic more hands on we’ve done a series of practical lessons looking at different types of waves.  Perhaps you’ll have time to squeeze a few of these in – …

The importance of science induction sessions for the KS2-3 transition

Induction days are an important part of the academic timetable for science teachers.  They provide an opportunity for science teachers to weigh up the scientific ability of prospective students (and to map it to teacher assessed levels if these have been provided in advance).  Our new intake recently spent the morning with us and the …

Wikid Science – how I make mine better

Practical work.  That’s the main method.  The more the better.  Science is a practical subject and you learn best by doing and making sense of what you have seen.  I like to shoehorn any practical work in that helps students grasp a topic – the more the better. This lesson in the Pyrotechnics sequence had …

Healthy Schools day – burning crisps

I was tasked with the job of running a session with a health related theme.   I decided to compare the energy in different crisps, with the primary objective being purely to demonstrate what an good source of energy they are. The photographs show 2.5g of various crisps being burnt under 20 cm3 of water.  Whilst …

Magnetic field lines – no mess!

I bought these last year – handy for seeing magnetic field lines without messy iron filings. And while you are on the topic of magnetism,  the floating paperclip never fails to engage students of all ability.

Getting practical – free advice and training to improve the effectiveness of practical work in science

I recently attended a weekend ASE event at the CELS centre at Nottingham Trent University.  Hosted by the ever creative Mark Crowley we looked at the importance of practical work in science. I would advise science teachers from all phases to check out the Getting Practical site which offers some ideas online and access to …