Free open educational resources from the University of Edinburgh to download and adapt for primary and secondary teaching.
Winner of the 2021 OEGlobal Awards for Excellence Open Curation Award for this collection of high quality student made OER on the TES platform.
Free open educational resources from the University of Edinburgh to download and adapt for primary and secondary teaching.
Winner of the 2021 OEGlobal Awards for Excellence Open Curation Award for this collection of high quality student made OER on the TES platform.
A power point resource for teachers of biology, geography and environmental science for pupils studying at Advanced Higher (AS-Level, and above), and early FE/HE levels.
Of use for helping to achieve a basic understanding of the different terms used to describe data and variables commonplace in literature on the internet. It complements the Geoscience Guides (https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/guide-to-descriptive-statistics-in-geosciences-11308746).
Educational Level: Third Curriculum (SCQF Level 3)
(SCN 3-01a, SCN 3-02a, SCN 3-035b, MTH 3-20b, MTH 2-21a, HWB 3-20a)
This resource is a set of 5 lesson plans (tested plans, slides, templates and worksheets) which introduce students to the diversity and natural habitats of insects. The target audience for this resource is learners aged between 12-14 years involving insects and ecology. Resource includes sampling, invertebrate collection and identification, data collection and analysis, insect careers.
This resource aims to address the importance of insect biodiversity and abundance through centring a practical activity. This will involve sampling and identifying insects from two different habitats of clearly contrasting plant diversity. The author suggests conducting the lessons during the period of April to October (when insects are most active in the UK). However, these experiments and resources are adaptable to an international context. By doing so, learners can develop their understanding of the interdependence of biodiversity through insects and their habitat.
This resource is five lessons, each with a different activity; species identification, habitat, hibernation and mindfulness. These lessons have been designed to be done around the South Edinburgh green space of Blackford Hill (including the Hermitage of Braid and Braidburn), but it could be adapted to any outdoor space. The target for this resource is children of nursery age (3-5 years old).
Outdoor learning and environmental education are powerful tools used to establish human-nature connections. Raising awareness of local biodiversity and the importance of co-existing species within ecosystems can motivate intentions to care for and protect wildlife. Introducing these concepts at a young age can help foster early environmental stewardship and allow individuals to explore their feelings towards nature. The resources includes details of the relevant aims, outcomes, extra teacher information and any potential further activities. The activities are designed to be fun and engaging to help the children develop an interest in the content.
Biodiversity and Interdependence
SCN 0-01a: I have observed living things in the environment over time and am becoming aware of how they depend on each other.
Properties and uses of substances
SCN 0-15a: Through creative play, I explore different materials and can share my reasoning for selecting materials for different purposes.
Mental and emotional wellbeing
HWB 0-07a: I am learning skills and strategies which will support me in challenging times, particularly in relation to change and loss.
Listening and talking; enjoyment and choice
LIT 0-01c: I enjoy exploring events and characters in stories and other texts, sharing my thoughts in different ways.
Creating texts
LIT 0-09a: Within real and imaginary situations, I share experiences and feelings, ideas and information in a way that communicates my message.
Art and Design
EXA 0-02a: I have the freedom to discover and choose ways to create images & objects using a variety of materials.
This resource bundle includes pdf and editable versions of the following:
Teachers guide: including details of equipment, learning outcomes, instructions for the activities, teacher’s notes, potential health and safety risks.
Animal Habitat Information Guide
Plant and Flower Identification booklet
This resource was created as part of the GeoScience Outreach Course which is a 4th year undergraduate course in the School of GeoSciences aiming to provide students with the opportunity to develop their own science communication and engagement project.
This resource was originally developed for the ‘Arcadia @ Kings Buildings’ Nursery.
To find more Open Educational Resources from the University of Edinburgh, visit open.ed.ac.uk.
Author: Ellie Sutton, adapted by Alysha Wilson.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC-BY-SA 4.0 license.
A power point resource for teachers of biology, geography and environmental science for pupils studying at Advanced Higher (AS-Level, and above), and early FE/HE levels.
Of use for helping to achieve a basic understanding and application of ‘central tendency’ in fieldwork, assignments and examination questions. It complements the Guide to Descriptive Statistics in Geosciences (https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/guide-to-descriptive-statistics-in-geosciences-11308746).
A power point resource for teachers of biology, geography and environmental science for pupils studying at Advanced Higher, ( AS-Level, and above), and early FE/HE levels.
Of use for helping to achieve a basic understanding and application of the ‘spread of data’ in fieldwork, assignments and examination questions. It complements the Guide to Descriptive Statistics in Geosciences (https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/guide-to-descriptive-statistics-in-geosciences-11308746).
Three lessons on the contribution that bees make to our planet on the topics of pollination, bee diversity, and hexagons in the bee hive (STEM activity).
Lesson 1: Flower structure and pollination
Lesson 2: Types of bees
Lesson 3: Why bee hives are made up of hexagons
Includes lesson plans, activities, presentations and worksheets.
Curriculum for Excellence: SCN 1-02a, SCN 1-02b, SCN 2-01a, MTH 1-16a, MTH 1-16b, MTH 2-16a.
Author: Natasha Michaelides, School of GeoSciences at The University of Edinburgh, in collaboration with Ratho Primary School, with thanks to Amy Dixon (class teacher, science specialist and STEM advisor).
Teacher and student resource pack covering the effects and causes of cardiovascular disease and medical
methods for preventing it.
Educational Level: Higher (AS levels)
(CfE Higher Human Biology, physiology and health)
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of disorders that refers to any disease affecting the heart or the blood vessels. It can also be called circulatory disease. This resource pack focuses on the most common cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Other types of cardiovascular disease (CVD) include congenital heart disease (i.e. structural defects in the heart or vessels that are present when at birth), heart valve disease (i.e. disease that affects the valves that control blood flow in the heart) and infective diseases of the heart (such as rheumatic fever). This resource pack will not cover these diseases.
Learning outcomes
Covers the process of atherosclerosis, thrombosis, causes and effects of peripheral vascular disorders and control of cholesterol levels in the body.
This resource was created as part of the as part of the Edinburgh Medical School outreach education.
Authors: Amy Gray, Simon Walker & Kay Douglas.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Cover image is by Kay Douglas and is licensed under a CC BY license.
This resource is a set of 5 lesson plans with slides, an experiment (with worksheets for analysing the results) and assessment items. The target audience for this resource is for learners aged between 14 and 16 years.
Entomophagy is the human consumption of insects as food - it represents a sustainable alternative to the environmentally destructive effects of livestock based protein. The lessons presented here are based around a project designed to test the food conversion efficiency and water footprint of mealworms.
The lessons are presented as 5 individual lessons each 50 minutes in length. They are designed to be incorporated into the school’s curriculum surrounding the food production unit for National 5 students. Providing that classes are taught when the food production unit would normally be delivered, these lessons can act as a detailed blueprint of how to teach the two related subjects in tandem.
This resource aims to cover the following Curriculum for Excellence benchmarks:
SOC 4-09a - Having evaluated the role of agriculture in the production of food and raw material, I can draw reasoned conclusions about the environmental impacts and sustainability.
SCN 4-03a - Through investigating the nitrogen cycle and evaluating results from practical experiments, I can suggest a design for a fertiliser, taking account of its environmental impact. (Particularly the points associated with “Explores and explains the possible impact of the use of fertilisers, for example, algal blooms.”)
SCN 4-20a - I have researched new developments in science and can explain how their current or future applications might impact on modern life.
This resource was created as part of the GeoScience Outreach Course at the University of Edinburgh and was originally developed for the Trinity Academy in Edinburgh.
Author: Danny Ashton, adapted by Ana Mckellar.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC-BY-SA 4.0 license.
Cover image is Future food: insects (Krabi, Thailand 2015) by Paul Arps (Flickr), licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
The pupils receive a distress call from an alien planet. Over the course of 3-4 lessons, pupils will learn about how life is adapted to live in different places, why water is necessary for life and the size of the Solar System by helping the aliens. The target audience for this resource is level 2 learners, corresponding to 10-12 year old pupils (P5-P7 classes in Scotland).
Pupils have the opportunity to learn more about their assigned alien world using the pre-prepared fact files. They will then share this knowledge with the rest of their class and will finally celebrate successfully saving the aliens!
Lessons in this resource:
o Lesson 1: First Contact
o Lesson 2: Lift Off
o Lesson 3: Save the Day
o Lesson 4: Celebrate
This resource bundle includes pdf and editable versions of the following:
• Lesson plans for teachers for lessons 1-4, including relevant Es, Os and Benchmarks
• PowerPoint presentations for lessons 1-4
• Fact files on Europa, Mars, Titan and Venus
• Transcripts of messages received from Europa, Mars, Titan and Venus
• Worksheet titled “Building a Scale Model of the Solar System” for lesson 2
• Instructions & Worksheet titled “Can you help the aliens?” for lesson 3
Learning outcomes in the Curriculum for Excellence:
SCN 2-01a: I can identify and classify examples of living things, past and present, to help me appreciate their diversity. I can relate physical and behavioural characteristics to their survival or extinction.
SCN 2-05a: I can apply my knowledge of how water changes state to help me understand the processes involved in the water cycle in nature over time.
SCN 2-06a: By observing and researching features of our solar system, I can use simple models to communicate my understanding of size, scale, time and relative motion within it.
MNU 2-10c: (Extension) Using simple time periods, I can give a good estimate of how long a journey should take, based on my knowledge of the link between time, speed and distance.
This resource was created as part of the Geoscience Outreach Course which is a 4th year undergraduate course in the School of Geosciences aiming to provide students with the opportunity to develop their own science communication and engagement project.
Author: Ray Honeysett, adapted by Amy Cook
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
This is an Open Educational Resource for the Early Curriculum Level and Beyond (Suitable for the Age 5 to 105).
This resource pack includes a booklet with images, information and song audio of 17 common garden and woodland birds in Midlothian and in Scotland. Useful to complement any science work involving environment.
Learners can gain an insight into the range of bird species and biodiversity of a local area. Free poster of the birds included to help learners identify birds by their relative sizes.
Author: Booklet by Radina Atanasova, adapted by Mayu Ishimoto and a poster by Mayu Ishimoto.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC BY SA 4.0 license.
A set of five lesson plans and materials, based around identifying and cataloguing British tree leaves. This resource is suggested as a second level science resource, in which students gain awareness of the importance of trees to humans and the environment.
These activities, grouped into hour long lessons, are based around the storyline of a developer who intends replace a forest with a new shopping centre. The children are tasked with researching whether this is a good idea by researching local woodlands and the importance of trees. The children then communicate their findings along with supporting evidence to the landowner.
Through this resource children can develop their knowledge of and appreciation for the natural environment around them. The children can then apply this knowledge in a series of activities linking in with the Curriculum for Excellence Experiences, Outcomes and Benchmarks.
The Resource Cover document gives a detailed overview of the resource, and lesson plans are contained in the Teacher’s Guide document.
Relevant Experiences and Outcomes: SCN 2-01a, HWB 2-25a, LIT 2-02a, LIT 2-23a, LIT 2-29a, MNU 2-03a
This resource was created as part of the GeoScience Outreach Course which is a 4th year undergraduate course in the School of GeoSciences aiming to provide students with the opportunity to develop their own science communication and engagement project.
This resource was originally developed for Mauricewood Primary School, Penicuik, Midlothian.
Author: Erica Zaja, adapted by Alyssa Heggison.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Cover Image: a cropped version of Tree by benjgibbs on flickr, CC-BY 2.0,
About the resource
This resource is a PowerPoint presentation with audio storytelling and interactive quizzes. The target audience for this resource is second level students P5 – P7 & S1 - S3, ages 10 to 15…
Topics covered include:
How an infectious disease outbreak can start and how it can spread
How infectious diseases can involve both humans and animals
How different scientists help with outbreak response
It was created as part of a Data-Driven Innovation (DDI) initiative through the 2020 Small Grant Funding Call as part of the project ‘Understanding the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Scotland to design and model lockdown exit strategies: A risk-based approach to policy prioritisation’.
Learning outcomes
HWB 2-15a / HWB 3-15a - I am developing my understanding of the human body and can use this knowledge to maintain and improve my wellbeing and health.
HWB 2-16a / HWB 3-16a - I am learning to assess and manage risk, to protect myself and others, and to reduce the potential for harm when possible
HWB 2-17a / HWB 3-17a – I know and can demonstrate how to keep myself and others safe and how to respond in a range of emergency situations.
HWB 2-33a - Having learned about cleanliness, hygiene and safety, I can apply these principles to my everyday routines, understanding their importance to health and wellbeing.
SCN 2-20a - Through research and discussion I have an appreciation of the contribution that individuals are making to scientific discovery and invention and the impact this has made on society.
SCN 2-20b -I can report and comment on current scientific news items to develop my knowledge and understanding of topical science.
SCN 3-20a - I have collaborated with others to find and present information on how scientists from Scotland and beyond have contributed to innovative research and development.
In this resource
This resource bundle includes pdf and editable versions of the following:
• A PowerPoint slide presentation with audio storytelling and included quizzes.
Authors: Rosemary McManus & Lina Gonzalez Gordon
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC BY-SA license.
This resource is aimed at Level 2 students studying plant germination and decay by microorganisms. Through this resource school learners develop their scientific knowledge, skills and scientific literacy in addition to honing their practical skills.
This resource promotes appreciation for the environment and includes five activities, which relate to the second level Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Experiences and Outcomes and Benchmarks.
Created as part of the School of Geosciences’ Outreach Programme, which allows students in their final year to work in partnership with a local school to develop a set of lesson plans.
Author: Sara Thornton and Tabitha Ewing
Unless otherwise stated all content is released under a CC-BY 4.0 license
Keywords: plants, environment, micro-organisms, ecosystem, photosynthesis, germination, seeds
Cover image Plassiflora seedling by BlueRidgeKitties on Flickr under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license.