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.
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 resource is on forces, specifically gravity, and includes a ten-minute video and a PDF with four follow up activities. Including: recommended books to borrow, watching a video, doing a quiz, researching and conducting your own experiment. The target audience for this resource is children aged 8-11 years-old. There is also another session which follows the same structure but is about forces, called: Spaceman Sam and Comets.
This resource aims to encourage borrowing books from the library - particularly books relating to STEM subjects. This project focuses on forces which is a key area of physics outlined in the Science Benchmarks, Experiences & Outcomes (Es & Os) in the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). This project also utilises principles of active learning by following the stories with a variety of activities. These are very versatile and aim to reinforce the knowledge introduced during the stories. The activities range from less to more involved so the participants can progress through them, but they also serve as standalone activities.
This resource bundle includes the following:
The Forces Video is available to watch via the link in the Word document, titled ‘Forces Fiona asks about Gravity’ on Media Hopper Create website, the University of Edinburgh. The video is written and read by Amy Cook
The follow up activities sheet accompanying the video is Forces Fiona Activities, it is available in a downloadable PDF.
SCN 2-08a I have collaborated in investigations to compare magnetic, electrostatic and gravitational forces and have explored their practical applications.
SCN 2-20a (Topical Science): 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.
LIT 2-04a: As I listen or watch, I can identify and discuss the purpose, main ideas and supporting detail contained within the text, and use this information for different purposes.
LIT 2-07a: I can show my understanding of what I listen to or watch by responding to literal, inferential, evaluative and other types of questions, and by asking different kinds of questions of my own.
ENG 2-12a: Through developing my knowledge of context clues, punctuation, grammar and layout, I can read unfamiliar texts with increasing fluency, understanding and expression.
To find more Open Educational Resources from the University of Edinburgh, visit open.ed.ac.uk.
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 City of Edinburgh Libaries.
Author: Amy Cook, adapted by Alysha Wilson.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
This resource is on comets and includes a twelve-minute video and a PDF with four follow up activities. Including: recommended books to borrow, watching a video, doing a quiz, researching and conducting your own experiment. The target audience for this resource is children aged 8-11 years-old. There is also another session which follows the same structure but is about forces, called: Forces Fiona Asks about Gravity.
This project focuses on space, which is a key area of physics outlined in the Science Benchmarks, Experiences & Outcomes (Es & Os) in the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). The activities reinforce the knowledge introduced during the stories and range from less to more involved so the participants can progress through them, but they also serve as standalone activities.
This resource bundle includes the following:
• The Space Video is available to watch via the link on the Word document, ‘Spaceman Sam and Comets’ on Media Hopper Create, the University of Edinburgh. The twelve-minute video is a story written and told by Amy Cook following Sam, who lives on the moon, as he meets the Astronomer Caroline Herschel who introduces him to comets through a telescope!
• The follow up activities sheet accompanying the video is available in a downloadable PDF.
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.
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.
LIT 2-04a: As I listen or watch, I can identify and discuss the purpose, main ideas and supporting detail contained within the text, and use this information for different purposes.
LIT 2-07a: I can show my understanding of what I listen to or watch by responding to literal, inferential, evaluative and other types of questions, and by asking different kinds of questions of my own.
ENG 2-12a: Through developing my knowledge of context clues, punctuation, grammar and layout, I can read unfamiliar texts with increasing fluency, understanding and expression.
LIT 2-14a: Using what I know about the features of different types of texts, I can find, select and sort information from a variety of sources and use this for different purposes.
To find more Open Educational Resources from the University of Edinburgh, visit open.ed.ac.uk.
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 City of Edinburgh Libaries.
Author: Amy Cook, adapted by Alysha Wilson.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
This resource is a the fifth of a set of five lesson plans with STEM activities based around a group of 10-12 year olds, wanting to get their ‘wings’ from Flight School, by completing activities on forces associated with flight.
**This fifth session combines the knowledge of the forces DRAG, LIFT, THRUST, and WEIGHT from the precious four sessions, to investigate aeroplane design in a comparative test. The learner self-evaluation and learning log which has also been included in this bundle.
In this lesson students can create their planes from a design focus combined with their learning so far during the previous four lessons. They will be able to really contextualise their learning while experimenting and creating their own aeroplane designs.
This bundle includes: extensive teacher notes bundle includes pdf and editable versions of the following:
• Teaching Notes - contents for each lesson includes:
• Science behind the lesson
• Materials best for the session
• Parachute shapes
• Plenary responses
List of resources specific for this lesson.
• Main Lesson Plan (as a PowerPoint Resource)
• Learning goals
• Overview
• Set Up
• Task
• Plenary and Feedback
Learning outcomes in the Curriculum for Excellence and associated benchmark
SCN 2-08a: I have collaborated in investigations to compare magnetic, electrostatic and gravitational forces and have explored their practical applications.
TCH 2-04b: I am developing dexterity, creativity and confidence when working with textiles.
TCH 2-04c: I can extend and explore problem solving strategies to meet increasingly difficult challenges with a food or textile focus.
MTH 2-16b: Through practical activities, I can show my understanding of the relationship between 3D objects and their nets.
LIT 2-02a: When I engage with others, I can respond in ways appropriate to my role, show that I value others’ contributions and use these to build on thinking.
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: Joanna Barrie, adapted by Kay Douglas and Charlie Farley.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC-BY-SA 4.0 license.
This resource is a the fourth of a set of five lesson plans with STEM activities based around a group of 10-12 year olds, wanting to get their ‘wings’ from Flight School, by completing activities on forces associated with flight.
This lesson is the final of the four forces and it is WEIGHT. This force will already be understood by a lot of children as it is part of everyday life. However, it is worth guiding their attention to weight in relation to flying aircrafts. By the end of the lesson students should have an overall understanding of the four forces involved in flight. They will also have gained some good problem-solving experience which has hopefully helped them develop some useful skills for their futures.
Other sessions involve DRAG, LIFT, THRUST, and the fifth AEROPLANE pulls together all the learning. The sixth section contains the learner self-evaluation and learning log which has also been included in this bundle.
This bundle includes: extensive teacher notes bundle includes pdf and editable versions of the following:
Teaching Notes - contents for each lesson includes:
• Science behind the lesson
• Materials best for the session
• Parachute shapes
• Plenary responses
List of resources specific for this lesson.
• Main Lesson Plan (as a PowerPoint Resource)
• Learning goals
• Overview
• Set Up
• Task
• Plenary and Feedback
Learning outcomes in the Curriculum for Excellence and associated benchmark
SCN 2-08a: I have collaborated in investigations to compare magnetic, electrostatic and gravitational forces and have explored their practical applications.
TCH 2-04b: I am developing dexterity, creativity and confidence when working with textiles.
TCH 2-09a: I can extend and enhance my design skills to solve problems and can construct models.
MTH 2-17b: Through practical activities, I can show my understanding of the relationship between 3D objects and their nets.
Flight School has been created as a teaching resource for the City of Edinburgh Council’s ‘Curiosity Club’, an Intervention Strategy initiative that is currently operating in Council schools.
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: Joanna Barrie, adapted by Kay Douglas and Charlie Farley.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC-BY-SA 4.0 license.
This resource is a the third of a set of five lesson plans with STEM activities based around a group of 10-12 year olds, wanting to get their ‘wings’ from Flight School, by completing activities on forces associated with flight.
In this third session students are introduced to the force THRUST while building on their understanding of LIFT. This session is designed to allow the students to experiment with design to create a ‘mini helicopter model’. By the end of the lesson the goal is that the students will have an understanding of THRUST and LIFT in relation to flight.
Other sessions involve DRAG, LIFT, WEIGHT), and the fifth AEROPLANE pulls together all the learning. The sixth section contains the learner self-evaluation and learning log which has also been included in this bundle.
This bundle includes: extensive teacher notes bundle includes pdf and editable versions of the following:
• Teaching Notes - contents for each lesson includes:
• Science behind the lesson
• Materials best for the session
• Parachute shapes
• Plenary responses
List of resources specific for this lesson.
• Main Lesson Plan (as a PowerPoint Resource)
• Learning goals
• Overview
• Set Up
• Task
• Plenary and Feedback
Learning outcomes in the Curriculum for Excellence and associated benchmark
SCN 2-08a: I have collaborated in investigations to compare magnetic, electrostatic and gravitational forces and have explored their practical applications.
TCH 2-04b: I am developing dexterity, creativity and confidence when working with textiles.
MTH 2-16b: Through practical activities, I can show my understanding of the relationship between 3D objects and their nets.
LIT 2-02a: When I engage with others, I can respond in ways appropriate to my role, show that I value others’ contributions and use these to build on thinking.
Flight School has been created as a teaching resource for the City of Edinburgh Council’s ‘Curiosity Club’, an Intervention Strategy initiative that is currently operating in Council schools.
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: Joanna Barrie, adapted by Kay Douglas and Charlie Farley.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC-BY-SA 4.0 license.
This resource is a the second of a set of five lesson plans with STEM activities based around a group of 10-12 year olds, wanting to get their ‘wings’ from Flight School, by completing activities on forces associated with flight.
Other sessions involve LIFT, THRUST, WEIGHT), and the fifth AEROPLANE pulls together all the learning.
In this second session students are introduced to the force LIFT. This session is designed to allow the students to investigate lift by focusing on the shape of an aeroplane wing. By the end of the lesson the goal is that the students will have an understanding about the shape of an aeroplane wing and how it causes the aeroplane to fly up into the air.
This bundle includes: extensive teacher notes bundle includes pdf and editable versions of the following:
• Teaching Notes - contents for each lesson includes:
• Science behind the lesson
• Materials best for the session
• Parachute shapes
• Plenary responses
• List of resources specific for this lesson.
• Main Lesson Plan (as a PowerPoint Resource)
• Learning goals
• Overview
• Set Up
• Task
• Plenary and Feedback
Learning outcomes in the Curriculum for Excellence and associated benchmark
SCN 2-08a: I have collaborated in investigations to compare magnetic, electrostatic and gravitational forces and have explored their practical applications.
TCH 2-04b: I am developing dexterity, creativity and confidence when working with textiles.
MTH 2-16b: Through practical activities, I can show my understanding of the relationship between 3D objects and their nets.
LIT 2-02a: When I engage with others, , I can respond in ways appropriate to my role, show that I value others’ contributions and use these to build on thinking.
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: Joanna Barrie. Adapted by Kay Douglas and Charlie Farley
This resource is a the first of a set of five lesson plans with STEM activities based around a group of 10-12 year olds, wanting to get their ‘wings’ from Flight School, by completing activities on forces associated with flight.
This first session teaches the FORCE DRAG.
Other sessions involve LIFT, THRUST, WEIGHT), and the fifth AEROPLANE pulls together all the learning. The sixth section contains the learner self-evaluation and learning log which has also been included in this bundle.
This is the first on the force drag.
By the end of the lesson the goal is that students will have a clear understanding of drag and how the parachute causes a falling object to slow down, they will also be able to show their understanding in the log book that records their learning by labelling the arrows representing drag in the ‘Parachute section.’
This bundle includes: extensive teacher notes bundle includes pdf and editable versions of the following:
• Teaching Notes - contents for each lesson includes:
• Science behind the lesson
• Materials best for the session
• Parachute shapes
• Plenary responses
• List of resources specific for this lesson.
Main Lesson Plan (as a PowerPoint Resource)
• Learning goals
• Overview
• Set Up
• Task
• Plenary and Feedback
Flight School has been created as a teaching resource for the City of Edinburgh Council’s ‘Curiosity Club’, an Intervention Strategy initiative that is currently operating in Council schools.
A learner self-evaluation and learning log makes up the sixth section and this has been added to each section for ease of use.
Learning outcomes in the Curriculum for Excellence and associated benchmark
SCN 2-07a: By investigating how friction, including air resistance, affects motion, I can suggest ways to improve efficiency in moving objects.
TCH 2-04a: I am developing dexterity, creativity and confidence when preparing models
TCH 2-09a: I can extend and enhance my design skills to solve problems and can construct models.
TCH 2-10a: I can recognise basic properties and uses for a variety of materials and can discuss which ones are most suitable for a given task.
MNU 2:11b: I can use the common units of measure, convert between related units of the metric system and carry out calculations when solving problems.
To find more Open Educational Resources from the University of Edinburgh, visit open.ed.ac.uk.
Author: Joanna Barrie, adapted by Kay Douglas and Charlie Farley.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC-BY-SA 4.0 license.
This resource is the fourth of a set of 4 lesson plans with STEM activities based around a group of 10-12 year olds, wanting to explain the science and maths behind magic.
This session teaches STATIC ELECTRICITY, a magic wand trick.
(Other sessions involve PROBABILITY, AIR PRESSURE, CHEMICAL REACTIONS. )
Wonder in Magic has been created as a teaching resource for the City of Edinburgh Council’s ‘Curiosity Club’, an Intervention Strategy initiative that is currently operating in Council schools. The focus of the four planned lessons of Wonder in Magic is to explain the ‘magic’ behind science and maths activities.
The first has an activity on air pressure. The second has an activity on probability and tthe third is on chemical reactions. There is an optional activity (session 5) on showcasing the knowledge and skills obtained in Wonder in Magic. You can find all of these in our TES Shop for free download and re-use.
The log-book (‘Book of Spells’), general teaching notes, completion certificate and letter (‘hook’) are included with all resources.
This bundle includes: extensive teacher notes bundle includes pdf and editable versions of the following:
Electrostatics – Hopping Magic Wands - contents for each lesson includes:
Resource list
Learning Intentions
Shared success criteria
Relevant Es&Os
Assessment Methods
Lesson Plan
General resources
*
‘Hook’ letter from the Head Teacher of Scotland’s Magic School
Log-book (aka Book of Spells)
Completion Certificate
General Teaching Notes
Learning outcomes in the Curriculum for Excellence and associated benchmark
SCN 2-08a: I have collaborated in investigations to compare magnetic, electrostatic and gravitational forces and have explored their practical applications. (Explains how some objects may become electrically charged by rubbing two surfaces together and how the charges produce an electrostatic force. Investigates and demonstrates understanding that electrostatic forces can both repel and attract.)
LIT 2-07a: I can show my understanding of what I listen to or watch by responding to literal, inferential, evaluative and other types of questions, and by asking different kinds of questions of my own. (Asks and responds to a range of questions, including literal, inferential and evaluative questions, to demonstrate understanding of spoken texts.)
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: Philippa Johnston, adapted by Kay Douglas and Charlie Farley.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC-BY-SA 4.0 license.
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This resource is a the second of a set of four lesson plans with STEM activities based around a group of 10-12 year olds, wanting to discover the science and maths behind magic. This session teaches PROBABILITY.
(Other sessions involve AIR PRESSURE, CHEMICAL REACTIONS, STATIC ELECTRICITY)
Wonder in Magic has been created as a teaching resource for the City of Edinburgh Council’s ‘Curiosity Club’, an Intervention Strategy initiative that is currently operating in Council schools. The focus of the four planned lessons of Wonder in Magic is to explain the ‘magic’ behind science and maths activities. This is the second resource and it focuses on probability, a magic card trick.
The first has an activity on air pressure. The third involves chemical reactions and the fourth static electricity. There is an optional activity (session 5) on showcasing the knowledge and skills obtained in Wonder in Magic. You can find all of these in our TES Shop for free download and re-use.
This bundle includes: extensive teacher notes bundle includes PDF and editable versions of the following:
Probability – What’s the Chance?- contents for each lesson includes:
Resource list
Learning Intentions
Shared success criteria
Relevant Es&Os
Assessment Methods
Lesson Plan
General resources
‘Hook’ letter from the Head Teacher of Scotland’s Magic School
Log-book (aka Book of Spells)
Completion Certificate
General Teaching Notes
Learning outcomes in the Curriculum for Excellence and associated benchmark
MNU 2-22a: I can conduct simple experiments involving chance and communicate my predictions and findings using the vocabulary of probability. (Uses the language of probability accurately to describe the likelihood of simple events occurring, for example equal chance; fifty-fifty; one in two, two in three)
LIT 2-07a: I can show my understanding of what I listen to or watch by responding to literal, inferential, evaluative and other types of questions, and by asking different kinds of questions of my own. (Asks and responds to a range of questions, including literal, inferential and evaluative questions, to demonstrate understanding of spoken texts.)
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: Philippa Johnston, adapted by Kay Douglas and Charlie Farley.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC-BY-SA 4.0 license.
This resource is the first of a set of 4 lesson plans with STEM activities based around a group of 10-12 year olds, wanting to explain the science and maths behind magic.
This first session teaches AIR PRESSURE, a gravitational force.
(Other sessions involve PROBABILITY, CHEMICAL REACTIONS, STATIC ELECTRICITY. )
Wonder in Magic has been created as a teaching resource for the City of Edinburgh Council’s ‘Curiosity Club’, an Intervention Strategy initiative that is currently operating in Council schools. The focus of the four planned lessons of Wonder in Magic is to explain the ‘magic’ behind science and maths activities. This is the first on air pressure, a gravitational force.
The second has an activity on probability. The third involves chemical reactions and the fourth static electricity. There is an optional activity (session 5) on showcasing the knowledge and skills obtained in Wonder in Magic. You can find all of these in our TES Shop for free download and re-use.
The log-book (‘Book of Spells’), general teaching notes, completion certificate and letter (‘hook’) are included with all resources.
This is the first on air pressure, a gravitational force.
This bundle includes: extensive teacher notes bundle includes PDF and editable versions of the following:
Air Pressure – A Magical Fountain - contents for each lesson includes:
Resource list
Learning Intentions
Shared success criteria
Relevant Es&Os
Assessment Methods
Lesson Plan
General resources
‘Hook’ letter from the Head Teacher of Scotland’s Magic School
Log-book (aka Book of Spells)
Completion Certificate
General Teaching Notes
Learning outcomes in the Curriculum for Excellence and associated benchmark
SCN 2-08a: I have collaborated in investigations to compare magnetic, electrostatic and gravitational forces and have explored their practical applications.
y investigating how friction, including air resistance, affects motion, I can suggest ways to improve efficiency in moving objects. (Explores and explains air pressure, a gravitational force)
LIT 2-07a: I can show my understanding of what I listen to or watch by responding to literal, inferential, evaluative and other types of questions, and by asking different kinds of questions of my own. (Asks and responds to a range of questions, including literal, inferential and evaluative questions, to demonstrate understanding of spoken texts.)
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.
To find more Open Educational Resources from the University of Edinburgh, visit open.ed.ac.uk.
Author: Philippa Johnston, adapted by Kay Douglas and Charlie Farley.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC-BY-SA 4.0 license.