Explore what is under our feet. Draw and label a cross section of the Earth. Discover the three main rock types. Test the permeability of different kinds of rocks. Find out information from websites. Suitable for Y3 pupils.

Reflection research is in order during this session as children discover that shiny and polished surfaces reflect more light than dull surfaces. Can they use mirrors to bounce torch beams or redirect the laser beam to hit the target? Suitable for Y6 pupils.

There will be no time to lurk in the shadows in this session as groups create fair tests to answer questions before carrying them out and recording the results. Groups then draw conclusions and report their findings to the class. Suitable for Y6 pupils.

Listen to a variety of musical instruments and investigate how they make sounds in more detail. Explain how to change the pitch and loudness of instruments made in session E and then try out each other’s instruments. Discuss what children have learnt during Strand. Suitable for Y5 pupils.

Find out what children already know about sound. Listen carefully to sounds in the environment. Children try a circus of activities to describe sounds, suggest how musical instruments make sounds, why animals prick up their ears and why some have very large ears. Suitable for Y5 pupils.

Briefly examine the structure of the ear and how vibrations are heard as sounds. Compare light and sound waves further. Discuss echoes and how bats or dolphins use echolocation. Talk about deafness and introduce children to British Sign Language. Suitable for Y5 pupils.

Discuss why sometimes it is important to prevent sounds travelling. Plan and carry out an investigation to find out which materials would be best to muffle sounds. A datalogger could be used with this investigation. Suitable for Y5 pupils.

Explain that all sounds are made by objects vibrating and that sound can travel through gases, liquids and solids. Children carry out some short investigations about vibrations and make a string telephone with a partner. Compare light and sound waves. Suitable for Y5 pupils.

Children consider arguments for and against fairtrade. They plan to set up a fairtrade tuck shop to raise awareness. Design and make posters to advertise the tuck shop and explain some of the issues surrounding fairtrade. Some children organise the stock and accounts.

Children consider arguments for buying fair trade produce and look at relevant websites including Christian Aid and Oxfam. Children think about how fair trade does not address causes – unfair trade rules and greedy practices. How can we campaign to change these?

Some seeds rattle, some roll, others are just bursting out all over the place! Children discover that plants disperse many seeds in different ways, what clues do their sizes, shapes, weights and textures give us about how they spread? Suitable for Y5 pupils.

Demonstrate how to make high, low, soft and loud sounds with drums, string instruments and wind instruments. Children investigate changes of pitch and loudness of virtual instruments and create their own instruments to investigate in session F. Suitable for Y5 pupils.

Explore in more detail the history of apartheid in South Africa, with links to Mandela. Look at the signs that were displayed. Pick out examples of effects of apartheid on non-whites in Journey to Jo’burg, and act out short scenes that show these effects. Suitable for years 5 and 6.

Through role play children consider for themselves the impact of no access to school. They plan a poster campaign or write a persuasive letter to reopen their school. Links to Children’s Rights to Education. Suitable for years 5 and 6.

Wake-up to the 21st century with instructions for computer games, mobile phones and explanations for blogs and podcasts. Children write a booklet for their granny, giving instructions and explanations to fit her for life in 2010!

What is censorship? Join the BBFC, become a film examiner and argue your case to classify film clips. Present reasoned decisions as ‘black cards’ to be shown before the film! Participate in debating a scenario relating to film classification.

Consider different genres then read a variety of stories about refugees and asylum seekers. Children summarise stories and write sequels and playscripts based on stories they have read. Finish with a This is Your Life programme for one of the characters.

This unit is all about having fun with iconic song lyrics! Children will explore underlying themes and influences in key songs by the Beetles and Bob Dylan before composing their own song lyrics about current issues that are important to them.

Children think about the animals that they know come from Australia and then find out if they live in any of its rainforest regions. Children then look at a list of Australian rainforest animals, and print an image from the computer.

Children use internet search engines in small groups to find out more about a specific threat to the worlds rainforests. Children collect information in the form of notes and present their concerns and solutions to the class.