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.
This resource is a set of worksheets about games and puzzles based on simple concepts in graph theory. The resource covers: the seven bridges of Konigsberg, the Shannon Switching game and graph vertex colouring. The resource is aimed at a general public level as formal mathematical knowledge is not required beyond counting, but younger audiences would need more guidance.
This resource aims to provide a very basic introduction to graph theory. The activities are designed to get participants to become familiar with how problems can be simplified into graph theory problems and how that may be used to find solutions.
In this resource:
Graph Colouring: solving scheduling and allocating problems using graphs
Instructor guide
4 Party Problems
3 Radio Problems
Rivers and Bridges: based on the Bridges of Konigsberg problem
Instructor guide
Matching activity
Worksheets for 4 real cities (including Konigsberg)
Shannon Switching game: a simple game which is played on a graph
Instructor guide
PowerPoint explaining the game (with presentation guide)
4 Virus games
Simple examples
Design your own graph to win the game
This resource was originally developed for the Edinburgh International Science Festival with the School of Mathematics.
Authors: Francesca Iezzi, Ana McKellar, Lukas Cerny, Benedetta Mussati and Patrick Kinnear (with
additional input from other members of the Maths Outreach Team), adapted for wider audiences by Ana
McKellar.
Unless otherwise stated, all content (including original images) is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Cover image is Four Color Problem by Jeff Kubina (Flickr) is licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Plastic in the Ocean is a project aimed at educating learners about the negative environmental effects of plastic. Over the course of four lessons, the learners are taught what plastic is, why it is bad for the environment and what can be done to address this environmental problem. As well as fun and interactive lessons the learners are given the opportunity to explore the local area collecting litter/plastic, putting what they have learned in the classroom lessons into context with the real-world.
Learning outcomes
Science - Earth Materials
SCN 2-17a: Having explored the substances that make up Earth’s surface, I can compare some of their characteristics and uses.
Science - Topical Science
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.
Social Sciences – People, Place and the Environment
SOC 2-08a: I can discuss the environmental impact of human activity and suggest ways in which we can live in a more environmentally responsible way.
Technologies – Technology Developments in Society and Business
TCH 2-06a: I can analyse how lifestyles can impact on the environment and Earth’s resources, and can make suggestions about how to live in a more sustainable way.
TCH 2-07a: I can make suggestions as to how individuals and organisations may use technologies to support sustainability and reduce the impact on our environment.
Expressive Arts – Art and Design
EXA 2-03a: I can create and present work that shows developing skill in using the visual elements and concepts.
EXA 2-05a: Inspired by a range of stimuli, I can express and communicate my ideas, thoughts and feelings through activities within art and design.
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 designed to be implemented in Queensferry Primary School, located in South Queensferry, Edinburgh. The lessons were taught to Primary 5, Second Level.
Author: Hannah Newberry, adapted by Andrew Ferguson.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Cover image by Wild0ne on Pixabay is licensed under the Pixabay License. Has been cropped and overlay graphics added.
An outdoor learning activity to promote the health benefits of using green spaces. It includes a visitor questionnaire, health diary and drawing and interpreting graphs. Two of the lessons are classroom-based, however the other lesson is an outdoor field trip that encourages the learners to put into practise what they have learned in the first lesson.
Learning outcomes
HWB 3-25a: I am experiencing enjoyment and achievement on a daily basis by taking part in different kinds of energetic physical activities of my choosing, including sport and opportunities for outdoor learning, available at my place of learning and in the wider community.
HWB 3-27a: I can explain why I need to be active on a daily basis to maintain good health and try to achieve a good balance of sleep, rest and physical activity.
MTH 2-12d: Having investigated where, why and how scale is used and expressed, I can apply my understanding to interpret simple models, maps and plans.
SOC 3-14a: I can use a range of maps and geographical information systems to gather, interpret and present conclusions and can locate a range of features within Scotland, UK, Europe and the wider world.
MTH 3-21a: I can display data in a clear way using a suitable scale, by choosing appropriately from an extended range of tables, charts, diagrams and graphs, making effective use of technology.
This resource was created as part of the GeoScience Outreach Course at the University of Edinburgh and was originally developed for Craigroyston Community High School, located in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Author: Tom Richmond, adapted by Andrew Ferguson.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC-BY 4.0 license.
Cover Image “A park historian assists with a field trip” from National Park Service, NPS Photo is from the webpage Field Trips, accessed July 2019. Modified by Andrew Ferguson. Public domain. No protection is claimed in original U.S. Government works.
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.
This resource provides materials to run a workshop about Escher’s printmaking, exploring the artist, his process and the mathematics underlying his work. There is a practical art element which involves participants designing and printing their own piece of work.
This resource aims to show participants a creative side to mathematics. Knowledge of symmetry (rotational and reflectional) is assumed but also explained within the resource. The workshop is aimed at general public level - it is suitable for anyone with a basic understanding of geometry and symmetry.
Learning outcomes: MTH 3-19a, MTH 4-19a, EXA 4-02a, EXA 4-06a
To learn about the life and work of Escher
To understand how mathematics influenced Escher’s work
To learn about symmetries and wallpaper patterns
To be able to identify the wallpaper group of a tessellation design
To learn how to make lino prints
In this resource:
Workshop plan
Part 1: Presentation
Part 2: Designing a tessellating pattern
Part 3: Printmaking
Part 4: The mathematics behind your work
Presentation slides
Part 1: Who was Escher?
Part 2: Regular divisions of the plane
Part 3: Escher and mathematics
Presentation guide
Presentation content
This resource was created as part of the Festival of Creative Learning by the Maths Outreach Team with the School of Mathematics.
Author: Mairi Walker, Ana McKellar, Lukas Cerny and Benedetta Mussati.
Except where otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Cover image is a photograph from the original workshop courtesy of the University of Edinburgh School of Mathematics.
This resource is a booklet with a collection of strategies for improving mental health and wellbeing, a list
of youth support agencies and a section with templates to aid the completion of some strategies.
The target audience for this resource is anyone aged 12+
Aimed at Level 3 and above.
The booklet aims to satisfy the HWB 3-02a, HWB 3-03a and HWB 2-06a benchmarks in the Health and wellbeing curriculum and includes a combination of strategies in different areas:
Sleeping
Stress and anxiety
Self-esteem and body positivity
Socialising
Healthy lifestyle
Online safety
Author: Maria Teixeira-Dias at the University of Edinburgh.
Unless otherwise stated all content is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
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).
Two workshops covering what mental health is and how to promote it – aimed at learners aged 11 to 14. Includes workshop plans with presentations.
Educational Level 3
(HWB 3-01a, HWB 3-02a, HWB 3-03a, HWB 3-04a, HWB 3-05a, HWB 3-06a, HWB 3-07a)
This resource bundle includes lesson plans (pdf and editable word version) and presentation for:
Workshop 1:
What is mental health?
Self-reflection activity
What influences by mental health?
What is influenced by mental health?
Workshop 2: Title
Self-reflection activity
Strategies for maintaining good mental health
Red flags in mental health
What is depression?
What is anxiety?
Quiz
This resource was created as part of Psychology Outreach and Engagement which allows undergraduate psychology students to develop new projects aimed at meeting the needs of local community partners as part of their degree.
Author: Melina Zavali
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Cover image is Mental Health by Wokandapix, licensed under the Pixabay license.
‘Psych Research Methods’ is a resource that ties into the Scottish National 5 Psychology curriculum. It includes detailed presentation slides and notes covering 2 lessons, including student worksheet and in class activities.
The full contents of this resource will download as a zipped folder containing multiple sub-folders. A selection of preview images are included outwith the main folder to give a better view of the resource via the tes website.
Key words: Psychology, Research
Cover image: ‘person writing on brown wooden table near white ceramic mug’ by Green Chameleon on Unsplash, used under the Unsplash Licence, with text and logo overlay.
Three lessons covering, adaptation, survival characteristics and the extinction of the woolly mammoth with comparison to living elephants. Includes presentation slides and student worksheet with answers.
Aimed at Level 2 (Biodiversity and interdependence, SCN 2-01a)
This resource bundle includes:
Lesson 1: Woolly mammoths and the ice age
Lesson 2: The pygmy mammoths
Lesson 3: Comparison of African elephant and the woolly mammoth
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: Chloe Young, adapted by Cecily Plascott.
Unless otherwise stated all content is released under a CC-BY 4.0 license.
Cover image: Model of Mammuth primigenius at the Royal BC Museum by Iain Reid is licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0.
These are teaching resources for use in Religious and Moral Education, and describe some of the stories of various Hindu traditions. Although the resources have been created in consultation with Education Scotland and Scottish school teachers, we hope they will also be useful to teachers in other parts of the UK (or even beyond).
The resource is structured to meet the Education Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence standard for RME. The resource is divided according to the three structuring principles of the experiences and outcomes for RME in Scotland: Beliefs, Values and Issues, and Practices and Traditions. Keywords are also provided to indicate the particular relevance of the story.
The file contains six stories in PDF format, sorted by the principles stated above, and an introduction to the Mahabharata (or Mahābhārata, pronounced ma-haa baa-ra-ta), one of the great epics of
India. The Descent of the Ganges also has an accompanying PowerPoint presentation for illustrative purposes.
The complete set of resources are contained within a zipped folder when downloaded. Selected documents are duplicated outwith this folder to allow their previews to be displayed on tes.
Resources provided as part of the project Approaching Religion Through Story are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. They are free to use, copy and adapt for all non-commercial purposes.
More RME resources can be found at Resources section of Story and Religion website run by the School of Divinity, the University of Edinburgh.
Cover image is Mahabharata, 1852, Miniature 11, from The University of Edinburgh collection, CC BY 3.0.
A set of three posters aimed at Primary School learners that lay out different techniques for finding averages, using the example of Pokemon Hit Points. The posters cover mean, mode and median methods, include graphs to visually show averages and information about the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Also included are versions of the posters that are editable in PowerPoint. For these to display correctly users will need to download the free font ‘Pokemon Normal’ designed by Neale Davidson (available on urbanfonts.com).
Key words: Mean, Mode, Median, Average, Graphs, Pokemon
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.
Authors: Kay Douglas, Tomas Sanders and Rebecca Shannon
Unless otherwise stated all content is released under a CC-BY 4.0 license
This Meteorological Observation Guide has been written as part of a NERC (Natural Environment Research Council) Research Experience Placement carried out in the School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh.
Aimed at National 5 to Higher.
The aim of the research project was to investigate specific aspects of how global climate change affects the climate of Britain.
There are two main aims to this project:
1. Conduct visibility observations from Blackford Hill in Edinburgh, observing to see whether in times of anti-cyclonic weather, pollution build up in the atmosphere reduces the observed visibility.
2. Analysis of historical climate models to see how the frequency of anti-cyclones over the UK has changed due to anthropogenic climate change.
This guide is part of the former section. The procedure that follows is the procedure used over the period of the project, and the Blackford Hill example used is the actual visibility observation that was conducted.
This element of the project is transferable to other locations with a suitable vantage point. The work can be carried out by a class group or as part of a specific scientific project for senior pupils.
Author: James Holehouse
Unless otherwise stated all content is released under a CC-BY 4.0 license
Keywords: Anti-cyclonic weather; Meteorological Visibility Observations; hill; Climate Change; Weather; Climate
Cover image is The view over the City of Edinburgh looking towards the north from Blackford Hill by Brian Cameron, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Four lessons giving an introduction to volcanoes and various aspects of geology: Volcano Experiments,
“The Debate to Save Heimaey”, Volcanic Eruption Research, and a Field Trip.
Educational Level 2 and 3
(SCN 2-17a, SCN 2-19a, SOC 2-07b, SOC 3-07a, TCH 2-02a, LIT 2-02a, EXA 2-14a)
This resource makes use of a variety of educational approaches to introduce learners to volcanoes and various aspects of geology. There are four lessons in this resource that lead on from one another.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Volcanos
Lesson 2: Eruption of Eldfell - The Debate to Save Heimaey
Lesson 3: Volcanic Eruption Research
Lesson 4: Arthur’s Seat Field Trip
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: Isla Simmons
Unless otherwise stated all content is released under a CC-BY 4.0 license.
Cover image is: Fissure eruption in Holurhraun (Iceland), 13. September 2014 by Joschenbacher (Wikimedia), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This resource is a presentation with activities about contact theory, the bystander effect and cognitive dissonance. It also contains short biographies of the two co-authors and details of their academic involvement in psychology. The target audience for this resource is learners studying the Scottish National 5 Psychology course (or equivalent).
Learning outcomes
Understand the difference between stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination
Be able to recognise a prejudiced comment
Ability to respond to prejudiced comment in a constructive way
Know several effective prejudice reducing strategies
Understand the basics of contact theory
Understand the bystander effect and its underlying factors
Understand cognitive dissonance
In this resource
This resource bundle includes pdf and editable versions of the following:
Practitioner Notes: contains notes detailing how to deliver the lessons, an activity on ‘Practising Prejudice Reduction’, and a ‘Meet the Psychologists’ section providing a short introduction to the authors of the resource.
Presentation: a short presentation. Details of use and when to present are included in the Practitioner Notes.
This resource was created as part of Psychology Outreach and Engagement which allows undergraduate psychology students to develop new projects aimed at meeting the needs of local community partners as part of their degree.
This resource was developed in partnership with Craigroyston Community High School, Edinburgh. Lorna Camus, an MA Hons Psychology student and Agniete Pocyte, a BSc Hons Psychology student, produced and delivered the resource with the help of Eric Freund, a teacher at Craigroyston Community High School. We are indebted to Eric, but we would also like to thank his 1A and his 2C classes for their participation and enthusiasm.
Author: Lorna Camus and Agniete Pocyte, adapted by Kay Douglas and Andrew Ferguson.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Presentation with activities about different forms of advertising technique including inattentional blindness, change blindness and Pavlovian conditioning. It also contains short biographies of the two coauthors and details of their academic involvement in psychology.
Educational Level 3 and 4
This resource was created as part of Psychology Outreach and Engagement (in partnership with the
School of GeoSciences) which allows undergraduate psychology students to develop new projects aimed
at meeting the needs of local community partners as part of their degree
Authors: Agniete Pocyte & Lorna Camus, adapted by Tomas Sanders
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC-BY 4.0 license.
Cover image is Times Square by Eric Salard (Flickr) is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
This resource contains a workshop with activities about the structure and functions of the brain and what happens when it goes wrong. It also contains short biographies of the two co-authors and details of their academic involvement in psychology. It is intended for learners studying the Scottish National 5 Psychology curriculum.
Learning outcomes
Name and locate the different lobes of the brain.
Understand the functions of each brain, and their real-life applications.
Actively work in a team with a common goal.
Understand the implications of brain damage, such as the case of Phineas Gage.
In this resource
This resource bundle includes pdf and editable versions of the following:
Practitioner Notes: contains in-depth notes as to the characteristics and composition of the brain, along with several support videos that may benefit learners. Also included are the rules for the “Brain Game”
Brain Cut Out: a single page with a coloured image of the brain, as required by the “Brain Game”
Brain Function and Lobe Names: for use in the “Brain Game”
Clue Cards: a set of clue cards for use in the “Brain Game”
Clue Card Answers: the corresponding answers to go along with the Clue Cards in the “Brain Game”
Meet the Psychologists: a single page document with a short description and picture of the two authors of this resource
This resource was created as part of Psychology Outreach and Engagement which allows undergraduate psychology students to develop new projects aimed at meeting the needs of local community partners as part of their degree.
This resource was developed in partnership with Craigroyston Community High School, Edinburgh. Lorna Camus, an MA Hons Psychology student and Agniete Pocyte, a BSc Hons Psychology student, produced and delivered the resource with the help of Eric Freund, a teacher at Craigroyston Community High School. We are indebted to Eric, but we would also like to thank his 1A and his 2C classes for their participation and enthusiasm.
Author: Lorna Camus and Agniete Pocyte, adapted by Kay Douglas and Andrew Ferguson.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under the CC BY 4.0 license.
A card game to develop HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) using climate change in the Alps. Learners
discuss whether a fictional ski instructor should exchange his skis for bicycle wheels. Included in this
guide is ‘Meet the Scientists’, about the real climate scientists. For learners aged 11 to 14.
Educational Level 2 - 3
(SOC 2-12a, SOC 2-13a, SOC 2-14a, SCN 2-20b, SCN 2-20a, MLAN 2-09a, LIT 2-02a, LIT 2-08a, LIT 2-09a)
This resource includes:
A practitioner guide (PDF and Word versions)
Details about learning outcomes
Instructions on running the activities
Items to be printed off or photocopied to play the game
A Meet the Scientists section about the real climate scientists who are Richard Fromm, Jack
Schaeffer and Viktoria Engel.
Map board for playing the game on
Presentations
Presentation 1: Setting the Scene: an introduction to Germany, its language and Richard’s
dilemma.
Presentation 2: “Where is that place?” - Map skills
Presentation 3: How to play the Board Game Help Richard decide if he should exchange his
skis for bicycle wheels.
This resource was created as part of the School of GeoScience Outreach.
Author: Kay Douglas.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is released under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Cover image is Aerial tramway La Grave France by NielsB (Wikimedia commons), licensed under CC-BY-SA-3.0.
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.
This resource contains two items, a detailed lesson plan and an accompanying slideshow/deck.
Created by The University of Edinburgh’s Wikimedian-in-Residence, Ewan McAndrew, the plan should assist any Wikipedia trainer in how to run a Wikipedia editing training sessions.
If you’re located in the UK, please message Wikimedia UK (info@wikimedia.org.uk) to let them know you are planning to run a training session as there are signup sheets, feedback forms and Wikimedia swag materials they can provide you with along with guidance about best practice. They can also potentially link you with Wikipedians in your area to help out at the session.
Cover image is Editing Wikipedia by Veronica Erb on Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.