Lessons

Try out Talking science by downloading our interactive lessons using the 'Download lesson' links below. Once you have downloaded a lesson you will have to unzip the folder and place it on your hard drive. To start the lesson open the folder and click on the 'lesson name START' file.

Lost on the moors

Investigating compasses magnetic attraction
This is one of our lessons about magnetism.
It tells the story of a hike in the moors and how important the law of magnetism is when using a compass correctly.

Lesson outline (pdf)

Download lesson (zip)





Paperclips and force meters

Investigating electromagnetic strength
This lesson looks at different methods to measure the strength of an electromagnet.
Throughout the lesson we make reference to predictions, variables that are changed, measured or controlled, patterns seen in data and whether there is good enough evidence for conclusions.

Lesson outline (pdf)

Download lesson (zip)

Barriers

Investigating moments
In this lesson we see uses of different barrier systems, work on moment calculations and Investigate properties for car park barriers.

Lesson outline (pdf)

Download lesson (zip)




Much more than dissolving

Physical and chemical changes 1
This lesson is mainly about physical and chemical changes.
Part of the work looks at dissolving and solubility.
A particle model tries to illustrate what happens during dissolving.
We see the reaction between limestone and hydrochloric acid; test the gas produced and look at the equation for the reaction.

Lesson outline (pdf)

Download lesson (zip)

Distillation

Evaluating two distillation techniques
This is one of our lessons about separating mixtures.
We will show you how to separate ink using a technique called distillation. We are going to try two ways to distil a solution of black ink.
Then we will compare our two methods and look for potential hazards. We will also try to use the particle model to explain what happens in distillation.

Lesson outline (pdf)

Download lesson (zip)

Kitchen pH chemistry 1

Investigating household acids and alkalis
The lesson is set in the context of the “kitchen chemistry”. It shows how to test various household substances with universal indicator and a pH meter.
We look briefly at neutralisation.
There are photographs and movie clips from the experimental work.

Lesson outline (pdf)

Download lesson (zip)


Pondweed bubbling

Investigating how temperature might affect photosynthesis
This is one of our photosynthesis lessons. It could be quite similar to an experiment you might have seen investigating light and photosynthesis.
We are trying to find out how temperature might affect photosynthesis.
Higher temperatures often increase the rates of chemical reactions; we will try and find out if this is true in plants.

Lesson outline (pdf)

Download lesson (zip)

Heart attack

The dangers of smoking
The lesson is about the dangers of smoking. It demonstrates how cilia can be damaged. We learn how oxygen is carried in red blood cells and the affects of carbon monoxide. Find out how the narrowing of blood vessels can lead to a heart attack.

Lesson outline (pdf)

Download lesson (zip)

Drinking cola

Investigating the effect of drinking cola on the heart rate
Two students discuss how to find out if drinking cola affects someone’s heart rate.
They agree on what to do and how to record their results.
Then they try to look for a pattern in their graph and suggest what affect drinking cola had on heart rate.

Lesson outline (pdf)

Download lesson (zip)

Apple ripening

Investigating fruit ripening
The lesson is set in a commercial context of the need to control fruit ripening.
We will find out how different chemical reactions are involved to regulate the complex ripening processes.

Lesson outline (pdf)

Download lesson (zip)