Category Archives: Science

Science School Trips Abroad

It is with great pleasure that I can share with you details of our bespoke science school trips. We hope that this provides ideas and inspiration for your future trips and we would be delighted to assist with any enquiries that you have for future programs at the school.

We are passionate about travel and really believe that the life changing experience and skills gained on an educational expedition are invaluable to students personal and academic development. Popular destinations for science-based learning include Borneo, Costa Rica & The Galapagos and we draw on 30 years of experience to tailor-make itineraries that meet the school’s individual requirements and learning objectives.

Our Expedition leaders are highly qualified and enjoy making your trip an amazing experience. They are what makes us unique and are central to what we do. Not only do they ensure your schedule is carried out to the letter as booked, but they add immeasurable value to every trip with their enthusiasm energy and knowledge. Your safety is our main concern at all times and we conform to strict UK safety standards and carry out regular risk assessments and checks on all our expeditions.

We would be delighted to hear from you, whether you are planning a trip in the near future or just curious to see some sample itineraries, please do feel free to contact me directly on nicola@gapforce.org or make a request via the contact form on our website

Yours faithfully,

Nicola Cousins • General Manager

The Old Town Hall, 4 Queens Road, Wimbledon, SW19 8YB United Kingdom
Mainline: +44 (0)207 384 3028 | Email: nicola@gapforce.org | Website: www.gapforce.org

Summer Schools in Maths, Physics and Medicine

Debate Chamber Science and Mathematics courses are aimed at students who enjoy an intellectual challenge, and who are curious about the ways in which their knowledge can be applied to help with real-world questions. Our courses are academically intense, with an emphasis on independent thinking and collaborative problem-solving, providing a valuable insight into university level education.

Our tutors (typically Masters or PhD students) are selected for their exceptional communication skills, charismatic and inspiring classroom presence and very strong subject knowledge.

Working in groups of 12 – 14 students over several days offers participants a real chance to get to know tutors and fellow students and to explore the topics or questions that particularly interest them.

Physics Summer School (ages 15-18)

The Physics Summer School provides an opportunity for bright students to explore some of the most exciting and challenging ideas in contemporary physics. The Summer School is split into two parts: Part 1 focuses on classical mechanics and astrophysics and is open to GCSE and A-level students. Part 2 focuses on quantum mechanics and relativity and is open to students who will have completed at least one year of A-level mathematics.

‘Challenging, but great fun, the Physics course was a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into some of the fundamental principles that govern our world, giving me a better idea of what Physics at University might be like. From learning about the abstract world of Quantum Mechanics to discussing black holes and teleportation, the course left me astounded by both the amount we already know, and how much we have yet to discover!’

Mathematics Summer School (ages 15-18)

The Mathematics Summer School explores a variety of advanced topics in pure and applied mathematics, including set theory; prime numbers; algorithms; infinites; multi-variable calculus; proofs; cryptography; probability theory and Turing machines. Part 1 focuses on number theory, algebra and geometry and is open to GCSE and A-level students. Part 2 focuses on calculus, proofs and infinities and is open to students who have completed at least one year of A-level mathematics.

‘It was a fantastic opportunity to discover new areas of maths that I would otherwise have not been introduced to through the A Level syllabus. I enjoyed the course and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in approaching more challenging maths problems.’

Medicine Summer School (ages 15-18)

The Medicine Summer School is split into five 2-day programmes, each covering a different area of medical practice. Students will be given the opportunity to work alongside practising medical students to develop the theoretical and applied skills necessary to become a doctor.

‘Debate Chamber’s Medicine Summer School was great! I learnt in great detail about medical topics such as oncology, paediatrics and epidemiology. Suturing bananas was a highlight for me and I would thoroughly recommend the course for anyone considering medicine as a career.’

We also have a Young Doctors Summer School, which covers some of the more accessible medical topics for students aged 11-14.

Bursaries

Debate Chamber is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent any student from attending our events. Students can apply for bursaries covering up to 95% of the course fee through our website.

How can my students attend?

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2019. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at www.debatechamber.com. There is a limited amount of bursary funding available for students who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending – please see our website for details.

To book a place please visit www.debatechamber.com, call us on 0800 810 1058, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. 

Debate Chamber Summer Schools

Debate Chamber Summer Schools

Debate Chamber Science and Mathematics courses are for students who enjoy being intellectually challenged and who are curious about the ways in which their knowledge can be applied to help solve real-world problems. Our courses are challenging, with an emphasis on independent thinking and collaborative problem-solving, providing a valuable insight into university level education.

Our tutors are selected for their exceptional communication skills, their charismatic and inspiring classroom presence, and passion for their subject (generally they are Masters or Doctoral candidates, and so young enough to relate easily to school age students, but with excellent subject knowledge).

Group sizes for these courses are 12-14 students, and teaching involves a combination of lectures, group discussions, team games and practical activities. The comfortable and welcoming environment makes it easy for students to share ideas amongst their peers, and to progress from their existing knowledge toward more challenging material.

Young Scientists Summer School (ages 11-14) 

The Young Scientists Summer School is aimed at younger students, and focuses on developing intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. Covering a wide range of skills from the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Engineering, students will learn how to build bridges, design spaceships, search for life on distant planets, and trace the history of the universe all the way back to a trillionth of a second after the big bang.

‘It was a great experience with fun, engaging activities, lots of good advice from the teachers and they were very nice and welcoming.’

Physics Summer School (ages 15-18) 

The Physics Summer School provides an opportunity for bright students to explore some of the most exciting and challenging ideas in contemporary physics. The Summer School is split into two parts: Part 1 focuses on classical mechanics and astrophysics and is open to GCSE and A-level students. Part 2 focuses on quantum mechanics and relativity and is open to students who will have completed at least one year of A-level mathematics.

‘Challenging, but great fun, the Physics course was a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into some of the fundamental principles that govern our world, giving me a better idea of what Physics at University might be like. From learning about the abstract world of Quantum Mechanics to discussing black holes and teleportation, the course left me astounded by both the amount we already know, and how much we have yet to discover!’

Mathematics Summer School (ages 15-18)

The Mathematics Summer School explores a variety of advanced topics in pure and applied mathematics, including set theory; prime numbers; algorithms; infinites; multi-variable calculus; proofs; cryptography; probability theory and Turing machines. Part 1 focuses on number theory, algebra and geometry and is open to GCSE and A-level students. Part 2 focuses on calculus, proofs and infinities and is open to students who have completed at least one year of A-level mathematics.

‘It was a fantastic opportunity to discover new areas of maths that I would otherwise have not been introduced to through the A Level syllabus. I enjoyed the course and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in approaching more challenging maths problems.’

Medicine Summer School (ages 15-18)

The Medicine Summer School is split into five 2-day programmes, each covering a different area of medical practice. Students will be given the opportunity to work alongside practising medical students to develop the theoretical and applied skills necessary to become a doctor.

‘Debate Chamber’s Medicine Summer School was great! I learnt in great detail about medical topics such as oncology, paediatrics and epidemiology. Suturing bananas was a highlight for me and I would thoroughly recommend the course for anyone considering medicine as a career.’

We also have a Young Doctors Summer School, which covers some of the more accessible medical topics for students aged 11-14.

Bursaries

Debate Chamber is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent any student from attending our events. Students are able to apply for bursaries covering up to 90% of the course fee through our website.

How can my students attend?

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2019. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at www.debatechamber.com. There is a limited amount of bursary funding available for students who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending – please see our website for details.

To book a place please visit www.debatechamber.com, call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Explore activities that transform a knowledge regurgitator into a scientific thinker.

To excel in exams students need to be able to think critically and creatively when under pressure.  It is not enough to simply regurgitate a concept or rule.  They need to be able to apply ideas to situations they may not have encountered before – whilst meeting tight deadlines.

You can receive a set of curriculum linked resources that are specifically designed to develop these skills through science – the very skills the OECD report are in increasingly high demand by employers but in short supply.

It is all part of the new Thinkers in Education Update that is going live this term and costs absolutely nothing.

Starters, plenaries, full lessons and projects – supported by teaching screens, student worksheets, online quizzes and homework challenges – can be emailed to you a few times each term to download ready to insert into your teaching as and when the time arises.

The activities will save you time, challenge pupils to learn by problem solving and help to increase engagement via the unusual contexts and competitive challenges included.

More importantly, they will help you to identify and transform those students who are fabulous at regurgitating information but then fall short under exam pressures.  It is an approach that has proven hugely successful with thousands of pupils in our STEM workshops since 2001.

You will receive a range of classroom activities throughout the year, find out about student workshops in your area and have first access to any upcoming promotions.

It takes less than a minute to request the updates.  Simply click here to have a look.

Alternatively, you can email me with any queries you have:  joseph@thinkersineducation.co.uk

How to get some really imaginative resources that help you develop thinkers in science.

Discovering if toy robots will be crushed when kids race them across an unopened stretch of motorway – by analysing the motion of the robots and oncoming steamrollers – has made thousands of pupils smile whilst improving their interpretations and calculations from speed graphs.

A little rebellious and a hint macabre, the approach has never failed to generate engagement in physics.  There is a wealth of engaging contexts and challenges for biology and chemistry too, from CSI themed activities to the exploration of alien worlds.  And they are all free.

Complete lessons, starters and plenaries are available. There are teaching screens, student worksheets, online quizzes and homework challenges that can be emailed to you a few times each term – ready to insert into your teaching as and when the time arises.

These curriculum linked resources are specifically designed to develop critical thinking, creative thinking and communication skills – the very skills the OECD report are in high demand by employers but in increasingly short supply.

Based on the approach and questioning style that has proven so successful in workshops delivered by Thinkers in Education since 2001 the activities will save you time, challenge your most able students and help to increase engagement for all via the unusual contexts and competitive challenges included.  Plus, you will receive exclusive discounts on a wide variety of workshops too.

It takes less than a minute to sign up for the updates.  Simply click here to have a look.

If you would like to discuss ideas, we would be delighted to talk with you.

You can call us on 01603 520 866 or email:  joseph@thinkersineducation.co.uk

What is the most effective way of showing students that science has a dramatic and exciting role to play in the everyday world.

Imagine a group of your students searching a vehicle found at a crime scene.  Given such a chance most students instantly become immersed in this new world, excited and engaged in the scenario evolving around them.

And the moment they find human remains that later need identifying using DNA tests, there is no tearing them away from their activity.

As such, placing students inside the sort of police drama they most likely see on TV,  is an approach which can change a student’s entire attitude towards what science is. And it can do this within a day.

Suddenly the students see science as interesting, relevant to the real world, and exactly the sort of thing they want to be involved in.   Students who haven’t spoken to their parents about school work in years are suddenly can’t wait to reveal what they have been doing.

This is what the “Thinkers in Education” workshops achieve, delivering a wide range of experiences that identify the strengths of each participant while developing an enthusiasm for science and a skill set that will be advantageous in education and the workplace.

Within the workshops there is a strong focus on higher order thinking, team building and communication within science – all assessed and given as immediate feedback to the students and performance reports for the school.

It is a proven formula that can change attitudes and improve performance levels in one day. Moreover, the reports generated can help support your assessment and provide additional evidence for Ofsted Inspections.

Spectacular Saturdays and Holiday Workshops are two of the easiest ways to introduce the students to science beyond the classroom. They offer you a chance to host leading STEM workshops at very little cost to the school, without affecting the timetable or adding to your workloads.  Plus, they have been recommended by every school that has taken part since 2001.

You simply choose the date(s) and provide the venue.  We send you the literature to distribute to parents so they can book a place.  If, after 21 days, you have 25 or more pupils enrolled, we will confirm the event and run the workshop on the date of your choice. If not, there is no commitment and we release the date.

Parents pay for their son or daughter to attend, as they would for a school trip, or the school can choose to subsidise the cost and use Pupil Premium funding if appropriate.  Parents can book and pay online, so there is no extra work for the school.

To find out about the Holiday Schools click here. Or to request an information pack you can email:  info@thinkersineducation.co.uk

Of course, workshops are also available during term time – enabling you to run highly effective transition days, activity weeks and challenge days to fit within the year plan.

If you would like to discuss options with an advisor, please call 01603 520866.

Debate Chamber Events 2018  

Debate Chamber Summer Schools

Debate Chamber Science and Mathematics courses are for students who enjoy being intellectually challenged and who are curious about the ways in which their knowledge can be applied to help solve real-world problems. Our courses are challenging, with an emphasis on independent thinking and collaborative problem-solving, providing a valuable insight into university level education.

Our tutors are selected for their exceptional communication skills, their charismatic and inspiring classroom presence, and their very strong knowledge base and passion for their subject. Our classes consist of a combination of lectures, group discussions, team games and practical activities, creating a comfortable environment for students to share ideas amongst their peers, and to progress from their existing knowledge toward more challenging material.

Young Scientists Summer School (New for 2018) 

The Young Scientists Summer School is aimed at students aged 11-14 and focuses on developing intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. Covering a wide range of skills from the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Engineering, students will learn how to build bridges, design spaceships, search for life on distant planets, and trace the history of the universe all the way back to a trillionth of a second after the big bang.

Physics Summer Schools

The Physics Summer School provides an opportunity for bright students to explore some of the most exciting and challenging ideas in contemporary physics. The Summer School is split into two parts: Part 1 focuses on classical mechanics and astrophysics and is open to GCSE and A-level students. Part 2 focuses on quantum mechanics and relativity and is open to students who will have completed at least one year of A-level mathematics.

‘Challenging, but great fun, the Physics course was a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into some of the fundamental principles that govern our world, giving me a better idea of what Physics at University might be like. From learning about the abstract world of Quantum Mechanics to discussing black holes and teleportation, the course left me astounded by both the amount we already know, and how much we have yet to discover!’

Mathematics Summer School 

The Mathematics Summer School explores a variety of advanced topics in pure and applied mathematics, including set theory; prime numbers; algorithms; infinites; multi-variable calculus; proofs; cryptography; probability theory and Turing machines. Part 1 focuses on number theory, algebra and geometry and is open to GCSE and A-level students. Part 2 focuses on calculus, proofs and infinities and is open to students who have completed at least one year of A-level mathematics.

‘It was a fantastic opportunity to discover new areas of maths that I would otherwise have not been introduced to through the A Level syllabus. I enjoyed the course and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in approaching more challenging maths problems.’

Medicine Summer School 

The Medicine Summer School is split into five 2-day programmes, each covering a different area of medical practice. Students will be given the opportunity to work alongside practising medical students to develop the theoretical and applied skills necessary to become a doctor.

‘Debate Chamber’s Medicine Summer School was great! I learnt in great detail about medical topics such as oncology, paediatrics and epidemiology. Suturing bananas was a highlight for me and I would thoroughly recommend the course for anyone considering medicine as a career.’ 

Bursaries 

Debate Chamber is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent any student from attending our events. Students are able to apply for bursaries covering up to 100% of the course fee through our website. 

How can my students attend?

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2018. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at http://www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/. There is a limited amount of bursary funding available for students who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending – please see our website for details.

To book a place please visit www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/, call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.  

How to Improve Engagement in Science through Competition and the Gamification of Learning

Science is still regarded as one of the hardest subjects.  The OECD still report a significant STEM skills deficit in the UK – and unfortunately students know X Factor can be won without either.

But for over a decade, more than 98% of participating students – of all ability ranges, in all types of schools, from Australia to the UK – have raved about a particular approach that has changed their perception of not only science but of learning.  As a result, every host school has recommended it since 2001.

The secret has been to combine intriguing contexts and gamification strategies with curriculum content, all wrapped within a competition format.   It ensures activities, from redox reactions to electronics, are made relevant to each individual and generates huge amounts of engagement and enthusiasm.

In the ‘game’ it is a matter of life and death.  In reality, pupils truly respond.  And so do staff, particularly when they form a team to challenge the pupils.

Once you have the formula, you can positively change attitudes and improve performance levels.

The Real STEM Competition is designed to challenge up to 72 pupils in a day and demonstrate the approach to staff.  It runs until science week 2019 but could well be a valuable addition to your upcoming activity weeks and transition days, especially as there is a £1000 prize available for the winners, runner-up prizes and free activities for all host schools.  Furthermore, discounts are available if you host the workshop in July.

This year’s competition is called ‘Space Pioneers’ – reinforcing and expanding upon KS3 & KS4 curriculum content within a thrilling scenario about the colonisation of Mars.  With NASA, MarsOne and SpaceX all in a real-life race to Mars, the context has never been more relevant.

The workshop is delivered on the school site – so there is no travel required.  Up to six teams of six pupils can compete in a 2-2.5 hour session that is repeated for a different group after a short break.  The competition runs within the normal timings of your day to minimalise disruption to your timetable.  It can allow the school to really challenge the high achievers in one session and motivate those that need a gentle push in another as each session is carefully facilitated for the ability of the group.

To help with funding, you can receive a £100 discount if you host an event in July and quote the promotional code RSSP18 when booking.  It brings the cost down to less than £10 per pupil.

To find out more about the competition, logistics and prizes you can visit the website.

Alternatively, you can email events@thinkersineducation.co.uk or call 01603 520866 for further details.

Thinkers in Education also offer a range of CSI themed workshops in the same format, and whilst these are not part of the Real STEM Competition you can still benefit from the £100 discount by using the code RSSP18 for July events.  Plus, the discount applies to these workshops in September too – so it is a great way to motivate pupils at the start of the school year.

Two of the best dual power scientific calculators for KS 3, 4 and GCSE maths and Scottish exams ……

The Casio FX 85GT+ and the Logik LK 83XP are excellent choices for your

GCSE maths students.  They  benefit from battery power with solar power back-up  to provide extra reassurance for your students. Both calcs have a “natural display” function which enables students to enter expressions and data as shown in textbooks.  As you might expect,  the build quality of these calcs is excellent and both benefit from a THREE year warranty to provide peace of mind for teachers and students alike.   (excludes damage to the LCD).

The Logik  LK 83XP has similar features to the Casio FX 85GT+  but without the “verify” and “recurring decimal” functions. Both calcs  feature  prime factorisation, random numbers, algebraic logic, multi-line replay, standard deviation, log / anti-log, hyperbolics etc and have a three year warranty and are available at short notice from Signpost Educational Ltd.,

The  Logik LK 83XP  is available from £ 5.25 each  ex vat while the  Casio

FX 85GT+  starts at £ 7.75 each ex vat.

In addition,  with orders for 100 or more of the LK 83XP   you have the option of obtaining the popular  “Value Maths set”   for  just 95p  (ex vat)

Normal  price  £ 1.25 (ex vat)

For more information & prices plus other products please visit:

    www.signposteducational.co.uk    

 or email to: info@signposteducational.co.uk    or phone: 020 7515 1797

Signpost Educational Ltd  PO Box 999  London E14 6SH

PS.  orders are usually delivered within 1-3 working days

How can we encourage the less adept biology students to think in the same way as their colleagues?

There is something about the way in which those who naturally take to biology think about the subject which marks them out from those who find biology at A and AS level that little bit more difficult.

And part of this comes from the way in which each student considers the subject overall.

It was with this thought in mind that we set about understanding exactly what was needed to help those who found biology that little bit harder than their colleagues.

Then, as a result of our studies we felt the best approach would be to provide a single unified resource which contained everything that was needed.  All the key information from the syllabus, plus a guide to how the different topics link together, plus immediate access to the activities which can help place the resultant learning in the long term memory.

Placing all this information in a single resource was an important part of our work, because our experience showed us that, for these particular students, moving from book to book was often part of the problem.

Thus we were looking for a resource that gave the students the key information they needed, a guide to how the different in-depth topics linked together, and a set of activities which helped ingrain the resultant learning in the long term memory.

Now we have put the details of our research on-line.  To see the results just choose the exam board you are using: AQA,  OCR,  EdexcelIB, or Cambridge and then click the “free preview button” for a sample download.

I really do think that once you have seen exactly what we have done you’ll agree that this is a new approach which can help your students maximise their understanding of biology and hence raise their grades.

Meanwhile if you have any questions please do call 01283 530366 or email sales@biozone.co.uk

Debate Chamber Summer Schools

Debate Chamber Science and Mathematics Summer Schools are for aspirational students who want to indulge their passion for problem-solving and push back the boundaries of their knowledge. Led by a team of expert tutors, our courses focus on developing intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and the desire to explore academic material independently.  Small classes allow for a discussion-based approach, creating a comfortable environment for students to share ideas amongst their peers and to progress from their existing knowledge towards more challenging material.

Physics Summer School 

The Physics Summer School explores some of the most exciting and revolutionary ideas in contemporary physics, from the smallest quantum particles to the largest spiral galaxies.  The Summer School is split into two parts, with each part comprising a structured five-day programme. Part 1 focuses on classical mechanics and astrophysics and is open to GCSE and A-Level students. Part 2 focuses on quantum mechanics and relativity and is open to students who have completed at least one year of A-Level Mathematics by the time the course begins.

‘The Debate Chamber Physics course was both challenging and stimulating and one which provided a firm grounding on some cutting edge, modern physics. We were taught about both the very large and very small, from special and general relativity to quantum mechanics and the philosophical interpretations of the measurement problem. I would thoroughly recommend this course to anyone contemplating studying the subject at university or to anyone who just wants to learn some physics!’ 

Mathematics Summer School 

The Mathematics Summer School is aimed at students aged 15-18 who want to explore more advanced topics in pure and applied mathematics. Part 1 focuses on number theory, geometry, abstract algebra, probability theory, code-breaking and computation. Part 2 offers a university-style approach to the topics of linear algebra, analysis, differential equations, proofs, infinities and cryptography. As with the Physics Summer School, Part 2 requires that students have completed one year of A-Level Mathematics by the time the course begins. 

‘If you are considering taking a maths related degree at university in the future, this week-long Summer School provides an excellent taster of what you can expect. I learnt about multivariable calculus, differential equations, predicate logic, Godel’s Incompleteness Theorem, and linear algebra. The course opens your eyes to intriguing fields of mathematics you may not ever encounter at school.’

Young Scientists Summer School – NEW FOR 2018

The Young Scientists Summer School offers students aged 11-14 the chance to explore some of the most interesting topics in science, from the foundations of quantum physics to the latest discoveries in genetic engineering. Taking in a wide range of skills from the fields of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, students will discover how to build bridges, design spaceships, search for life on distant planets, and trace the history of the universe all the way back to a trillionth of a second after the big bang. 

Bursaries 

Debate Chamber is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent any student from attending our events. Students can apply for bursaries covering up to 100% of the course fee through our website.

How can my students attend?

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2018. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at http://www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/.

To book a place please visit www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/, call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.  

Bridging the attainment gap in science at KS3

One of the most effective ways of helping your struggling pupils, be they dyslexic or slower processors, is to teach via topics and for them to develop an understanding of each topic using active learning techniques such as activities or games alongside the text that has to be read. This will also help your EAL pupils.

At the same time, there needs to be encouragement to write. This is not just writing for the sake of it but using notes to reinforce what is being learned.

In this way, the reading, activities and note taking combine to reinforce key words and concepts while making the learning relevant and accessible.

Oaka KS3 science topic packs contain full colour illustrations and use short words and simple sentence constructions that the students are likely to understand. Key points for each topic are covered in a clear, straightforward manner so any reading difficulty does not get in the way of understanding.

Last year, over 4,000 pupils accessed Oaka Digital, our online KS3 SEN resource library complete with 3D science images. Oaka Digital contains online science topic booklets for biology, chemistry and physics as well as revision quizzes (with recordable results), 3D images and activities to reinforce classroom learning.

To see more about how why Oaka’s multisensory approach works click here, and to review our KS3 science resources, please click here.

To view our brand new KS3 science revision games, click here.

After that, if you feel this could be right for your students, your school can trial Oaka Digital (KS3) without obligation and without any cost for 30 days – just click here. For all our products, we have a ‘no quibble’ 14 day returns guarantee so you can order with total confidence.

Best wishes

Bambi Gardiner
Founder, Oaka Books

 

How the “unified study” approach is helping to raise biology results at A and AS level

One of the fundamental differences between the talented student who takes naturally to the study of biology at A and AS level, and those who are less drawn to the subject, is the ability to grasp the essence of the subject of biology, as a unity.

These more adept students recognise the different strands of the subject and seem to have a natural ability to grasp both the detail of each element of the course they are studying, alongside an overview that helps them greatly when they come to the exam.

It is with this particular thought in mind that we have produced a resource that allows students to grasp both the detail and the overview of the biology course they are studying, all in one volume.

This resource gives the students the key information they need, a guide to how the different in-depth topics link together and the activities which help ingrain the resultant learning in the long term memory.

And all of this is done through one, single resource.  A resource that is a student workbook, a textbook, a study guide and an activity book, all in one single volume.

Now I know this seems like rather a broad and ambitious claim, which is why I would like the chance to show you how it has been done.

To see this just choose the exam board you are using: AQA,   OCR,  EdexcelIB, or Cambridge and then click the “free preview button” for a sample download.

I really do think that once you have seen exactly what we have done you’ll agree that this is a new approach which can help your students maximise their understanding of biology and hence raise their grades.

Meanwhile if you have any questions please do call 01283 530366 or email sales@biozone.co.uk

Richard Allan

 

What are the two key factors most likely to enhance students’ A and AS level biology results?

Interestingly, the key factors that enhance student progress at A and AS level biology are by and large quite widely known and accepted by most teachers.

The problem has always been (at least until now) getting students to implement them.

The first factor, of course, involves stopping students simply “reading through” textbook materials and instead persuading them to move over to active learning in which they handle and manipulate information as they progress.

The second factor involves having a system through which students can rapidly find information on related concepts and issues, so that they neither make false assumptions nor fail to see how information across different topics fits together.

Because of the importance of these two issues, they were naturally at the centre of our thinking as my colleagues and I came to the task of devising a new set of materials for A and AS Level Biology.

As a result BIOZONE produced not a text book in the traditional sense, but an interactive workbook which forces the students to make their learning active, thus enhancing thinking and embedding the learning into the student’s long term memory.

At the same time we devised a unique tab system which identifies relevant online resources and connections to related concepts across the entire specification.  In short the learning more rapidly becomes part of a meaningful, unified approach, rather than a set of different topics.

To show how this works in practice I would be delighted to supply you with sample downloads completely free of charge.

Simply click here for these free resources.

Alternatively if you have any questions please do call 01283 530366 or email sales@biozone.co.uk.

Richard Allan

CEO, BIOZONE

Probably the most popular laboratory and art room stool in UK schools and colleges…………..

 …and often available at short notice.

WSM  laboratory and art room stools are used by thousands of  students in many UK  schools and colleges and there are FIVE good reasons why…..

1.  Manufactured in the UK  with a six year frame warranty for peace of mind.

2.  The frame is fully welded for strength and durability.

3.  A choice of ten seat colours and  five frame sizes.

4.  A choice of two frame types:  four legs or skid base.

5.  Moulded and shaped seat for comfort.

For more details of these excellent  UK manufactured stools plus competitive  prices please see the website:

www.centraleducational.co.uk/stools-wsm%20skidbase.html

Central Educational Supplies  Ltd can be contacted by email on:

info@centraleducational.co.uk   or tel:  020 7515 1797  and ask for Martin Evans who will be pleased to assist.

Delivery lead times tend to be longer during the summer months so  if you are planning to order, sooner is better than later!

 

 

FREE GRATNELLS STORAGE KIT * for the maths and science departments …..

Gratnells are the leaders  for storage containers in schools, colleges and universities.

Their products are  designed to make life  more efficient  both for teachers and “back room” staff, particularly in the maths and science  departments.

Did you know that right now, until July 31, when you order selected calculators from Signpost Educational Ltd., you will receive Gratnells boxes completely free of charge!

For every 30  LK 183 or LK 83XP calculators you order*  you will get a free Gratnells storage box, foam insert and a clear lid.  There’s a minimum order of 60 calcs (that means you’ll  get two boxes, two foams and two lids free of charge)  but you must quote  the code  NIVRAM to benefit from this offer.

For details of these two calculators, please see:  www.signposteducational.co.uk or contact Signpost Educational Ltd by phone:  020 7515 1797 or by email:

info@signposteducational.co.uk

Signpost Educational Ltd., PO Box 999  London, E14 6SH

Free local speaker and resources for teaching ethical issues in science

Many pupils are passionate about the welfare of animals though, if surveys are to be believed, many of them do not know how their bacon, eggs and milk are produced!

Food production is a growing topic of debate whether you are talking about the ethics of how we treat animals, how we produce healthy food and how we can feed a growing population.

Finding time to discuss topics such as animal welfare and sustainable food production is doubly valuable – it gives pupils an important understanding of a range of ethical issues in science and it encourages great debates!

It is also an opportunity to find a new angle to teach syllabus content such as selective breeding and food chains which feed humans. These issues can be brought to life by discussing different ways of keeping farm animals in organic, free-range or intensive systems.

To help you to engage your pupils in such discussions, we provide a free speaker service and a pack of resources including a film and discussion activities, which can be adapted for pupils of different ages, abilities and levels of confidence.

To enquire about a speaker or to order a free resource pack, please email education@ciwf.org.uk. It will be helpful if you write “Biology mailshot” in the subject title.

To view or download the resources directly, including films, please go to our website which has details of all our resources for science including an archive genetic engineering film.

Yours sincerely,

Phil Brooke
Education Development Manager
Compassion in World Farming

Links and contacts:

Email: education@ciwf.org.uk

Tel: 01483 521 965

Education website: ciwf.org.uk/education

Speaker service: ciwf.org.uk/speakers

Science resources: ciwf.org.uk/scienceeducation

Win by Working Scientifically

How to develop the scientific skill set and win fantastic prizes for the science department

Overcoming the misconceptions and reservations many students have about studying science can be a challenge.  In fact, the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) still indicates a significant STEM skills deficit in the UK.

To make a real difference, students need to be fully engaged in a hands-on project they see as relevant.  One in which they are actively solving problems.  One in which they develop a sense of personal achievement.

The Real STEM Competition is designed to achieve this for up to 72 pupils in a day and is delivered on the school site – so there is no travel required.  Six teams of six pupils compete in a double lesson session that is repeated for a different group after break or lunch – minimalising disruption to the timetable.

A specialist team run the event and as the lead presenter is a hugely experienced science teacher there is no need for school staff to be present – allowing class teachers to supervise other lessons, effectively saving the cost of a cover teacher for the day.  Of course, teachers can always choose to observe their students compete and then apply the proven strategies to future lessons.

‘Space Pioneers’ is the exciting theme for this year’s competition – which reinforces and expands upon KS3 & KS4 curriculum content within a thrilling scenario of the mission to Mars.

Every competitor will build advanced electronic sensors, using semiconductor components, to represent features of a Mars Lander.  Then they will conduct redox reactions using microchemistry (the reduction of Copper Oxide with Hydrogen) to represent the analysis surface materials in areas of scientific interest around the landing site.

Most importantly, students will develop a wide range skills specified by the Working Scientifically criteria.  They will do so as part of a team, against tight deadlines and in a game-like context – which not only makes the experience relevant and challenging but maximises engagement.

Schools entering the competition will receive performance reports for every participant and a free copy of the Caving Conundrum activity, which applies the approach to the marble chip investigation.

Every participant will receive a certificate of achievement listing the skills developed and members of the winning team will be awarded a commemorative medal.  If the highest score is one of the top scores by Science Week 2018 the school can win a full-day workshop each term for a year, a further Double STEM Workshop or STEM Box 1 – full of fabulous activities to run with multiple classes.

The competition is a superb addition to upcoming activity weeks, holiday schools and transition days.  For further information or to enter your school – you can visit the website, email events@thinkersineducation.co.uk or call 01603 520866.

“Since Tom started using Education Quizzes, he has really started to sparkle.”

We have made Education Quizzes free for a whole year so that students like Tom can sparkle too

Despite all the revision tips, tricks and techniques, the best way to help your pupils to retain the knowledge that they have learned in their science lessons is by presenting them with the opportunity to use this knowledge on a regular basis.

However, since there is more than one topic area to cover in science, it can sometimes be a long period of time until a topic is revisited, by which time your pupils will have forgotten much of what they had previously learned.

Which is why we have produced an extensive library of science quizzes and made them free to use for a whole year, so that your students can test and revise their knowledge as frequently as they need and want to.

What’s more, Education Quizzes is ideal to set as homework tasks as it involves little to no PPA time – giving you more time to focus on planning and preparing future lessons and assessing the work of your students from lessons which have gone before.

To get a better idea of what Education Quizzes is all about, simply visit www.educationquizzes.com. And to sign your school up for Education Quizzes for free for a whole year, go to www.educationquizzes.com/schools-uk-registrations/.

If you have any queries, you can easily contact us by sending an email to admin@educationquizzes.com.

Debate Chamber Summer Schools

The uniquely human ability to create and use explanatory knowledge has provided us with the power to transform the natural world. What we do with this power will ultimately determine the fate of our planet. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle and to solve them, requires creative imagination. In a rapidly changing world, scientific literacy is more important than ever if one hopes to understand and solve the complex challenges facing our species.

Debate Chamber Science and Mathematics courses are for 15-18-year-old students who want to push back the boundaries of their knowledge, or who are curious about the ways in which that knowledge can be applied to the real world to help shape the future. Our hope is that students will leave our Summer Schools feeling inspired to pursue their passions, empowered to make well-informed decisions, and optimistic about the meaningful contribution they can make to this world.

Led by a team of expert tutors, most of whom have completed postgraduate research in science and mathematics, our courses focus on developing intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and the desire to explore academic material independently. Classes will be discussion-based, creating a comfortable environment for students to share ideas amongst their peers and to progress from their existing knowledge toward more challenging material.

Physics Summer Schools

The Physics Summer School is an opportunity for like-minded students to explore some of the most exciting and challenging ideas in contemporary physics. Topics will include: black hole physics, gravitational red-shift, time travel, supernovas, quantum mechanics, stellar physics, thermodynamics, cosmology, string theory, relativity and the search for exo-planets. The Summer School is split into two parts: Part 1 focuses on classical mechanics and astrophysics and is open to GCSE and A-level students. Part 2 focuses on Quantum Mechanics and Relativity and is open to students who will have completed AS mathematics by the time the course begins.

This was by far the most informative, productive and enjoyable week of my summer holiday. It was an incredibly well balanced and finely tuned course, which not only expanded my knowledge of physics, but my skills in applying it to unfamiliar problems. Chilled atmosphere, tutors approachable and engaging; couldn’t recommend this course more for aspiring physicists.

Mathematics Summer School

Guided only by their feelings for symmetry and simplicity, creative mathematicians are inspired by the art of mathematics rather than by any prospect of its ultimate usefulness. And yet, we live in a world in which mathematical ideas find application in almost every branch of human knowledge. The Mathematics Summer School is an opportunity for aspirational students to spend five days exploring some of the most exciting topics in contemporary mathematics. Topics will include: set theory; infinites; multi-variable calculus; applications of differential equations to population growth and financial markets; proof by induction and contradiction; algorithms; cryptography; code-breaking and Turing machines. As a general structure, students will develop their theoretical understanding of mathematics in the morning session, before exploring the practical applications in the afternoon.

‘Attending the Maths Summer School allowed me to explore a variety of mathematical concepts not covered at school. I was given an opportunity to learn about multivariable calculus and differential equations from a physics graduate, predicate logic and Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem from a philosophy graduate, and linear algebra from a mathematics graduate. All of my tutors were very eloquent and clear, and I’ve learnt new branches of mathematics to give myself a slight head-start going into university.’

Medicine Summer School

The Medicine Summer School offers a valuable insight into the reality of studying medicine at university. The Summer School is split into five 2-day programmes, each covering a different area of medical practice. Students will be given the opportunity to work alongside practising medical students to develop the theoretical and applied skills necessary to become a doctor.

‘I completely recommend this course! Whether you are totally convinced Medicine is for you, or if you just want a taster to see if it’s right, this course is perfect. The tutors are passionate and highly knowledgeable, and teach a great course covering a wide range of topics. Absolutely ten out of ten on all aspects – go and do it!’

Bursaries

Debate Chamber is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent any student from attending our events. Students are able to apply for bursaries covering up to 100% of the course fee through our website.

How can my students attend?

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2017. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at http://www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/. There is a limited amount of bursary funding available for students who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending – please see our website for details.

To book a place please visit www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/, call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Supporting Your Able Scientists

Specialist Saturday and Holiday Workshops, for able and ambitious science students, at no cost to the school

There is an easy way to capitalise on all of the interest and enthusiasm generated by a Science Week that helps you create a truly extraordinary programme for your ambitious scientists.  And, most importantly, it requires no extra work.

As a science department, you aim to provide the best scientific opportunities for all students.  As a parent you want to give your children the best start in life.

This is why Spectacular Saturday and Holiday Workshops have proved to be so highly valued by schools and families throughout the UK.  They allow schools to host leading STEM workshops at no cost to the school, without affecting the timetable or adding to teacher workloads.

They allow participants to experience science activities that are typically unavailable until they reach higher education and develop essential skills that give them an advantage in education and beyond.

With three very different workshops to choose from, all developing different skills and offering different hands-on practical activities, you can easily provide for your most ambitious and more able students.  And the parents will appreciate the additional support the school makes for their children.

Every workshop has been recommended by every host school for over a decade.  So, whether you choose ‘Dead on Time’ the ultra-realistic CSI workshop for critical thinkers, ‘Target Mars’ an adrenalin filled space adventure for creative thinkers or ‘Bunkered’ an exciting survival story for strategic thinkers – we make it easy for you but incredibly effective.

To see more details about these options, you can click here.  But, quite simply, you choose a day on which you can host the event and we send you the literature to distribute to parents to book a place.  They pay for their child to attend, as they would for a school trip, or the school can choose to subsidise the cost using Pupil Premium funding.  It costs just £25 per pupil per day.

Once you have more than 20 pupils enrolled, we will confirm the event and run the entire day on the date of your choice.

The presentation team, all with full DBS checks, will simply need access to a hall or large room in which the workshop takes place from 8:30 to 15:45.  They will greet parents, supervise students from arrival to departure and deliver an unrivalled STEM experience.

Participants will each receive a certificate of achievement detailing the skills developed.  There are also prizes for members of the winning team and medals for the champions of the day.

For details of the Spectacular Saturday Workshops click here.  For details of 2-5 day Holiday Schools click here.

For further information, please call us on 01603 520866 or email events@thinkersineducation.co.uk

Comprehensive A-level mini quizzes from Doddle Science

Ensure that your A-level students feel exam-ready with a wide variety of mini quizzes available from Doddle A-Level Science.

Topics as varied as catalysis, homeostasis, and momentum are covered in detail, with in-depth questions and helpful recap slides to address any stumbles.

The quizzes are tablet-friendly, and are perfect both for assessment and knowledge consolidation. Results are filtered automatically into your markbook, so you can tell at a glance where your support is needed.

Book a visit
Find out more about Doddle’s interactive resourcesself-marking homework quizzes, and automatic online markbook by booking a free in-school visit with one of our Education Consultants:
www.doddlelearn.co.uk/bookavisit

Philippa
Doddle

Physics Summer Schools

The Debate Chamber Physics Summer School is an opportunity for aspirational students to explore some of the most exciting and challenging ideas in contemporary physics. Each course consists of a structured five-day programme covering a selection of interesting and diverse topics, ranging from black holes and time travel to the search for exo-planets and life outside the solar system.

Physics Summer School – Part 1 focuses on Classical Mechanics and Astrophysics with an emphasis on modern applications of Newtonian Mechanics and is open to all students aged 15-18. Topics will include rocket propulsion, spaceship design, planetary colonisation, satellite motion, telescope design, measuring the speed of light, the principle of least time, laws of thermodynamics, entropy, the arrow of time, stellar evolution and detecting the afterglow of the big bang.

Physics Summer School – Part 2 focuses on Quantum Mechanics and Relativity with an emphasis on the mathematical and conceptual foundations of these ideas and requires that students have completed AS Mathematics (or equivalent) at the time of the course. Topics will include Schrödinger’s equation, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, Einstein’s special and general theories of relativity, time dilation, length contraction, black holes, gravitational red-shift, evidence for the big bang and the search for a Grand Unified Theory.

Classes are small, typically containing twelve to fourteen students, all of whom share a passion for physics and a curiosity to build on their existing knowledge and embrace new ideas. Classes will consist of a combination of lectures, group discussions, team exercises and problem sets, creating a comfortable environment for students to share ideas amongst their peers and to progress from their existing knowledge toward more challenging material. An expert Tutor will lead each session in a seminar format, but learning will be largely student-led wherever practical.

Please note that, although both courses complement each other, they may be treated as independent events and there is no requirement to have attended Part 1 in order to attend Part 2. Part 2 of the course will offer a strong mathematical component and an undergraduate approach to learning, helping students to make informed decisions about continuing in the study of physics, as well as bridging the educational gap between secondary school and university.

You can view a full schedule for each course, details of tutors and lots more feedback from last year on our website – www.debatechamber.com

Feedback from previous students

‘A really fantastic week, taught by some truly inspirational tutors whose passion for physics really showed in their energetic and engaging sessions. The slightly relaxed atmosphere worked incredibly well because it allowed the students and tutors to discuss in detail anything that we were curious about even if it wasn’t specifically on our timetable. This has made me really look forward to studying physics at university, and I feel the week gave me a great insight into degree level physics. I highly recommend this summer school to other physics enthusiasts!’

‘This was by far the most informative, productive and enjoyable week of my summer holiday. It was an incredibly well balanced and finely tuned course, which not only expanded my knowledge of physics, but my skills in applying it to unfamiliar problems. Chilled atmosphere, tutors approachable and engaging; couldn’t recommend this course more for aspiring physicists.’

‘The course was brilliant; usually complex and abstract topics in Physics were explained to you in the space of five days! The courses built upon the knowledge you had and decided to push you a little extra. They really inspired me to further research more complex topics in Physics in greater detail.

‘Challenging, but great fun, the Physics course was a fantastic opportunity to gain a better insight into some of the fundamental principles that govern our world, giving me a better idea of what Physics at University might be like. From learning about the rather abstract world of Quantum Mechanics to discussing black holes and even teleportation, the course left me astounded by both the amount we already know, and how much we have yet to discover! I really enjoyed the five days, working with two talented tutors and meeting some other like-minded students. Overall, an incredible week.’

Bursaries

Debate Chamber is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent any student from attending our events. Students can apply for bursaries covering up to 100% of the course fee through our website.

How can my students attend?

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2017. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/physics-summer-school .

To book a place please visit www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/physics-summer-school , call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Important information: Support for Science Week

How to get the support science departments say they want for science week and beyond.

For over a decade, we have asked science teachers what it is they are really looking for in an activity for science week.  We have summarised the findings below – so you can see for yourself how your requirements compare and discover how you can access the best support during science week.

It may come as no surprise to find the most common response was ‘a hands-on activity that introduced something new and exciting to the curriculum for as many pupils as possible but was cost effective’.  Activities that were ‘flexible enough to fit within the overall plan for the school and able to run autonomously’ were also highly valued.  As you may expect, ‘delivery by excellent classroom practitioners’ and ‘leaving students interested enough to take science further’ were also common responses.

A significant number of schools also mentioned they made their final plans and bookings for science week after February half-term and often struggled to find spaces on a suitable activity.

As a result, we have developed and finely-honed events catering for 100-200 students a day that maintain the same high quality as our specialist G&T workshops for smaller groups.  We have also released extra booking slots throughout March at our ‘Science Week Saver’ rate – costing as little as £4 per pupil.

For this price, you can host multiple hour-long sessions in a day for up to 36 pupils at a time – allowing up to 180 pupils to participate within your normal school timings.

You can choose from a range of enrichment activities – including ELISA Testing, Micro Chemistry, Electronic Sensors and Blood Analysis – delivered as team competitions within exciting themes.

Alternatively, you can choose half-day and full-day CSI events for large groups – based on our BTEC Level 3 Forensic Science courses.  These include DNA electrophoresis and blood typing for up to 200 pupils in a day and are available from just £6 per pupil.

We supply all the equipment and our full-time teams of highly experienced teachers/presenters deliver the sessions to maximise student engagement and achievement.

We can even create a league table detailing the scores achieved by every team and turn the whole experience into a schoolwide competition.  You can then announce the winning team in the next assembly and award the medals we can include to celebrate.

Best of all, our workshops have been recommended by every host school since 2001 – so you can be certain of introducing experiences of the highest quality.

For more information, you can visit our website, call us on 01603 520866 or email us at events@thinkersineducation.co.uk.  Please quote promotional code: ‘SWS317’ to access the discounts.

Regards,

Matt Hackett

Free KS3 interactive on food chains!

Test your KS3 students’ knowledge of how food chains work with our free interactive!

This dynamic activity emphasises the interdependence of different organisms within a food chain.

Challenge your students to identify how four different events will impact the creatures in the chain in this fun quiz ideal for the whole class.

Bring out your KS3 students’ competitive side and make sure they understand the relationships within a food chain!

Find the interactive on our science free stuff page:
www.boardworks.co.uk/sciencefreestuff

Kind regards,

The Boardworks team

Debate Chamber Summer Schools

Debate Chamber Summer Schools

Debate Chamber is excited to announce a series of academic summer schools aimed at aspirational 15-18 year-old students of Science and Mathematics. These programmes have been designed to challenge and inspire intellectually curious students and introduce them to modern ideas in Mathematics, Physics and Medicine.

Each course will offer a fun and stimulating educational experience in which students will be encouraged to develop their conceptual understanding and applied problem-solving skills. Each day will consist of a combination of lectures, practical activities, group discussions, team challenges and problem-sets with an emphasis on the real-world applications of the theoretical ideas.

All Debate Chamber tutors have completed, or are in the process of completing, postgraduate study in their respective field and are therefore perfectly placed to engage and inspire, as well as tailor sessions to cater for the interests and ability of each individual student. Small class sizes ensure an inclusive, university-style tutorial experience in which students feel comfortable asking questions to each other, as well as their tutors.

Physics Summer School

The Physics Summer School will introduce students to some of the major themes of 20th and 21st Century Physics. The Summer School is split into two parts, with each part comprising a structured five-day programme. Part 1 focuses on Classical Mechanics and Astronomy with an emphasis on modern applications of Newtonian Mechanics, and is relevant to both GCSE and A-Level students. Part 2 focuses on Quantum Mechanics and Relativity with an emphasis on the mathematical and conceptual foundations of these ideas, and requires that students have completed AS Mathematics.

‘Challenging, but great fun, the Physics course was a fantastic opportunity to gain a better insight into some of the fundamental principles that govern our world, giving me a better idea of what Physics at University might be like. From learning about the rather abstract world of Quantum Mechanics to discussing black holes and even teleportation, the course left me astounded by both the amount we already know, and how much we have yet to discover! I really enjoyed the five days, working with two talented tutors and meeting some other like-minded students. Overall, an incredible week.’

Mathematics Summer School

The Mathematics Summer School is a five-day programme that will introduce students to contemporary ideas in Pure and Applied Mathematics with an emphasis on developing problem-solving skills. The morning sessions will be used to introduce a range of theoretical ideas including Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Calculus, Proofs, Algorithms and Infinities. The application of these ideas will be explored in the afternoon session through a variety of problem-sets, group activities and discussions. Students attending this course must have completed AS Mathematics.

‘Attending the Maths Summer School allowed me to explore a variety of mathematical concepts not covered at school. I was given an opportunity to learn about multivariable calculus and differential equations from a physics graduate, predicate logic and Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem from a philosophy graduate, and linear algebra from a mathematics graduate. All of my tutors were very eloquent and clear, and I’ve learnt new branches of mathematics to give myself a slight head-start going into university.’

Medicine Summer School

The Medicine Summer School offers a fun and interactive insight into the world of medicine, allowing students the opportunity to develop the theoretical and applied skills required to be a doctor. Students will work in small groups alongside medical students to gain experience in identifying a patient’s primary symptoms, ordering tests, drawing conclusions and presenting their findings. The Summer School is split into five 2-day programmes, each covering a different area of medical practice.

‘I completely recommend this course! Whether you are totally convinced Medicine is for you, or if you just want a taster to see if it’s right, this course is perfect. The tutors are passionate and highly knowledgeable, and teach a great course covering a wide range of topics. Absolutely ten out of ten on all aspects – go and do it!’

Bursaries

Debate Chamber is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent any student from attending our events. Students are able to apply for bursaries covering up to 100% of the course fee through our website.

How can my students attend?

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2017. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at http://www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/. There is a limited amount of bursary funding available for students who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending – please see our website for details.

To book a place please visit www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/, call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. 

Transform your 2017 with Doddle!

Happy New Year from everyone at Doddle! We hope you enjoyed a well-deserved break, and are excited to be starting a brand-new year.

Why not make 2017 the year you transform your teaching, homework, and assessment? Doddle is a comprehensive, online resource, providing in-depth coverage of KS3, KS4, and A-Level Science.

Doddle’s engaging and interactive resources are mapped to all major exam boards, seamlessly supporting your teaching.

Self-marking, tablet-friendly quizzes give students instant feedback and automatically enter results into your online markbook. At a glance, you can identify the students needing more support, and diagnose exactly where it needs to be directed.

To find out more about how Doddle could transform your 2017, book a free in-school visit with one of our Education Consultants today.
www.doddlelearn.co.uk/bookavisit

Philippa
Doddle

Research: students who use web-based testing progress at a faster rate

Students who regularly test their literacy and numeracy skills with web-based games progress fastest overall across the subjects

According to recent research, carried out by Andrew Gallacher (an education coordinator at the University of Glasgow), students who regularly test their numeracy and literacy skills with web-based games progress fastest overall across the subjects.

Which is exactly why Education Quizzes exists – and why we are offering free sign up for schools to Education Quizzes for a whole year.

Our library of GCSE Chemistry quizzes cover an extensive range of topic areas, making them ideal for revising what your students are being taught in their Chemistry lessons, past and present.

Education Quizzes is also ideal to set as homework tasks as it involves little to no PPA time – giving you more time to focus on planning and preparing future lessons and assessing the work of your students from lessons which have gone before.

To see the GCSE Chemistry education quizzes that we have produced thus far, toggle through the topic area links below. Alternatively, you can email admin@educationquizzes.com to request more information.

If you would like to sign up free to Education Quizzes for a year, simply visit our schools’ registration page – www.educationquizzes.com/schools-uk-registrations/. 

Topic area

Acids, Bases and Salts 

Balancing Symbol Equations 

Chemical Reactions 

Emulsions 

Equilibria 

Periodic Table – Transition Elements

Polymerisation

Reversible and Irreversible Reactions

Water

See more

Science Field trips overseas

Gapforce Introduction
Science Fieldtrips Overseas

I understand you are the best person to contact with regards to Science-based overseas trips for school groups.

By way of introduction, we run subject specific trips such as Biology as well as general education, adventurous activities and volunteering, all tailor-made to meet your school’s requirements.

We work with a number of UK and International Schools each year and I would be happy to provide sample itineraries and references.

Popular destinations for Science trips include:

  • Costa Rica
  • The Galapagos Islands
  • Tanzania

To receive a free brochure about our school trips, please click here

Best wishes,

James

Students who regularly test their literacy and numeracy skills with web-based games progress fastest overall across the subjects

According to recent research carried out by Andrew Gallacher (an education coordinator at the University of Glasgow) students who regularly test their numeracy and literacy skills with web-based games progress fastest overall across the subjects.

Which is exactly why Education Quizzes exists – and why we are offering free sign up for schools to Education Quizzes for a whole year.

Our library of KS3 Science Education Quizzes covers an extensive range of topic areas, making them ideal for revising the knowledge that your students have learnt in their Science lessons, past and present.

Education Quizzes are also ideal to set as homework tasks as they involve little to no PPA time – giving you more time to focus on planning and preparing future lessons and assessing the work of your students from lessons which have gone before.

To see the KS3 Science Education Quizzes that we have produced thus far, toggle through the Topic area links below. Alternatively, you can email admin@educationquizzes.com to request more information.

And if you would like to sign up free to Education Quizzes for a year, simply visit our schools’ registration page – www.educationquizzes.com/schools-uk-registrations/.
Education Quizzes image

Acids and Alkalis 

Atoms and Elements 

Circulatory System 

Food Chains and Webs 

Forces 

Reactions, Equations and Formulae 

Solar System 

Variation and Classification 

See more 

Exceptional Science Teaching Resources

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Virtual Science Ltd

The Virtual Physics Laboratory is a collection of 26 3d immersive experiments that use games technology to give authentic laboratory experiences. They are ideal where resources are limited or where you want to give your students a wider experience of experiments that they would not normally get, such as measuring the acceleration of gravity on the Moon, firing an AK47 at a ballistic balance, using an Airtrack to verify Newton’ Second Law.

Email enquiries@virtual-science.co.uk for a free trial.
Postal address:
Virtual Science Ltd, Flat 1, 8 West Parade, Bexhill-on-Sea. TN39 3HR

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Behaviour Solutions

Amazing Brain Posters – We have produced four brain posters which will help pupils and students understand their brain, how to enhance their learning and help them begin to modify their own behaviour.

Email: dave@behaviourmatters.com
Telephone:
01626 366161
Postal address:
Behaviour Solutions Limited, 15 St. Marys Close, Abbotskerswell, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 5QF

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SSS

Interactive Biology Software – 17 titles packed with hundreds of stunning curriculum 3D animations describing difficult to understand concepts for Biology. There are texts, voice-overs, quiz zones, drag and drops, multiple choice quizzes and more. Request your 14-day free trial of Biology Educational Software Solution.

Interactive Chemistry Software – 14 titles packed with hundreds of stunning curriculum 3D animations describing difficult to understand concepts for Chemistry. There are texts, voice-overs, quiz zones, drag and drops, multiple choice quizzes and more. Request your 14-day free trial of Chemistry Educational Software Solution.

Interactive Physics Software – 13 titles packed with hundreds of stunning curriculum 3D animations describing difficult to understand concepts for Physics. There are texts, voice-overs, quiz zones, drag and drops, multiple choice quizzes and more. Request your 14-day free trial of Physics Educational Software Solution.

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First and Best in Education

Science Crosswords and Short Answer Tasks – a volume of over 40 crosswords and games focussing on GCSE topics in general through to pages on specific topics.

Email: sales@firstandbest.co.uk
Telephone:
01536 399007
Postal address:
Hamilton House Mailings Ltd, Earlstrees Ct, Earlstrees Rd, Corby, Northants, NN17 4HH

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Signpost Educational Ltd

Calculators – basic calculators, Casio scientific calculators, LK 183 scientific calculators, Sharp scientific calculators, Texet scientific calculators and Aurora scientific calculators.

Calculator Storage Boxes – Gratnell’s storage boxes (with transparent clip-on lids and foam inserts for 30 basic or scientific calculators) are a convenient way of storing your classroom calcs.  The slots in the foam mean that you can see at a glance if any calcs are missing as well as providing protection for your calcs.

Student Packs for Lessons and Exams – designed to provide your students with the equipment they need for most of their lessons and exams. Consists of a clear plastic, “exam friendly” zip up wallet containing: Three quality ballpens  (black ink), two HB pencils, 15 cm ruler, metal sharpener, eraser.

Telephone: 020-7515-1797
Postal address:
SIGNPOST EDUCATIONAL LTD, PO Box 999, London, E14 6SH, UK

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You can find more Exceptional Teaching resources at exceptionalteaching.org.uk.

Gapforce Introduction Science Fieldtrips Overseas

I understand you are the best person to contact with regards to Science-based overseas trips for school groups.

By way of introduction, we run subject specific trips such as Biology as well as general education, adventurous activities and volunteering, all tailor-made to meet each school’s requirements.

We work with a number of UK and International Schools each year and I would be happy to provide sample itineraries and references.

Popular destinations for Science trips include:

  • Costa Rica
  • The Galapagos Islands
  • Tanzania

To receive a free brochure about our School trips, please click here

Best wishes,

James

An interactive experience that motivates and inspires

Inspiring and motivating maths and science students, now there’s a challenge.

If you’re looking for an alternative way to cement the concepts you’re teaching, Dr Matt Pritchard is the answer.

Tailored to each group’s age and ability, Dr Pritchard will visit your school and perform his maths and science shows using live demonstrations, magic tricks and multimedia.

Using real life examples, the captivating shows are clear and relevant to what your students are studying.

Current secondary school shows include:

  • “Superhero Science” – Are superpowers fact or fiction? Explore invisibility, super strength, body armour, levitation, mind control and find out what they do (or don’t) have to do with real science.
  • “Surprising Science” – Can you discover the sneaky scientific secrets behind the surprising illusions? The show will challenge the audience to think creatively like both a scientist and a magician. Superb for Critical Thinking skills.
  • “Magical Maths” – Predicting the future, reading minds, sending secret messages and making objects vanish are easy when you’re a maths magician. With shapes, symmetry, patterns and numbers forming the basis of the maths behind the magic.

Performing to over 50,000 people each year, Dr Pritchard works with a number of organisations including The Royal Society, Royal Institution, British Science Association, The Big Bang fairs, Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to name a few.

What’s more, he is one of only 300 members of the prestigious Associate of the Inner Magic Circle.

You can find more information on our website at www.sciencemagicshows.co.uk

Alternatively, you can email us at hello@sciencemagicshows.co.uk to make a booking.

The cost for a day visit for up to 3 performances (no limit to audience size), is £500 plus travel.

Click here to read what other schools thought of our recent shows.

Testing leaves for starch: free interactive

Try our free Biology interactive on testing leaves for starch!

This interactive experiment will help your students understand whether or not photosynthesis has occurred in a leaf by testing for the presence of starch. Clear animations demonstrate how to use hot water, alcohol and iodine, which changes colour on a leaf to reveal the hidden starch inside.

Try out the free interactive activity on our Doddle Science page!

Doddle offers much more than just engaging resources – you can book a free and flexible tour of all its features with one of our Educational Consultants. From self-marking quizzes that can be easily scheduled for upcoming homeworks, to the online markbook which clearly records students’ marks, Doddle provides you with everything you need to effectively track student progress.

Alice
Doddle

Equilibria revision: free presentation!

Try our free Chemistry presentation on equilibrium reactions.

This revision presentation will help your students understand the factors affecting equilibrium reactions, including catalysts, temperature and pressure.

Using our interactive presentation, you can walk your class through the relationship between reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium; understanding the Le Chatelier principle; and the processes involved in the formation of ethanol and methanol.

Try out the free activity on our Doddle Science page!

Doddle offers much more than just engaging resources – you can book a free and flexible tour of all its features with one of our Educational Consultants. From self-marking quizzes that can be easily scheduled for upcoming homeworks, to the online markbook which clearly records students’ marks, Doddle provides you with everything you need to effectively track student progress.

Lucy
Doddle

Get out and about with John Lewis and the big butterfly count

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I’d like to invite you to take part in the world’s biggest citizen science project – the big butterfly count 2016, which will take place between 15th July – 7th August.

Whilst the counting period falls over the summer holidays, we’ve created four activities that will help pupils to learn about eco-systems, sustainability, life-cycles, conservation and why the big butterfly count is so crucial.

This summer term, your class could:

Why butterflies? And why should you take part?
Butterflies react very quickly to change in their environment which makes them excellent biodiversity indicators. Butterfly declines are an early warning for other wildlife losses. That’s why counting butterflies can be described as taking the pulse of nature – and we need your help to ensure the big butterfly count covers as much of the UK as possible. Click here to find out how to get involved.

We hope you enjoy using these activities, and please forward to colleagues who may find them useful too.

Kind regards,

Shanthini Carrick
Manager, Sustainable CommunitiesThe big butterfly count is a survey run by the Butterfly Conservation. John Lewis is proud to support it this year. 

 

Thinking about the forces in every day (and Circus) life, plus a few extra strange science facts! Suitable for KS1 and KS2.

Feats of juggling, spinning and balancing to astound and amuse, a demonstration followed by workshops with lots of participation.

Why do objects fall, slow down, speed up, change direction or remain balanced?
Within the sessions the Fantastiko Circus scientist explores all of the concepts required for KS1 & KS2 ‘Physical Processes’ and a little more besides. Using practical examples, observation and experiment, he helps the pupils gain a better understanding of ‘Forces & Motion’. They are actively encouraged to participate and give their own observations and conclusions.

The circus science sessions are designed to introduce students to the idea of forces. The sessions are full of fun whilst giving pupils the opportunity to put technical names to what they are experiencing and is brilliant for getting them to start thinking about the activities from a scientific angle.

Areas covered include:

Simple forces: pushing, pulling, action and reaction, gravity, friction, speeding up, slowing down and changing direction.

Centre of Gravity (balance point), air resistance, springs, gyroscopic motion and even the speed of sound are also brought into the mix to explain why some things behave the way they do. Whilst these are outside the curriculum objectives, they are still experienced everyday and can be explained at a simple level.

Depending on the length of workshop or show the pupils can have the opportunity to learn skills and use our equipment whilst being encouraged to explain what is happening and also guessing what might happen next.

Sessions can be from 45 minutes to an hour as well as an assembly show with lots of audience participation.

Pupils that complete one of our workshops can receive a Fantastiko Circus Certificate to recognise and remember their achievements.

We also offer other circus workshops, experiences and entertainment.

Prices start at £275 + VAT for a full day £225 + VAT for a half day.

Find out more about us on our website.

http://www.circusworkshops.biz/perform/perform.html

www.circusworkshops.biz

 

Free resources for science teachers

Children of all ages care about animals. Establishing links between science and animal welfare can be a great way of stimulating discussion of ethical issues in science.

The way our food is produced is a growing topic of debate and directly relevant to syllabus content such as selective breeding and food chains which feed humans. These issues can be brought to life by discussing different ways of keeping farm animals in organic, free-range or intensive systems.

We have free resources on animal welfare and sustainability in farming to help with all of these. You can order a DVD-ROM or invite a speaker to visit your school by replying to this email. You can also download films and worksheets on our website.

Our regularly updated resources include:

  • The Farm Animals & Us films which compare intensive farming systems with alternative methods of production
  • Science worksheets covering selective breeding and human food chains
  • How Should We Treat Farm Animals? – a card activity designed to promote small group discussion of different systems of production.

If you would like to order a free copy of our Farm Animals & Us DVDROM, with all the resources mentioned, or to invite a local speaker, please just email education@ciwf.org.uk.

If you would like to download these materials directly, including the films, or just to find out more, please go straight to our website which has details of all our resources for science including an archive genetic engineering film.

Yours sincerely,

Phil Brooke
Education Development Manager
Compassion in World Farming

Links and contacts:

Email: education@ciwf.org.uk

Tel: 01483 521 965

Education website: ciwf.org.uk/education

Speaker service: ciwf.org.uk/speakers

Science resources: ciwf.org.uk/scienceeducation

Some quotes from science teachers

“Gave me a really good lesson … superb for stimulating discussion … pupils have asked to see it again!”Special school science teacher“ … very useful.Prompts discussion well. Well produced. Gets their attention. Good description of the problems experienced by farmed animals.
Head of Biology

“Excellent resource.  Interesting presentation. Wide range of ages and abilities have been engaged by the video.”
Teacher of Biology

“I use the Farm Animals & Us film in science for introducing selective breeding in KS3. Encourages discussion from pupils who are normally quiet.”
Science Teacher

 

Free animation: How is an emulsion made?

Teach your students how an emulsion is made using our free animation!

The animation breaks the emulsification of oil and water down into four clear stages, demonstrating how an emulsion can be formed from two immiscible liquids. Clear, engaging, and complete with a real-world discussion question, this animation is perfect for getting your students to grips with emulsions.

Try the activity on our Science free stuff page!

Regards,

The Boardworks team

At a Glance books

The At a Glance books provide students with everything they need to prepare for and excel in their GCSE science exams. Presented in an innovative visual style, the books are of benefit to all candidates, and are especially useful for those who find the going a little tougher than most. The books are also useful to teachers as handy references and planners.

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The fourth edition of a bestseller, Biology at a Glance 4th edition presents, in a clear, concise, and visual way, the main biological content required by all the examining boards for both the GCSE Double Award Science and separate Biology Award, including IGCSE. It is also useful as an introductory guide for AS Biology. The fourth edition has been revised to include new material on industrial fermenters and their applications, plus additional material on flowering plants.
 
“…an excellent book. It is well worth getting hold of a copy to see for yourself.”
School Science Review(about the third edition)
Order your inspection copy online now

Circus Science

Thinking about the forces in every day (and Circus) life, plus a few extra strange science facts! Suitable for KS1 and KS2.

Feats of juggling, spinning and balancing to astound and amuse, a demonstration followed by workshops with lots of participation.

Why do objects fall, slow down, speed up, change direction or remain balanced?
Within the sessions the Fantastiko Circus scientist explores all of the concepts required for KS1 & KS2 ‘Physical Processes’ and a little more besides. Using practical examples, observation and experiment, he helps the pupils gain a better understanding of ‘Forces & Motion’. They are actively encouraged to participate and give their own observations and conclusions.

The circus science sessions are designed to introduce students to the idea of forces. The sessions are full of fun whilst giving pupils the opportunity to put technical names to what they are experiencing and is brilliant for getting them to start thinking about the activities from a scientific angle.

Areas covered include:

Simple forces: pushing, pulling, action and reaction, gravity, friction, speeding up, slowing down and changing direction.

Centre of Gravity (balance point), air resistance, springs, gyroscopic motion and even the speed of sound are also brought into the mix to explain why some things behave the way they do. Whilst these are outside the curriculum objectives, they are still experienced everyday and can be explained at a simple level.

Depending on the length of workshop or show the pupils can have the opportunity to learn skills and use our equipment whilst being encouraged to explain what is happening and also guessing what might happen next.

Sessions can be from 45 minutes to an hour as well as an assembly show with lots of audience participation.

Pupils that complete one of our workshops can receive a Fantastiko Circus Certificate to recognise and remember their achievements.

We also offer other circus workshops, experiences and entertainment.

Prices start at £275 + VAT for a full day £225 + VAT for a half day.

Find out more about us on our website.

http://www.circusworkshops.biz/perform/perform.html

www.circusworkshops.biz

What is the single most effective way of revealing the excitement and elegance of science to gifted and talented students?

“The single most effective way” in this context means not only teaching sessions that really do enthuse students in the science they are studying, but also means sessions that can be run within your school.

Sessions which mean no extra work for you or your colleagues.  Sessions that require no new equipment that needs to be bought. Sessions that can be run in the school without lots of additional planning and special arrangements.

And mainly sessions that focus on the gifted and talented – a particular enthusiasm of Ofsted at the moment.  Indeed, as the inspectorate said in a recent report on the topic, “urgent action is now required. Schools should develop a culture of high expectations, provide training for staff in all key stages and raise aspirations of pupils and where they are going.”

As a result we now all need to show that we are having an impact on our more able students so that these students see that there is additional value and excitement in science which could lead them to select science in their future options through the school and beyond.

There are four different active and practical science based G&T events that your school can choose from, each one devised and arranged for students in years 7 upward.

One of the most popular is Space Pioneers which looks at electronic sensors and microchemistry redox reactions.

Then we have as an alternative CSI – Blood Pool which investigates how DNA fingerprinting and blood analysis is used in a murder case.

Towering Ambition engages students in engineering and enterprise challenges, while the Body in the Box event transports students into the world of DNA fingerprinting and anthropology to identify a missing person.

The sessions last for two hours and are delivered twice in a day, incorporating 30 students into each session. Reports for every participant are available after the event, providing valuable evidence for the level of progression achieved and helping you to measure the impact of the event.

The regular teachers of the classes involved can, of course, attend the session as an observer or can use the time for other duties – it is entirely a matter for you.

More details of these stimulating and exciting G&T events are to be found on our website.

In April and May 2016 these workshops are available at a highly discounted rate. If you are interested in this offer, would like further information on any aspect of our work, or want to make a booking please call us on 01603 520866 or email events@thinkersineducation.co.uk

Practical science activities to enjoy during British Science Week (11 – 20 March)

Science Week presents an opportunity to do something a bit different in order to ignite a passion for science among your pupils. But, of course, it is always possible for your colleagues to offer their class stimulating and exciting science activities and still remain within the limits of the national curriculum.

Topical Resources have produced the Practical Science Activity Book Series, suitable for years one through to six, which contains a multitude of practical science activity ideas for the various topic areas – from Plants and Animals, to Electricity and Evolution and Inheritance.

The resources have been updated to meet the requirements of the 2014 (English) primary science curriculum and also contain simple planning sheets to use alongside the independent and adult supported practical science activities.

The Practical Science Activity Books are available to order individually (by year group) or as a Special Bundle (which, of course, carries a saving). Furthermore, there is the option to either have them as Black and White photocopiable books, full colour PDF e-books or you can buy them as a download or by CD.

As always, you can order any of our resources in the following ways:

www.topical-resources.co.uk
sales@topical-resources.co.uk

How to host your own Science Week workshops during Science Week 2016.

Hosting your own Science Week workshops can very often work out to be a more cost-effective option than hiring external presenters every day of Science Week (11-20 March) and can be a great opportunity for you to try out new approaches.

Of course, in order to inspire a love for science among your students it’s vital to differentiate your workshops from the typical science lessons that your students attend on a daily-weekly basis.

This can be readily achieved by, for example, inviting other teachers and classes to join your workshops and jettisoning the usual lesson format/routine and curriculum for a short period of time.

Furthermore, organising exciting new experiments, perhaps with equipment that your students haven’t used before, can be highly effective in encouraging your students to explore new concepts and will provoke discussions and generate excitement.

And this is where we can help, as Thinkers in Education (who regularly host STEM workshops in schools) have selected a range of fantastic cost-effective resources and activities that you can use for your own science workshops, not only during Science Week but throughout the year.

The STEM Box 1 Collection contains all the resources you need to host three entirely different hour-long through to day-long workshops, including the apparatus, worksheets, presentations, lesson guides, quizzes… and so on.

Workshop titles include: “The Amazing Mirascope Experiments”, “Water Rockets Away” and “Caving Conundrum Investigations”.

You can find more information about our STEM workshop kits and order The STEM Box 1 Collection from our Resource Shop at www.thinkersineducation.co.uk/superb-science-week-activity/. Or, if you’d prefer, you can order the workshop resources and activities separately.

If you would like to know more about our STEM resources, or indeed, if you would like to host any of the STEM workshops that we run, please call us on 01603 520866 or email events@thinkersineducation.co.uk

Book your more able students onto our workshops during British Science Week (11 – 20 March 2016)

It was revealed in Ofsted’s ‘2015 Report’ that “schools that had been recently inspected rarely offered a bespoke curriculum for more able pupils in KS3” and “only 50% had a curriculum tailored in KS4”.

In response to this, the School Inspection Handbook states that inspectors will “pay particular attention to whether the most able pupils are achieving as well as they should. They will also consider whether they are receiving the support they need to reach their full potential”.

Indeed, to help you prove to Ofsted that you are providing a bespoke curriculum to your more able students, Thinkers in Education are delivering an array of workshops during Science Week, designed specifically for Gifted and Talented students.

Workshops that we think your students will benefit most from during Science Week are Space Pioneers, CSI – Blood Pool, Towering Ambition, and Body in the Box. They require your students to develop their critical and creative thinking skills in a problem-solving context.

More information about our Double Session workshops can be found here.

We run these workshops not only during Science Week but throughout the year, and if you book a workshop for April or May, you will receive a 30% discount.

Or, if you think your more able students will benefit more from one of our Full-Day Sessions, there is a choice of three workshops, each of which focusses on developing a particular skill:

Target Mars – creative thinking

Dead on Time – critical thinking

Bunkered – strategic thinking

More information about our Full-Day Session workshops can be found here.

If you book more than one Full-day Session (so that your more able students from each year group can attend), there is the option for the workshops to either be delivered on consecutive days to save money or throughout the year as suits the school.

Furthermore, if you would like to know more about how we make provisions for Gifted & Talented children, and how we can help you make provisions for your more able students through our workshops, visit www.thinkersineducation.co.uk/gt_provision/.

For further information on all aspects of our work, or to make a booking, please call us on 01603 520866 or email events@thinkersineducation.co.uk

Free A-Level presentation on resistance and resistivity

Ensure your students have a firm understanding of resistance and resistivity with our free presentation!

Using a combination of explanatory slides, animations and interactive activities, this presentation has everything you need to comprehensively cover:

  • Ohm’s law
  • Resistivity
  • Superconductors
  • E.m.f and internal resistance.

Try out the free presentation on our Doddle A-Level Science page!

Want to see more of what Doddle can do for your department? Book an in-school visit!

One of our Educational Consultants will give you a free tour of Doddle’s features and show you how the hundreds of resources can support your teaching through the year ahead.

Alice
Doddle

 

The story is as old as civilisation, which suggests that as a learning tool stories can be very helpful as a way of teaching science.

The story as a means of passing on facts goes back to the earliest days of human society, and for most of mankind’s existence the story has been the key way each generation has of understanding the world.

Indeed before the introduction of the scientific method, there was only the story as an explanation of the world that medieval societies witnessed.

But as experimentation took hold, the story was pushed aside, which, in one sense, is something of a shame because for children it is the love of the story that enhances their learning.

For while some children can have difficulty recalling individual scientific facts, when any of these turn up in a story there is every chance that the facts will slip seamlessly into our long term memories.

With a story, the facts learned through experimentation become even more meaningful, and take on a new importance.

Which is why we travel from school to school telling stories about science.  Stories relating to the solar system, evolution, earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis.

These are the stories children remember.  Stories that can stay with them for years to come.  Stories so powerful that they will still be remembered and re-told when the children we teach come to tell stories to their own children.

If you would like to see some evidence of the power of the story in terms of children’s learning, read about the research into why stories work as teaching aids, or indeed if you would like to know more about our work in schools, please click here.

You’ll be able to see just why hundreds of schools across the country invite us in to tell stories to different classes.

Alternatively, you can call us on 020 328 SNAIL (020 328 76245), or email stories@snailtales.org

An Interactive SCIENCE Software Free Trial Offer, At An Unmissable Price. No School Should Miss Out On This. It Is Simply Unbelievable!

This offer for ALL 44 titles is packed with hundreds of stunning curriculum 3D animations describing difficult to understand concepts for SCIENCE, text, voice-overs, quiz zones, drag and drops, multiple choice quizzes and more.

Includes a full school site PC and network licence, nothing more to pay EVER! Free 14-day trial , so if you don’t like it you can just send it back. All 44 of these individual great titles are included in the pack for just £249 for everything:

Chemistry: Classifying Materials KS3; Patterns Of Behaviour KS3; Crude Oil Organic Chemistry KS4; The Earth’s Structure KS4; Extraction & Uses Of Metals KS4; The Periodic Table – An Introduction KS4; The Periodic Table – Atomic Structure & Physical Properties KS4 The Periodic Table- Bonding & Chemical Properties KS4; Rates Of Reaction KS4; Reversible Reactions KS4; Smart Materials & Nanotechnology KS4; Structure & Bonding KS4; Quantitative Chemistry KS4; The Mole & Stoichiometry A’Level Biology: Circulation KS3; Digestion KS3; Plant Biology KS3; Respiration KS3; Circulation KS4; Digestion KS4; Genetics KS4; Healthy Living KS4; Hormones KS4; Kidneys and Homeostasis KS4; Living Things & Their Environments KS4; Micro-organisms and Biotechnology KS4; Nervous System KS4; Plant Biology KS4; Respiration KS4, Cellular Respiration A’level; Nucleic Acids & Genetic Engineering AS Level Physics: Electricity and Magnetism KS3; Forces, Motion, Energy Changes KS3; Light and Sound KS3; Circuits KS4; Forces and Motion KS4; Energy Resources, Moments and Pressure KS4; Work Energy and Power KS4; Waves KS4; Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum KS4; Magnetism and Electromagnetism KS4; Household Electricity KS4; The Earth and Beyond; KS4 Radioactivity

It’s just £249 for all 44 of these software titles in
one pack!

Now isn’t that truly staggering value for money for all these titles from the UK’s leading curriculum software supplier? Let’s beat the cuts!

To order your free trial please click here

Get involved in Shell’s new schools competition and festival of innovation

The Bright Ideas Challenge

The answers to tomorrow’s energy challenges lie in your students’ ingenuity.

That’s why we’re launching an exciting new schools challenge that will see students aged 11-14 use their creativity to devise innovative solutions to the energy challenges faced by cities of the future.

With prizes for students and funded trips to the festival, one school will
be crowned national winner and will receive £5,000 to super-size its STEM lessons.

Register now to be the first to receive our curriculum-linked toolkit. It will help you support your class or STEM Club to push the limits and take on this challenge.

Teams will have until late April 2016 to submit their entries.

    Visit Make the Future

Join us with students aged 11-14 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, on Thursday 30 June or Friday 1 July 2016. It’ll be a great way to round off the summer term.

At the festival, you’ll take a journey into the future of energy. Students will have the opportunity to explore how people use and create energy in everyday life. They can take part in hands-on activities, interactive science shows, competitions and engaging careers experiences.

They’ll also be able to watch student teams from across Europe who’ve designed and built hyper-efficient vehicles. The teams will be competing in Shell Eco-marathon to see how far they can travel on one litre of fuel.

Please note that your school might be eligible for a travel bursary.