Primary Science resources
Top tips for primary teachers: websites with resources to help get pupils excited about science.
Historically, science teachers have always faced quite a challenge when it comes to bringing science to life. Pupils have often had to observe experiments from a distance or learn difficult concepts from textbooks and diagrams. Thankfully, times have changed and teachers now have a range of tools available to them to help make science fun. ICT and the internet have a huge role to play in this and listed below are some of the best resources available on the Internet. There are also links to homework websites, teacher associations and museums and exhibitions.
ICT and science
ICT and science go hand in hand. Many areas of the primary
science curriculum require skills that overlap with ICT, for example
communicating, measuring and analysis. The Becta website contains
an area with nine activities which have been written to supplement the
QCA's primary science and ICT schemes of work. Each activity explains how
to use ICT within the schemes and how the QCA ICT units can support this. Notes
for teachers, activity sheets for pupils and support files are all provided as
well as web links to the relevant QCA schemes of work. Within the same area of
the Becta site, there are descriptions of 13 practical investigations involving
the use of ICT in primary science.
Integrating the internet and
science teaching
There are so many fantastic websites available to support primary
science teaching. Here are a few selected favourites:
General science
Science Clips, the BBC's website, has been developed
for teachers and pupils at Key Stages 1 and 2, and accompanies the Science
Clips TV series. The website is arranged into 36 units corresponding to
the QCA's primary schemes of work for Science. It is broken down into
sections relating to each year group and is extremely easy to navigate. The
resources are interactive, simple and clear and can be displayed as full
screen, which is handy for whole-class teaching. There is plenty of scope for
differentiation and cross-year project work, an interactive experiment and quiz
for each unit and a thoroughly comprehensive set of teacher resources for each
age group.
ScienceWeb gives access to online activities, teachers' notes and excellent downloadable worksheets with clear and simple illustrations. There is a nominal fee to register.
Other good websites containing lesson plans, activity ideas and resources for primary teachers are Primary Resources, Digitalbrain and Educate the Children.
Science Made Simple is a website that has taken a slightly different approach to the information it provides. The site has been developed on the basis that many primary school pupils ask simple questions, such as, 'Why is the sky blue?' Science Made Simple aims to answer those questions and provide project ideas and experiments to explain simple concepts.
The Science Toys website contains dozens of ideas for science experiments and science toys for pupils to make at home.
Curriculum areas
The following websites are linked more specifically to the Key Stage 1
and 2 programmes of study:
Life processes and living things
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ARKive
ARKive is a superb electronic archive of photos, sounds and moving images of endangered species and habitats. The pictures and video clips are handy for illustrating lessons. - The Great Plant Escape
This is a colourful and imaginative website for primary pupils investigating how plants grow. -
Kids only
This area of the Natural History Museum website contains activities and information on many nature-related topics. The kids section is very hands on, and although Flash is needed for some of the activities, they can all be downloaded from the website. From dinosaurs to soundscapes and museum webcams, this excellent site will really inspire pupils. -
Naturegrid
This website allows pupils to explore the animals and plant life found in various habitats. It has been developed to address modules within the QCA science framework. There are many interactive pages for pupils to explore in a variety of habitats, from woodland to ponds. Information sheets containing interesting facts, food chains details and life cycles are provided. -
The Tomato Zone
For both Key Stages 1 and 2, this website contains activities, games and quizzes for 5— to 11-year-olds, all about tomatoes. Topics covered include the biology of tomatoes, how they are grown commercially, which insects threaten or help them and how to grow your own tomatoes. -
Science and Nature
Visit this BBC website to find out all about dinosaurs. There is information on how we found out about dinosaurs as well as fact files for each one, with the facility to download video clips and pictures for teaching purposes. -
US Geological Survey: Learning Web
The lesson plans, resources and activities on this site have been based on US national education standards for primary pupils and can be used directly in the classroom.
Materials and their properties
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Challenge of materials
This is a colourful and highly interactive website that investigates uses of materials, from how materials are selected on the basis of their properties for inventions, to actual pictures from the Science Museum's exhibits. -
The Disaster Area
Containing facts, stories, quizzes and games this bright and colourful website gives pupils an insight into all sorts of weather phenomena. -
The Essential Guide to Rocks
The BBC's Essential Guide to Rocks contains a fantastic animated interactive timeline describing the big bang, continental drift, fossil life and rock formations. - Waste
Watch Recycle Zone
This website teaches children about the 3Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. With facts, quizzes, a glossary, games and tips for recycling at home, this website makes learning about this subject fun.
Physical processes
- The
Atoms Family
This website, developed by the Miami Museum of Science, explains concepts of electricity, matter, energy and forces in an imaginative way. Although it is not linked directly to the national curriculum, it can easily be built into primary science lessons. -
Energy Quest
This award-winning energy education website will get pupils' imaginations going. The site has suggestions for a variety of projects, from measuring wind strength to making thermometers. The energy story is written in 20 chapters and there are games for pupils to try too. This website is tailored to Key Stage 2 and beyond. -
Planet 10
Although Shockwave is required for this interactive website, it is a superb way of introducing pupils to the planets and basic principles such as day and night, spin and orbit. With images provided from NASA, the site contains an inspiredsimulation of our solar system. Users can zoom in and view the planets from different angles and obtain information on each in the concise information pages. It is also possible to create a world of your own whilst applying scientific principles. An interactive whiteboard would be an excellent way of displaying this site to a class.
Science homework websites
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Homework High
The award-winning website offers personalised homework-help from qualified teachers. -
ReviseWise
This website supports 10— to 11-year-olds as they prepare for their Key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests in English, mathematics and science. The website is supported by TV programmes and videos, and a range of study and practice books.
For teachers
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The Association for Science Education
This website for science teachers contains a wealth of information for primary-school teachers. Areas include safety, publications, databases, an online shop and an update of ASE projects. The website also includes details of conferences, news, consultations and training. Membership of the ASE includes a subscription to Primary Science Review. -
The British Association for the Advancement of Science
BA is dedicated to making science accessible to all. It organises National Science Week and provides resources and event ideas. Visit this site for inspiration for Science and Engineering Week 2007. BA also organises UK-wide science events, searchable through the comprehensive database.
School visits, exhibitions and seminars
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ecsite-uk
ecsite-uk, the Science and Discovery Centre Network, represents over 80 science centres in the UK and a many other discovery centres in museums, botanic gardens, aquariums and zoos. -
English Heritage
For information on local places of interest, the English Heritage site contains a wealth of information, downloadable resources and interactive activities. Many of their sites have opportunities for work in science, including a wide range of investigations into building materials, the effects of weathering and pollution, the forces involved in supporting a massive wall, or into human influences on the natural environment. -
The GLOBE programme
The GLOBE Programme is an international environmental education project that encourages pupils to explore and measure their local areas and report their findings over the Internet. The programme links students and scientists in 104 countries as they collect data about their environment and enter it into the website's database. -
Natural History Museum
The schools and colleges area of the Natural History Museum website provides information for teachers planning a visit or workshop session. It is also possible to download teacher guides and museum maps and book visits online. - Science
InsideOut
This website provides information about the programme of science events for schools run by the Royal Institution. The events are packed with experiments and demonstrations and offer pupils an excellent opportunity to experience the reality of scientific discovery. Lecturers are internationally recognised scientists who are talented in communicating cutting-edge science to young people. The programme is designed to complement the national curriculum. - Science Museum
The Science Museum website provides information specifically for primary-school teachers about its range of galleries, activities and resources offered for pupils and teachers at Key Stages 1 and 2. The information helps plan a successful visit or classroom activities independent of a visit.
Last updated: 20 November 2006
