Activities Map 'Is there life?'

Y7 upwards

Sc4[Some aspects of Sc2 and Sc3]

Planet 10 Pupils explore the planets, comets and asteroids on an interactive virtual fly-through of the Solar System. In the second activity they attempt to create the perfect planet, selecting conditions to ensure that their planet is a successful place to grow and evolve.

Sc4

Top Science introduces pupils to the Solar System. A card game where pupils trade bodies in space by comparing various criteria e.g. number of moons, mass, distance from the Sun. Top Science can be used when pupils are learning about specialised cells, and is also a good pre-SATs revision tool. An Excel spreadsheet file gives you all the data for extension activities.

Y7
Y8

Sc3
Sc4

Space Station Survival Introduced with audio-commentary and images from the International Space Station Mission, pupils are the astronauts who must use chemistry to solve the problem of a broken CO₂ air scrubber, and physics to prevent the station temperature from fluctuating.

Y9

Sc3

Secrets of the Ice An important message reaches Earth from an alien world. Ice samples from the alien planet must be chemically analysed. Can pupils find out what destroyed the alien environment so we can prevent it happening on Earth?

KS4

Sc4

Collision Course Investigate the effects of an asteroid collision on Earth. This activity could also be extended for older pupils.

Sc4

Liftoff! Resources to guide pupils through rocket making, from basic water rockets to fuel propelled versions. Many opportunities to consider speed, acceleration and forces.

Assemblies An off-the-peg speech examining some arguments for funding space exploration.

Events To generate school-wide involvement in Science Year is a real challenge. It undoubtedly takes organisation and time. This section provides an introduction to running a science fair in school, together with case-histories. There are also details of national science centre events that tie-in with the Science Year themes.

Newsletter A newsletter for parents enabling you to communicate your school contributions to Science Year quickly. Presented on the CD ROM as a Word file so that you can amend it.

Grants Two examples of school events funded by the ASE and BA's Science Year grant scheme. Whilst this scheme is now closed, information on how to obtain funding for school projects is provided through the BA.

Cross-curricular A section that aims to strengthen links with other departments in your school. For example 'Is there life?' can link you to your History Department. Three lessons of material focusing on the invention of space travel, the space race and space theories vs. space fact.

Drama A very popular way of stimulating interest, this activity can be developed as far as you like, from a short role play in a science lesson right through to a full assembly production. Moonlander is ideal for Year 7 pupils studying the Solar System.

Quizzes Sources of quiz material across the physics KS3 curriculum.

Fun-size 15-20 minute short activities to begin a lesson, inject humour, and stimulate discussion. These are relevant to many different areas of the KS3 curriculum.

KS4 mini-projects Developed by the York Education Group to breathe some life back into KS4 investigations. This is a year-long project to trial KS4 projects which maintain scope for real pupil decision making. After feedback from you, a framework will be produced to allow these open investigations to be used to meet your Sc1 assessment requirements.

Biotechnology Activities to investigate microbial communication. These activities can be adapted for young and old pupils alike.

Other resources A selection of resources from other organisations to support your teaching.

Weblinks A selection of web addresses covering 'Is there life?' concepts for teachers and pupils.

Scientist An on-line working astronomer who will respond to email questions generated by pupils whenever you are teaching space.

Science Across the World A highly successful ASE project in which some of you are currently involved. Pupils swap data and conclusions with children performing the same investigations around the world. Usually Science Across the World puts you in touch with a link school, but the possibility of collaborating with your own MFL exchange school makes the process very relevant to your pupils. Resources on 'Is there life?' are Plug in the Sun, Global Solar Partners and Renewable Energy.

Science Challenge Find out more about ASE's Science Challenge competition. Last year pupils aged 9-13 from all over the country presented their work and attended a wonderful awards day.

Careers A series of resource sheets illustrating science in action across a range of careers. These materials are designed to build into a wall display that will grow throughout Science Year.

Pupil competition The Chemical Industries Association are running a competition for pupils to win computer equipment for themselves and your school. Please note that the closing date for the competition is December 31st, 2001.

ITT competition Open to all those currently undertaking Initial Teacher Training, a competition to produce resources for pupils which will be published by the ASE.

Science Year Partners Information on Science Year activities co-ordinated by the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA).

A CD ROM allows us to distribute many resources very quickly and easily. CDs also allow ICT activities to be incorporated where they are helpful in delivering science concepts. Around 30% of the materials of the resources are software that run from the CD ROM. The remaining 70% of the resources are materials for you to print off. The CDs are therefore primarily for teachers, but since your pupils may access some resources through it directly, the look and opening text has been designed to appeal to them as well. Many of the pages contain links to relevant webpages to which you should be able to connect providing you have Internet access whilst running the CD ROM.

IS THERE LIFE? CONTENTS