Sustainability
Children are increasingly concerned about issues around sustainability and the future of the planet. We need to balance the need to alert the next generation about the problems we face with the need to give youngsters hope. Our resources combine helping children to understand the work being done by scientists to tackle environmental problems with covering the primary science curriculum.
Sustainable stories and solutions for our planet: Which hygiene products?
The development of personal care products such as soap, shampoo and their packaging is used as a context to explore the varied roles of scientists and engineers in promoting sustainability. It gives children the opportunity to develop key working scientifically skills including discussion, problem solving, and asking questions. Children are encouraged to develop their own ideas and questions, methods of recording, conclusions and recommendations throughout the activities. The activities also make strong links with the topic of materials and their properties.
Sustainable stories and solutions for our planet: Sustainable Fuels
The development of more sustainable fuel is used as a context to explore the varied roles of scientists and engineers in promoting sustainability. It gives children the opportunity to develop key working scientifically skills including discussion, problem solving, and asking questions. Children are encouraged to develop their own ideas and questions, methods of recording, conclusions and recommendations throughout the activities. The activities also make strong links with the topic of materials and their properties.
Sustainable stories and solutions for our planet: Sustainable Materials
- Keywords: sustainability, sustainable, working scientifically, materials, properties
The context of the development of everyday materials such as plastic, metal, washing powder and sustainable, healthy food is used to explore the varied roles of scientists and engineers in promoting sustainability. It gives children the opportunity to develop key working scientifically skills including discussion, problem solving, and asking questions. Children are encouraged to develop their own ideas and questions, methods of recording, conclusions and recommendations throughout the activities. The activities also make strong links with the topic of materials and their properties.
Sustainable stories and solutions for our planet: Sustainable Ingredients
- Keywords: sustainability, sustainable, working scientifically, materials, properties
The context of the development of ingredients used in manufacturing is used to explore the varied roles of scientists and engineers in promoting sustainability. It gives children the opportunity to develop key working scientifically skills including discussion, problem solving, and asking questions. Children are encouraged to develop their own ideas and questions, methods of recording, conclusions and recommendations throughout the activities. The activities also make strong links with the topic of materials and their properties.
Potatoes to Plastics
Potatoes to Plastics introduces some real scientists currently working on sustainable solutions and instructions for making bioplastic from potato peel in a classroom setting. There are also a linked set of playing cards which showcase a range of science solutions to dealing with waste products.
Oil for Beginners
The activity 'Oil' in Oil for Beginners invites KS1 children to think about where different sorts of oil, such as vegetable oil and fossil fuels come from.
Forces and Recycling
Forces and recycling looks at some of the processes which occur during the recycling process including sorting and separating the materials and thinking about the forces involved.
Generating Electricity
This resource helps children deepen their understanding of electricity through engaging, real-world challenges. Pupils investigate how electricity is generated, explore renewable energy by building windmills, and design a simple water-level sensor to solve problems faced by communities in developing countries.
