www.riverdeep.netproductsdownloadsfree_downloads.jhtml

VOLTMETER

Every primary school should have a small voltmeter. You can use this to measure electrical current and, in particular, electrical resistance through a pencil lead (use 4B). By varying the connection length along the lead, the voltage changes. Graph results. You can run a similar experiment by measuring current flow through a beaker of water. Watch what happens as you add salt. Children could then use this information as a simple analysis tool. Try this: you are dying of thirst and the mad professor has left two beakers of liquid near you. One is fresh water, the other is salt. Use the voltmeter to find which is which.

DIGITAL SCALES

Every primary school needs a small, accurate, inexpensive digital scale. Try making a cake mix, then weighing it before and after cooking. The results are dramatic and lead to the question, “Where did those 25 grams go?”

MEASURING SHADOWS

Quite basic experiments can be brought to life using ICT. For instance, almost every school takes part in “let’s measure and mark a shadow throughout the day” activities. But you create far more interest in the work when you compare your results by email with a school at a different latitude.

IDENTIFICATION KEYS

Identification keys are good for database work. There are many examples online. Primary-zone.com has a good one. Using such a key really comes to life with an interactive whiteboard. It’s also quite easy to set up your own ID key using PowerPoint.

www.primary-zone.com

LICHEN

Junior school keys nearly always focus on species that the children already recognise, thus defeating the purpose of the activity. I always cover some work on lichens. Although the children are aware of their existence, they haven’t usually looked at them in great detail.

www.nhm.ac.ukbotanylichentwighelp.html

SCIENCE CD-Roms

Many people stopped using multimedia CD-Roms because they had limited potential when used on a single machine. Once you get an interactive whiteboard, they can be used to tremendous effect as a whole-class teaching aid.

FREE LESSONS

Sign up for Robert Krampf’s free weekly email science lesson. These are science experiments that can be done with household items. Topics vary from physics, chemistry, biology, earth science and others. Most are easy enough for young students, and most can be adapted for older students.

http:groups.yahoo.comgroupkrampf

JACKDAWS

Additional information on the birds.

www.naturegrid.org.ukbiodiversitybirdscrow.htmjackdaw

JACKDAW WEBSITE

www.btinternet.comgroeswenphiljackdaws

WHITEBOARDS Philip Edwards’s notes on the use of whiteboards www.caerphilly.org.ukwhiteboards