Science Free Stuff

During the last transit of Venus, scientists used parallax to triangulate the distance from the Earth to the Sun, resulting in the calculation of the astronomical unit.

Another transit of Venus is happening on 5th/6th June and this once-in-a-lifetime event (the next transit will be in December 2117 and December 2125!) is the perfect opportunity to introduce your students to the principle of parallax.

Taken from Boardworks A2 Physics, this parallax animation helps students visualise the phenomenon used to perform the calculation of the astronomical unit.

To watch the parallax animation, just click the 'start' button.

To help your students understand complex concepts such as the principle of parallax, all Boardworks A-Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics resources feature numerous animations. To find out more, order the Summer 2012 sample disc today – it’s free!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Below is an archive of our most popular free science resources. To download this content all you need to do is click on the links below and you will be prompted to register some additional details with us.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the unknown metalworkers who created bronze in 2000BC, to Einstein’s special theory of relativity discovered in 1905, our scientific milestones poster highlights a variety of scientific discoveries from the past 4,000 years.

Why not print out and display this poster, using it to introduce your students to a range of scientific discoveries?

To download the timeline poster, click the button below.

All the illustrations on this poster are taken from Boardworks KS3, GCSE and GCSE Additional Science products. Order your free sample disc to find out more about how Boardworks Science resources use illustrations, animations, virtual experiments, and much more besides to explain complex scientific ideas.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OnBoard is the free email service that we’ve launched to provide great free stuff for your teaching, saving you hours of time.

Our first free resource this term is a free presentation on transformers, taken from our forthcoming GCSE Separate Science product.

Featuring an interactive virtual experiment and a quiz on using transformers to change voltage, the resources are designed to help your GCSE physics students get to grips with the basics of transformers.

To download the free resources, click the button below.

Boardworks GCSE Separate Sciences is being updated for the 2011 specifications and the updated product will be available in May 2012. Order your free sample disc now to try out more from the product.

And to keep up to speed with our free resources and lesson plans, follow us on Twitter @BoardworksLtd.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘[At A-Level] the biochemical pathway for the production of glucose from simple raw materials is more complex and requires a big step up in knowledge for A-Level students. Boardworks A2 Biology 'Photosynthesis: The Reaction’ presentation is a useful teaching tool.’

To help your students make the transition from a GCSE understanding of photosynthesis to the depth of knowledge required at A-Level, biology teacher Margaret Royal has written a lesson plan for you to use with your A2 students.

Margaret’s lesson is accompanied by a range of interactive Boardworks slides, which feature a variety of visual aids to help illustrate the different parts of the leaf and their various roles in photosynthesis.

To download the lesson plan and the Boardworks slides, click the buttons below.

Did you know that each presentation in Boardworks A-level Biology, Chemistry and Physics resources concludes with a range of summary activities? Covering the entire content of the presentation, this innovative review material helps students focus their learning. To find out more, order your free sample disc today!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘…while a leap year every fourth year came fairly close to keeping the calendar correct, after several centuries, it was discovered that the calendar was 10 days behind the stars. So in 1582, Thursday 4th October of the Julian calendar was followed by Friday 15th October of the Gregorian calendar.’

With Wednesday 29th February approaching, one of our science editors Dr Jeannie Moulton has written a question and answer activity to help you incorporate ideas about leap years into your lessons on the Solar System.

Jeannie’s activity starts with some historical context to engage students, then uses questions to challenge students’ knowledge of motion in the Solar System and employ their mathematical skills. Adaptable for use with KS3 and GCSE students, all of the facts and calculations are provided for you.

To download the activity, click the button below.

We’re currently updating Boardworks Separate Sciences to meet the new 2011 specifications for AQA, OCR 21st Century Science, OCR Gateway Science and Edexcel. To find out more about what’s included in the update, why not try our online sample.

Or to find out more about the whole range of Boardworks Science resources, order your free sample disc today.