The Chemical Industry Education Centre (CIEC) produces 'The Good Resource Guide' for both primary and secondary schools. A large range of resources are collected for review from industrial companies, trade and professional associations. The resources are reviewed by practising teachers.

Several criteria are used to decide if a resource should be recommended:

• Does the resource support the curriculum?
• Is there time to use it?
  
• Will it enhance planned lessons without the need for extensive modification?
  
• Does the resource provide sufficient background information to support teachers and pupils as it is used?

ASE has supported an updated review of the guides and an online database search facility. Resources are categorised by Science Year theme, topic, type and target age range.

Find the database at www.uyseg.org/ciec_home.htm

For 'Is there life?' try:

'Teaching Scientifically Able Pupils in the Secondary School' - Teacher resource book
'SATIS 14-19' - 45 thematic maps examining science related topics
'Pipeline Puzzle' - Activity book investigating physical properties
'Clues from the rocks' - Resources to support teaching of the rock cycle
'Classroom modules 1-7' - Resource including video to support the study of oil

Print out the reviews for these resources here.

		TEACHING SCIENTIFICALLY ABLE PUPILS IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL
		SATIS 14-19
		PIPELINE PUZZLE
		CLUES FROM THE ROCKS
		CLASSROOM MODULES 1-7

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is the learned lociety for chemistry and the professional body for chemists in the UK with over 46,000 members worldwide. The RSC is a major publisher and provider of chemical information, supports the teaching of chemistry at all levels, organises hundreds of chemical meetings a year and is a leader in communicating science to the public.

The RSC provides LearnNet, a new network designed for the use of teachers and students of chemistry at all levels. The network aims to provide access to products and information relevant to the study of chemistry. This site has been classified by experts in the teaching of chemistry to ensure that the best interests of the users have been attended to at all times.

Find them at www.chemsoc.org/networks/learnnet/index.htm

For 'Is there life?' try:

'All at sea? The chemistry of the oceans' is a very attractive ten-page booklet aimed at students aged between 14 and 16 years. It supports the National Curriculum KS4 statement on how the oceans have changed over time.

The text is supported by questions, tables of data and diagrams. The booklet would be particularly useful as an extension to the study of the oceans for the more able student. It is available in two versions for students aged 14-16 and post-16.

ALL AT SEA?

'Ideas and evidence' At the start of the 21st century secondary education in the UK yet again underwent changes. These included the introduction of new curricula at all levels in England, Wales and Scotland and the Northern Ireland National Curriculum undergoing review. With more emphasis on cross curricula topics such as health, safety and risk, citizenship, education for sustainable development, key skills, literacy, numeracy and ICT, chemistry teachers must not only become more flexible and adaptable in their teaching approaches, but keep up to date with current scientific thinking. The major change to the science 11-16 curricula of England and Wales was the introduction of 'ideas and evidence in science', as part of Scientific Enquiry. This is similar to the 'developing informed attitudes' in the Scottish 5-14 Environmental studies.

These activities are intended to make students think about how they carry out investigations and to encourage them to realise that science is not a black and white subject. The true nature of science is very creative, full of uncertainties and data interpretation can and does lead to controversy and sometimes public outcry. Some of the experiments and activities will be very familiar, but the contexts in which they are embedded provide opportunities for meeting other requirements of the UK curriculum.

There are five books in the series, follow the link for more details on each book and to access the students worksheets.

Find it at www.chemsoc.org/networks/learnnet/ideas-evidence.htm

The School Science site has been produced by Industry Supports Education (ISE). The aim is to provide information about the science learnt in schools and how it is applied in industry and research. We hope that the contexts are interesting to school children and help to motivate them by seeing the relevance of the science that they are doing. All the resources are written by experienced teacher authors and carefully edited to maintain educational integrity. The site is made from interactive electronic resources (e-sources). Each one contains written information, pictures, animations, quick questions and a glossary. You can search the site by keyword or phrase. Or you can link to an e-source and browse through it www.schoolscience.co.uk

For 'Is there life?' try:

Interactive Periodic Table
www.schoolscience.co.uk/periodictable.html

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) is one of three sites making up the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils. The other two are Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire and the Chilbolton Observatory in Hampshire. All have world-class reputations and some of the very best facilities and scientists. Research carried out at these sites will affect the way all of us live in the near future. RAL's website can be found at www.clrc.ac.uk

RAL have developed a series of activities based around their probe lander technology. The resource sheets guide pupils through the production of a model Moon lander probe using eggs. A simple computer interface device is also available to test the effectiveness of probe landers.

Resource sheets, which include details for ordering the computer interface, can be printed out here:

		PUPILS
		TEACHERS

Both RAL and Daresbury Laboratory welcome visits from schools. Because we are a working research laboratory the number of visits and the group size is limited, so early booking is advised. Both sites also run events and activities for school groups from KS2 to A-level, which are advertised locally. There are also opportunities for teacher visits and teacher placements. At RAL we are keen to videoconference with schools unable to visit. For more details about any schools activity contact:

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Janet Haylett, Schools Liaison Officer,
Communications, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory,
Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0QX
Tel: 01235 445950 Fax: 01235 446665
Email: j.e.haylett@rl.ac.uk

Daresbury Laboratory
Anne Humphreys, Schools Liaison Officer,
Communications, Daresbury Laboratory,
Daresbury, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 4AD
Tel: 01925 603708 Fax: 01925 263027
Email: a.j.humphreys@dl.ac.uk

Try out our science club at www.sci-art.cclrc.ac.uk

The Institute of Physics is both a learned society and the professional body for physicists whether they work in schools, colleges, HE, industry or the public service sector.

The Education Department supports the teaching of physics in schools and colleges by organising educational events, commissioning and producing educational and career-related publications, and contributing to policy and curriculum development in academic and vocational areas. Workshops, courses and exhibitions are organised throughout the year for teachers and students. They include Physics Updates courses for physics specialists; one day courses for those teaching physics in the early secondary years without a strong background in the subject; Physics in Perspective for sixth-formers; the Schools Lecture Series for 14 year olds upwards; and Physics/Science at Work exhibitions for a range of age groups. The department also makes a major contribution to the Annual Meeting of the Association for Science Education.

Publications are mainly in the form of leaflets and posters promoting physics both as an exciting and diverse field of study, and as a first step towards a range of career opportunities. The Department augments its work in this area by supporting careers evenings in schools and at large regional careers events. Other published items include: Physics on Course, an annual guide to courses in HE; the Physics in Person list of recommended lectures, and ideas for new investigations and practical activities.

In the past two years the Institute has made a major investment in the curriculum by developing a new AS/A level physics course, Advancing Physics, supported by the most up-to-date technology.

Teachers can either join the Institute as individual Members or Affiliates, or they can affiliate their schools for a modest annual subscription and receive not only many of the benefits of members but also extra benefits in the form of leaflets, video loan and reduced fees for some courses.

Find out more from the website at www.iop.org