Are you looking for some interesting resources on the theme of ‘Time’ for British Science Week? Whizz Pop Bang has produced a whole magazine called ‘Time Quest’.
Our teachers have created a STEAM-based lesson pack ready for you to use. Download it for FREE!
There are also reading resources ready for you to use for FREE!
We have thousands more resources available on our website.
We have FIVE copies of Chris Packham’s brilliant new book – Superhero Animals, with beautiful illustrations by Anders Frang, published by Red Shed.
“You have the power to help animals now, so that they will keep helping you, your family and your friends in the future.”
– Chris Packham
Get up close to nature with naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham OBE and encounter the amazing animal superheroes that will help us save the world.
From pollinating plants and the humble earthworm to the soil and the ocean — through fascinating facts and practical guidelines, Superhero Animals invites us to take a closer look at the natural life around us and teaches us how to care for it at a time when it is most urgent to do so.
To win one of FIVE copies, answer this question in the comments:
What is the largest animal in the animal kingdom?
A Hippopotamus
B Blue whale
C Elephant
This competition closes at midnight on 29th February 2024 and is open to UK residents only. Whizz Pop Bang competition terms and conditions are here.
Are you looking for some STEAM ideas for this year’s British Science Week on the topic of time? February’s issue, called ‘Time Quest’, is full of great ideas.
The lesson pack for year 3 is on the maths objective of estimating time. Pupils will create their own sand timers which measure an exact amount of time, for example, one minute.
Pupils will use their timers to test their time perception. For example, can they talk non-stop for a minute? Or stand like a statue? As we all know, depending on what you are doing, time can feel like it’s passing more quickly or slowly!
The magazine also has a perpetual calendar to craft, instructions to make a leapfrog game and a shadow clock.
How to keep the science theme of time in your reading sessions
Using science texts in guided reading or whole-class reading sessions is an easy way for children to delve further into the subject matter and acquire more knowledge. Here are the reading comprehensions that link with this topic:
Whizz Pop Bang magazine and teaching resources are brilliant for enhancing your school’s science teaching:
Prices from as little as £204.99 per year for a copy of Whizz Pop Bang magazine through the post each month and whole-school access to our ever-growing library of downloadable teaching resources, with unlimited teacher logins.
We also have individual membership option so teachers and home educators can access all of our amazing downloadable resources for just £20 for the whole year.
Are you teaching the topic properties and changes of materials to year 5? One of the objectives is teaching thermal conductivity; continue reading for two great science investigations…
Save the ice cubes!
This lesson pack contains an investigation in which pupils try to stop ice cubes melting by wrapping them in different materials. It’s like giving the ice cubes their own little winter jackets! The PowerPoint presentation explains how items stay warm or cold. Pupils are expected to design their own comparative test, with some guidance given in the PowerPoint presentation. They should decide how to record their results and write their own conclusions.
Blubber glove
In this lesson, pupils will be able to feel the difference with their hands. This hands-on approach encourages students to actively participate in their learning, transforming them from passive observers to enthusiastic explorers. They will find out how animals stay warm in cold conditions by creating a blubber glove using different materials to see which is the best insulator. They will try to make it a fair test by using a thermometer to make sure the icy water stays a similar temperature during their investigation.
It can be a tricky topic to teach as pupils often find it hard to understand that an item can stay warm and cold. Issue 102 ‘BRRRRR! The science of keeping warm’ is the perfect companion for your book corner whilst teaching this topic.
How to get more science into your reading sessions
Using science texts in guided reading or whole-class reading sessions is an easy way for children to delve further into the subject matter and acquire more knowledge. Here are the reading resources that link with this topic:
Whizz Pop Bang magazine and teaching resources are brilliant for enhancing your school’s science teaching:
Prices from as little as £254.99 per year for a copy of Whizz Pop Bang magazine through the post each month and whole-school access to our ever-growing library of downloadable teaching resources, with unlimited teacher logins.
We also have individual membership option so teachers and home educators can access all of our amazing downloadable resources for just £20 for the whole year.
We have FOUR copies of the brand new book from astrophysicist, Lisa Harvey-Smith – Universal Guide to the Night Sky to give away!
Wherever you are in this world – whether that be in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, in the city or a remote region – this book guides you through the remarkable features of planet Earth’s starry sky.
Receive a personal tour through the wonders of the universe from astrophysicist Lisa Harvey-Smith. Explore comets and meteors, stars, planets and moons. Find galaxies and glowing gas clouds. Spot supernovae and enjoy eclipses. Learn everything you need to know about binoculars, telescopes and photographing the stars. You will never look up at the stars in the same way again.
Featuring intergalactic illustrations by Sophie Beer, this global guide to the sky is your ticket out of this world.
To win one of FOUR copies, answer this question in the comments:
What is the name for scientists who focus on observations of the skies?
A Astronomer
B Biologist
C Chemist
This competition closes at midnight on 31st January 2024 and is open to UK residents only. Whizz Pop Bang competition terms and conditions are here.
Many animals, including walruses, penguins and monkeys, huddle in groups to keep warm. The centre of a huddle of Emperor penguins can reach 24℃ when the air temperature is as low as -40℃!
Watch a video about how huddling works here!
🎄 Watch a chain of beads flow upwards and out of a glass – this is surely the most fun you can have with your Christmas decorations! Every year, our children look forward to this moment almost as much as the big day itself!
🎄 You’ll notice that the chain arcs over the rim of the glass, going upwards, before being pulled downwards. So how does it work? This is a cool physics problem to ponder! It happens because the chain acts like lots of connected little rods. When you pick up one end of a rod, that end of the rod goes up, and the other end tries to go down. However, if the downward force is stopped by the pile of beads below it, there is a small kickback, and the rod is pushed upwards. That upwards thrust at each link in the chain is what makes the chain rise. This is an easy activity to try for yourself at home! Just make sure that you feed the chain gradually into the glass from one end so that it doesn’t get into a tangle when it’s flowing out. You could experiment with letting the chain fall from different heights (for example by standing on a step compared to sitting down) to see if that makes a difference to the height that the chain reaches.
🎄 Have you ever seen a chain fountain in action before? Watch a Mould effect video, otherwise known as a chain fountain phenomenon video here! It’s the perfect simple science experiment to try at home!
Use coupon code: XMAS23
For a limited time, whilst stocks last, we’ll send you a FREE copy of the 100th edition of Whizz Pop Bang when you purchase a new subscription using the coupon code XMAS23.
Imagine how excited your child will be to receive all of this on Christmas Day…
• Our movie edition ‘LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!‘ as your first magazine
• FREE copy of the ‘SCIENCE PARTY‘ magazine!
• FREE gift card printed with your message to the child
• FREE festive packaging
Plus, your child will receive a magazine addressed to them through the letterbox every month!
Each month will bring a whole new world of excitement, with topics like Ancient Greeks, Outer Space, Bees, Aliens, Rainforests and Medicines.
HURRY! Order by midnight on 17th December for your items to be dispatched by Royal Mail’s last posting date for Christmas. This offer ends on 20th December or until stocks last. Place your order today to make sure your child doesn’t miss out.
Use coupon code: XMAS23
At the checkout, when asked ‘When would you like your subscription to start?’ select ‘Delivery as soon as possible‘.
* Christmas offer only valid on new 6 and 12-monthly subscriptions using the code XMAS23. At the checkout, when asked ‘When would you like your subscription to start?’ select ‘Delivery as soon as possible.’ Order by midnight on 17.12.23 for your items to be dispatched by Royal Mail’s last posting date for Christmas. Offer valid while stocks last or until midnight on 20.12.2023. Don’t forget to use the code XMAS23 at the checkout. Not valid in conjunction with any other offers.
Fantastic news! We’ve just added a game-changing feature to our reading resources: Discussion questions! Starting from issue 99, our teachers have crafted engaging questions to accompany our non-fiction texts, designed for whole-class or paired discussions in response to the new reading framework.
What’s in it for you?
Imagine your pupils not just reading, but actively discussing high-quality science content. These questions go beyond comprehension – they spark curiosity, encourage collaboration and fuel a passion for science exploration.
Why you’ll love it:
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