Cross-curricular activities
Discover primary science resources that link to history, geography, literacy, numeracy and sustainability
Numeracy
Biodiversity and habitats | 4–7 years
Connect your curriculum teaching on habitats to engaging sustainability contexts. This topic web suggests classroom activities linked to increasing biodiversity and protecting marine habitats.
Chemistry in sport
Our very first global experiment compares the performance enhancement of student-made sports drinks vs water
Colour by pH
Introduce learners to the pH scale and the Universal Indicator chart by using these colour by number worksheets.
Decaying and materials in mobiles | 9–11 years
Connect your curriculum teaching on materials to engaging sustainability contexts. This topic web suggests classroom activities linked to the materials found in mobile phones and how different materials decay.
Dissolving, density and sugary drinks
Try this investigation to get learners exploring the mass of sugar dissolved in their favourite drinks, with detailed teacher notes, classroom slides and a video demonstration.
Electricity production and use | 9–11 years
Connect your curriculum teaching on electricity to engaging sustainability contexts. This topic web suggests classroom activities linked to sustainable sources of electricity and monitoring our electricity usage.
Literacy
Protecting animals and their habitats | 7–9 years
Connect your curriculum teaching on habitats to engaging sustainability contexts. This topic web suggests classroom activities linked to protecting the habitats of orangutans and polar bears.
Recycling and melting plastics | 7–9 years
Connect your curriculum teaching on materials to engaging sustainability contexts. This topic web suggests classroom activities linked to sorting plastics for recycling and melting plastics for new uses.
Seasons and unexpected weather | 4–7 years
Connect your curriculum teaching on seasonal changes to engaging sustainability contexts. This topic web suggests classroom activities linked to observing seasonal changes and weather.
Saving water and pollution in the water cycle | 7–9 years
Connect your curriculum teaching on water and the water cycle to engaging sustainability contexts. This topic web suggests classroom activities on pollution in the water cycle, how water is cleaned and how we can use less of it.
White powder mix-up at the factory
In Search of Solutions: As chemical engineers, you are contracted to determine how to identify several different white powders… Linking to topics on chemical reactions and physical/chemical changes.
Water for survival | 11-16 years
Practical problem-solving investigation including filtration, distillation and temperature. Learners purify water from a muddy pond to survive.
History
Science ideas webs
Embed science learning into your history lessons with these ideas webs. Each web suggests activities for three different age ranges.
Putting fires out
How can we use vinegar and sodium bicarbonate to make a fire extinguisher?
Elements Top Trumps
A fun way to introduce the elements in the periodic table.
Alchemy to chemistry: primary science podcasts
Join Kareena and her superhero friend K-mistry for this short podcast introducing children to how scientific theories have changed over time.
Types of fireworks
Reverend Ron Lancaster MBE demonstrates some of the different types of fireworks, including rockets, shells and Roman candles.
Science ideas webs
Science ideas webs
Embed science learning into your history lessons with these ideas webs. Each web suggests activities for three different age ranges.
On this day in chemistry
On this day in chemistry
Explore 366 days of chemistry history in anecdotes. Reveal what happened on today’s date or explore the whole collection
Geography
Decaying and materials in mobiles | 9–11 years
Connect your curriculum teaching on materials to engaging sustainability contexts. This topic web suggests classroom activities linked to the materials found in mobile phones and how different materials decay.
Seasons and unexpected weather | 4–7 years
Connect your curriculum teaching on seasonal changes to engaging sustainability contexts. This topic web suggests classroom activities linked to observing seasonal changes and weather.
Found in the ground
Give your pupils the knowledge and the opportunity to classify materials according to rocks, minerals and fossils.
Virtual rock kit
A collection of common sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks. Each rock has images showing particle arrangements, the rock after weathering, hand sized specimens and the rock in use.
Resources from beyond the RSC
Exploring climate justice: a human rights-based approach
This resource explores the concept of climate justice using case studies from Scotland and Somaliland. The resource takes a global citizenship approach and links to the Curriculum for Excellence.
Titanic investigations
A series of short videos to illustrate practical science activities from the Primary Science Teaching Trust. The videos explore changes of state and are based on the story of the Titanic.
City Science Stars
Engaging practical science activities for 9-11 year olds from the Primary Science Teaching Trust. Download lesson plans and other support materials for activities with links to football, other sports and space.
Big Jurassic Classroom
A downloadable book, teacher guides and activity packs from the Primary Science Teaching Trust and Jurassic Coast Trust. Use these to support the teaching of rocks, fossils and evolution, and bring the wonder of the Jurassic Coast into your classroom.
Teaching science through stories
Discover tips from STEM Learning for teaching science through stories. These resources include book summaries, hints and tips for teaching the science and further stories on a similar theme. Great for including science in literacy lessons.
Primary resources for cross curricular topics
Explore STEM Learning’s resources for teaching science through cross curricular topics. The resources cover history, music, art and geography.
The Young People’s Book Prize
Find out about the Royal Society’s book prize and discover this year’s top science books for young people.
Three Minute Learning
Stories and literacy activities linked to science from Three Minute Learning.