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Glass bottles

Bringing Back Glass

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Animals, Biodiversity & Habitats, Energy, Evolution & Inheritance, Light, Plants, Properties & Uses of Materials, Rocks, Fossils and Soils, Sound, States of Matter

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3-5, 5-7, 7-9, 9-12

A set of activities to help children explore the importance of glass in everyday lives, for scientific experimentation, problem-solving and in technology.

Celebrating the United Nations International Year of Glass 2022, by ‘bringing back glass into the primary classroom’, the Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) is delighted to be working with The Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers of London to share this resource with primary science educators.

In the Activity Booklet will find 15 activities designed to support delivery of engaging science lessons that enable Early Years and primary school children (from 3-11 years) to explore the properties, uses and benefits of glass and to engage in meaningful and relevant investigative science. Using easy to source materials, many activities are also suited to use in themed science days, science weeks, or for science or STEM club activities.

All the activities have been written by PSTT College Fellows.

Guidance & curricula links

Information for teachers using this resource

Download the Activity Booklet to see all fifteen activities.

Possible learning outcomes for each activity have been linked to the UK primary curricula so that educators can see where an activity might fit into their planning. Download UK Curricula Links.

Some common misconceptions that may become apparent when undertaking activities suggested in the resource are outlined. Download Common Misconceptions and Background Science.

Cover

Activity Booklet

Download
Bringing back glass page

UK Curricula Links

Download
Page

Common Misconceptions

Download

We hope that this resource will help teachers to inspire future generations of young scientists. After all, we are only limited by our imaginations!

Leigh Baildham, Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers of London

Glass

Activities

Window

Properties & Uses of Materials

Investigating Windows

7-9, 9-12

four birds eating seeds from a bird feeder

Animals, Biodiversity & Habitats, Evolution & Inheritance

Feed the Birds

5-7, 7-9, 9-12

Ice being melted under a lamp light

Properties & Uses of Materials

Arctic Ice

5-7, 7-9, 9-12

Model lung

Animals

Making a Model Lung

9-12

Man extinguishing fire with a fire extinguisher

Properties & Uses of Materials

Fire Fighting

9-12

Thermometer pictured against wooden slabs

Properties & Uses of Materials, States of Matter

Make your own Thermometer

7-9, 9-12

A water jug half filled and a mason jar with illustrations of the water cycle

States of Matter

Water Cycle in a Jar

7-9, 9-12

A pile of soil, water, washing up liquid and a jar

Rocks, Fossils and Soils

Soil Profiling

7-9, 9-12

A person looking into a jar through a magnifying glass

Light

Make your own Microscope

9-12

Plants sprouting in a jar with a glass lid

Plants, Properties & Uses of Materials

Plant Germination & Growth

7-9, 9-12

Glasses in a line filled with different amounts of liquid and a tea spoon

Energy, Sound

Making Music

5-7, 7-9, 9-12

A girl holding a mirror showing her reflection

Energy, Light

Mirror Images

9-12

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