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upper primary students observing a science investigation in their classroom

Did you know?

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Animals, Biodiversity & Habitats, Climate Science, Electricity, Energy, Evolution & Inheritance, Forces, Light, Plants, Properties & Uses of Materials, Rocks, Fossils and Soils, Seasonal Change, Sound, Space, States of Matter

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Enrichment, Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science

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7-9, 9-12

Cutting-edge research can be linked to primary science curriculum topics.

Aimed at teachers and adults interested in introducing cutting-edge science research projects to primary age children, PSTT has created freely downloadable Did you know? articles which are linked to primary science curriculum topics.

Articles are written in language that primary children can understand and suggest questions for children to consider.

Accompanying Teacher Guides (which can be used a classroom presentations) describe activities and investigations that children can do related to the research.

You might have noticed some improvement if you’ve been a long time user of I bet you didn’t know… We have recently updated the resource to Did you know? – this resource still links to cutting-edge science but now with the following improvements:

  • Reading opportunities to help children understand how science is applied in the world around them.
  • Guidance for teachers to improve science capital by encouraging pupils to connect science learning to world events.
  • Teacher Guides are now made simpler by linking the research to one primary science topic and one learning objective within that topic.

Learn more about this resource from our recent Did you know? webinar. Presenters will share examples of articles which explain cutting-edge research in language that primary children (aged 7-12) can understand and suggest questions for children to consider. For more webinars and professional learning opportunities, visit our events’ page here.

How is climate change affecting sports fields?

Investigate why football pitches are flooding and how sports clubs are preparing for the future

Be sure to share our latest activity with your class if you are teaching soil, weather or climate change. Your class will explore how increased rainfall and storms, linked to global warming and changing weather patterns, are flooding football pitches. Children will also be encouraged to think about how extreme weather impacts their local community and sports activities.

The article could be discussed with the class (or read independently by older primary pupils) and includes questions about water drainage and flood prevention. The accompanying Teacher Guide provides investigations on how different soils and surfaces drain water and sustainable solutions used by sports clubs. Article, Teacher Guide with accompanying materials for recording can be downloaded below.

Flooded football pitch with standing water near the sidelines and empty stadium seating in the background

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Flooded football pitch with standing water near the sidelines and empty stadium seating in the background

Climate Science, Rocks, Fossils and Soils, Seasonal Change

Why are football pitches flooding?

Curriculum links: Soil / Weather / Climate

Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science | 7-9, 9-12

Download
an athlete laying down on a track appearing exhausting after running a race

Animals, Climate Science

Climate models help us plan sports events

Curriculum links: Exercise / Health / Climate science

Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science | 9-12

Download
underwater scene of life around the coral reef

Climate Science, Energy, Sound

Soundscapes can help restore coral reefs

Curriculum links: Sound / Climate change

Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science | 7-9, 9-12

Download

Climate Science, Properties & Uses of Materials

Geoengineering could slow melting of Arctic ice

Curriculum focus: Properties and uses of materials (reflectivity) / Climate change

Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science | 7-9, 9-12

Download

Properties & Uses of Materials

Historical ink

Curriculum focus: Separating materials (ink)

Enrichment, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work | 7-9, 9-12

Download

Forces

Weird, wiggly, crawling wheels roam Mars

Curriculum focus: Friction

Enrichment, Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work | 7-9, 9-12

Download
a person has picked up a handful of dirt

Rocks, Fossils and Soils

Soil Fungi could Reduce Global Warming

Curriculum focus: Soil

Enrichment, Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science | 7-9, 9-12

Download
a shark swimming under water

Animals

How to Calculate the Age of a Shark

Curriculum focus: Growth and Ageing

Enrichment, Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science | 7-9, 9-12

Download
a close up image of skin were a few tiny hairs are visible

Animals

How to Grow a New Skin

Curriculum focus: Healthy body (skin)

Enrichment, Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science | 7-9, 9-12

Download
Solar system

Space

How to Play Planetary Hide & Seek

Curriculum focus: Space (relative movement of planets)

Enrichment, Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science | 7-9, 9-12

Download
Graphene

Properties & Uses of Materials

How to Clean Water Using a Molecular Sieve

Curriculum focus: Separating mixtures and dissolving

Enrichment, Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science | 7-9, 9-12

Download

Biodiversity & Habitats

Stripes & Concealment

Curriculum focus: Adaptation (camouflage)

Enrichment, Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science | 7-9, 9-12

Download

It helped me think like a scientist as it gave me ideas to base my own ideas on.

Rose (aged 9) Devon

Three pupils learning

About the project

What are the benefits of introducing cutting-edge research to children?

  • Children learn how current science research has an impact on real-life.
  • By carrying out related investigations in the classroom, children can imagine themselves as scientists.
  • Children’s attitudes towards science research and scientists are enriched.
  • Children’s science capital is enhanced.

Download these guides to find out more about the project and how to use I bet you didn’t know… resources in your classroom.

Guidance

IBYDK Guidance

Meet the Team

IBYDK team

Further reading

IBYDK Publications

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Safety Notice & Disclaimer

PSTT advises teachers to refer to either the CLEAPSS website or SSERC website for up to date health and safety information when planning practical activities for children.

PSTT is not liable for the actions or activities of any reader or anyone else who uses the information in these resource pages or the associated classroom materials. PSTT assumes no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information contained in these resources. PSTT recommends that a full risk assessment is carried out before undertaking in the classroom any of the practical investigations contained in the resources.

All materials are ©Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) and are freely available to download and share for educational purposes. Whilst educators are free to adapt the resources to suit their own needs, acknowledgement of copyright on all original materials must be included. Rights to images included in the resource have been purchased for PSTT use only – as such, these images may only be used as part of this resource and may not copied into or used in other materials.