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I bet you didn’t 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, Sound, Space, States of Matter

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

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5-7, 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 I bet you didn’t 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.

Our latest article

I bet you didn’t know… Geoengineering could slow the melting of Arctic ice

Science Topic

Properties and uses of materials (reflectivity)

Summary of science research

A team of scientists, led by Dr Leslie Field, tested the reflectivity of materials suitable for covering young ice in the Arctic. A thin layer of hollow glass microspheres was the most promising material to slow down the melting of the ice. More tests are needed for this and other ‘geoengineering’ solutions. This is important because they could reduce the effects of climate change.

Related investigations for children

  • Compare how light is reflected by different materials
  • Investigate how long chocolate takes to melt under a filament lamp with different materials used to cover the surface

Article & Teacher Guide

How can I find what I'm looking for?

Using our filters below, you can search for:

  1. Science Topics – all primary curriculum science topics
  2. Age range – 3-5 years / 5-7 years / 7-9 years / 9-12 years

For example, if you are teaching about sound and you are looking for an article about sound you could select the following filters:

  • Topic = Sound

You will see that 3 resources related to sound are available to download. If you chose to download any of these, you will be able to access a zipped file containing the article, the Teacher Guide and any additional files.

Most I bet you didn’t know… resources are suitable for ages 7-12 but there are a few that you might adapt for younger children (ages 5-7).

If you were familiar with PSTT’s previous website, you might have used an ‘Overview’ spreadsheet to search for the articles related to your science topic. This document is no longer provided but all of the resources (articles and Teacher Guides) are available using the filters below.

I bet you didn’t know…

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Climate Science, Properties & Uses of Materials

Geoengineering could slow melting of Arctic ice

Curriculum focus: Properties and uses of materials (reflectivity)

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 | 5-7, 7-9, 9-12

Download

Forces, Space

Weird, wiggly, crawling wheels roam Mars

Curriculum focus: Understanding friction

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

Download
Tree in spring and autumn

Climate Science, Rocks, Fossils and Soils

Soil Fungi could Reduce Global Warming

Curriculum focus: Importance of soil and fungi

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

Download
SharkSwimming

Animals

How to Calculate the Age of a Shark

Curriculum focus: Growing older

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

Download
Diagram of skin layers

Animals

How to Grow a New Skin

Curriculum focus: Human body

Enrichment, Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science | 5-7, 7-9, 9-12

Download
Solar system

Space

How to Play Planetary Hide & Seek

Curriculum focus: Hidden planets in space

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.

Enrichment, Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science | 5-7, 7-9, 9-12

Download

Animals, Biodiversity & Habitats, Evolution & Inheritance

Stripes & Concealment

Curriculum focus: Adaptation (camouflage)

Enrichment, Practical Science, Science Enquiry, Scientists and their work, Topical Science | 5-7, 7-9, 9-12

Download
Oak tree

Electricity

How Plants Know Good Microbes from Bad Ones

Curriculum focus: Chemical changes

Enrichment, Practical Science, Topical Science | 7-9, 9-12

Download
Diagram of Cassini

Space

One of Saturn’s Moons May be Home for Extra-Terrestrial Life

Curriculum focus: Life in Space

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

Download
Smiling emoji

States of Matter

Computers Can Measure the Happiness of a City

Curriculum focus: Gases/Air Pollution

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.