Downloadable teacher resources

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New debate kits unveiled

November 23, 2010 in Debate kits, Downloadable teacher resources by SophiaC | No comments

Thumbnail of the IAS Debate Kit on CannabisThe teachers have spoken. They voted for legalisation of cannabis to be the topic of the next debate kit, and so, obedient as ever, that’s what we did.

Our grant doesn’t cover printing and distributing this kit, so it’s online only. Just click the link below and print it out.

Download Cannabis Debate Kit (normal size) (pdf)

Download Cannabis Debate Kit (large print) (pdf)

The debate kit is a simple-to-use role play on the topic ‘Should the UK legalise cannabis?’. Your students play characters with different points of view and have a structured debate. It helps to cover the following curriculum points:-

AQA

  • To evaluate claims made about the effect of cannabis on health and the link between cannabis and addiction to hard drugs.
  • Some people use drugs recreationally. Some of these recreational drugs are more harmful than others. Some of these drugs are legal, some illegal.

CCEA

  • the effects of cannabis
  • the legal position of cannabis

OCR

  • Discuss the consequences of the legal classification of drugs in the context of both school and national policy.

General HSW skills

  • To practise discussing and debating issues and expressing an opinion
  • Consider social, ethical and factual issues in an integrated way
  • Think about different points of view
  • Learn to back up their opinions with facts
  • Using data to draw conclusions
  • Societal aspects of scientific evidence
  • Developing an argument

The kits can also be used for PSHE (or SPHE) and Citizenship. Designed for years 9-11 (i.e. age 13-16).

Key facts

Science Debate Kit: Free teaching resource
Activity: Role play on topic: Should the UK legalise cannabis?
Kits contain: Character cards, lesson plan, background info, suggested homeworks
Time: Approx 1 hr
Age: Designed for KS4, have been used for ages 11-18
Aim: Promote discussion skills

“I thought the IVF cards were brilliant for debating. It made the debate run smoothly and showed them clearly how different people have different points of view. By giving more info gradually, the pupils started to think about each situation and change their opinion with justification.”

Teacher, Winterhill School, Rotherham and I’m a Scientist pilot participant

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Science debate kits now available!

June 19, 2009 in Debate kits, Downloadable teacher resources by SophiaC | 3 comments

Well it’s been pretty hectic here but the debate kits are now go! Thank you to the Wellcome Trust for funding us, and believing in getting people talking about science issues.

To find out more details about the debate kits

To order a kit

To download a kit

The kits are designed to develop pupils’ discussion skills, giving them a structure to work from, and getting them to consider other points of view. They’ve got great feedback from teachers who’ve used them in the I’m a Scientist event. Teachers told us there is a real lack of simple-to-use, but effective resources like this for getting discussions going. So we made some.

The first kits are being printed as we speak and will be sent out towards the end of next week. We haven’t even seen one yet, just lots of mock-ups we’ve been printing out and stapling at our desks.

I’m really excited! I think they are going to be fab, and hopefully very useful and generate discussion around the land! Please pass this on to any teachers who might want one.

We’ve chosen the scientists!

May 23, 2008 in Downloadable teacher resources, How Science Works, IAS event, science education, scientists by SophiaC | 2 comments

This has been even harder than choosing the schools. We ended up cutting out bits of paper with everyone’s details on and moving them all around the desk, making up fantasy groups and trying to see if each group had got everything covered. I really wanted to include almost everyone, but we had to say no to some really great people.

However, I think the 15 scientists we’ve picked (five for each group of students) will be fantastic – good communicators, enthusiastic, with interesting work to discuss and raising some thought-provoking issues. I would publish the details on here, but I’ve not had confirmation back from everyone yet.

But I can tell you that topics covered range from studying climate change to engineering solutions for rectal incontinence. Which is really quite a range, however you look at it.

Teacher packs

We’re sending the teacher packs out today to participating teachers. All our teaching resources can also be downloaded by any teacher who wants to (below). Each pack contains:-

I would email everyone electronic copies too, but it’s loads of files and would clog up inboxes, so I’ve uploaded them here. Once the actual site is live they will all be available there, but in the meantime, you can download them from here. We believe that information and education should be free, so all the materials are copyright free (under a Creative Commons Attribution license) and any teachers are free to download the materials and make use of them.

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