Resources
This section includes a range of curriculum resources for teaching and learning, as well as How to guides to help you encourage and develop physics at your school. Use the filters to help find the resources you are looking for.
The Ogden Trust resources have been evaluated by The Association for Science Education (ASE) – the foremost body for science education across the UK – and they have been awarded the ASE Green Tick (2021).
Research cards: helping you hear
These research cards explore five key developments in the history of hearing aids.
Research cards: light
These research cards identify six key individuals in the history of discoveries about light.
Purposeful practical: electromagnets
A KS3 practical showing students how to build an electromagnet and increase its strength.
Purposeful practical: coloured lights
A series of KS3 practicals about the colour spectrum and special effects.
Purposeful practical: big circuit
A KS3 practical about circuits and how electric charge moves.
Purposeful practical: Newton’s law
A KS3 practical about forces and changes in motion.
Purposeful practical: energy transfer
A KS3 practical exploring how materials conduct thermal energy.
Family Learning Night handbook: secondary
Space-themed activities for family learning at secondary.
Family Learning Night handbook: primary
Space-themed activities for family learning at primary.
Science Talk: Look Up!
An EYFS resource exploring the night sky.
Find the Physics: Close the gap
A KS1 resource exploring electricity and circuits.
Science Talk: Oscar and the Bird
An EYFS resource exploring electricity.
Purposeful practical: rough and smooth
A purposeful practical on diffuse scattering and specular reflection.
Purposeful practical: steady hand game
How to make a steady hand game.
Purposeful practical: electrical quiz board
How to make a simple electric quiz game.
Research in practice: inclusive teaching and learning
Simple steps to help teachers improve inclusive teaching and learning.
Phizzi enquiry: rockets
A primary science enquiry linking learning about Earth & space, and forces.
Purposeful practical: exploring gears
Making and exploring simple gears.
Phizzi enquiry: slippery shoes
A primary science enquiry exploring the force of friction.
Purposeful practical: solar system in my pocket
Learn about the distances between planets and the Sun with a solar system for your pocket.
Phizzi enquiry: parachutes
A primary science enquiry linking learning about Earth & space, and forces.
Research in practice: secondary data in primary science
Using secondary data to link science and sport.
Purposeful practical: magnetic racing game
How to make a magnetic racing game.
How to create primary science displays
Ideas and inspiration to help you create effective primary science wall displays.
Phizzi enquiry: circuit analyst
A primary science enquiry exploring electrical circuits.
CREST Star Award: Earth and beyond
Eight activities that introduce EYFS children to Earth and the Moon.
Research cards: Moon landings
These research cards identify six key events in the history of space exploration.
Ideas over time: light sources
A simple card game that can help children develop an awareness of light sources and their history.
Phizzi focus: sound
This Phizzi focus includes links to ideas, resources, and cross-curricular connections, to bring the topic of sound into the primary classroom.
How to plan a trip to CERN
A trip to CERN can inspire A-level physicists to take physics further.
Research cards: earth and space
These research cards identify six key individuals and events in the history of our understanding of the universe.
Phizzi professionals
Phizzi professionals give an insight into pathways from physics.
Ideas over time: history of the universe
Create a till roll timeline of the history of the universe and get children looking at the bigger picture.
Ideas over time: Moon landings
A simple card game that can help children develop an awareness of the history of space travel.
Research cards: female physicists
These research cards introduce the achievements of nine female physicists - past and present.
Research cards: Black physicists
These research cards introduce the achievements of Black physicists.
Phizzi focus: using secondary data
This Phizzi focus looks at how you can use secondary data sources to support the development of working scientifically skills in the primary classroom.
Phizzi enquiry: sound circus
A primary science enquiry exploring sound.
How to organise a science fair
Increase the profile of science in school and inspire and engage children.
Phizzi focus: light
This Phizzi focus includes links to ideas, resources, and cross-curricular connections, to bring the topic of sound into the primary classroom.
How to: safely observe the sun (enrichment)
Make a pinhole camera to observe the sun safely.
How to: make a constellation projector (enrichment)
Observe the night sky with a constellation projector using this Phizzi practical.
Innovating for the Future
Resources for two workshops on the theme of Innovating for the Future: Planet-tastic Plastics and Wind Power – Are you a fan?
Working scientifically: identifying and classifying
In this type of primary science enquiry, children make observations and measurements to help them look for similarities and differences.
Purposeful practical: playdough planets
Create a model of the solar system using playdough.
Sustainability physics
A website for teachers and students with resources, interviews and ideas for sustainability physics.
Purposeful practical: seeing sound vibrations
Practical activities to demonstrate sound vibrations.
How to run a science ambassador scheme
A science ambassador scheme involves secondary students running their own science club.
Phizzi focus: using technology when working scientifically
This Phizzi focus looks at using technology in the primary classroom.
How to run physics busking
A guide to running physics busking at your school.
Working scientifically: pattern seeking
Pattern-seeking enquiries in primary science involve children making measurements or observations to explore situations.
How to lead a primary science moderation meeting
A guide to the how and why of science moderation meetings.
Phizzi enquiry: shadows
A primary science enquiry exploring shadows.
Phizzi professionals: Blank templates
Our Phizzi professionals series has been designed to give an insight into career pathways from physics.
schoolphysics.co.uk
A free online physics resource for all secondary school physics students and their teachers.
Ideas over time: electrical inventions
A simple card game that can help children develop an awareness of the history of electricity.
NUSTEM A-level practical videos
NUSTEM has teamed up with physics teacher Alom Shaha to produce a series of films on the A-level required practicals.
Ideas over time: electricity
Looking at how ideas about electricity have changed over time helps children develop their understanding of how science works.
Isaac Physics
Online study tools to help students develop the skills required to solve physics problems.
How to run stargazing events for children and parents
A introduction to the night sky and stargazing events.
Working scientifically: comparative test
In comparative tests in primary science the children compare different cases and situations.
Research cards: electricity
These research cards identify six key individuals in the history of electricity.
Working scientifically: research
In primary science research enquiries, children get to use a range of secondary sources to help them find the answers to ‘big questions’.
Working scientifically: observing over time
Observing over time enquiries in primary science are a fantastic way for children to be curious about the world around them.
Working scientifically: fair test
Fair test enquiries in primary science are an opportunity for children to explore cause and effect relationships in science.
STEM Sisters
Teaching plans and resources showcasing historical female scientists and mathematicians.
Physics online
Video tutorials and resources for GCSE and A-level physics.
Purposeful practical: planetary picnic
Explore weight, mass and the force of gravity.