Featured Resources

Welcome to the featured resources page.
Each month the resources team will be providing you with their suggestions for a selection of national awareness days in the upcoming weeks. You will also find links to our top picks!

January

	Isaac Newton's Birthday - 4th January Newton is regarded as one of the most influential physicists and mathematicians of all time and his actual birthday depends upon which calendar is used. Under the Julian calendar which was being used in England at the time Newton was born on Christmas day 1642. However, under the currently used Gregorian calander he was born on 4th Jan 1643. Either way, he was a game changing contributor to the understanding of many areas of science and mathematics including: forces, motion, gravity, light, fluids and calculus. This collection highlights some of his work that is applicable to the science and mathematics curriculum for secondary schools. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhgxf
	Veganuary - 1st to 31st January 2023 Veganuary is an annual campaign to encourage and support people to try to be vegan for January. The resources in this collection could be used to explore the links between the food choices we make, our health, and the impact on people and animals around the world, and the environment. The resources also inspire pupils to eat different fruit and vegetables. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhuv7
	RSPB Big Schools' Birdwatch - 8th January to 19th February 2024 This very successful citizen science project is run annually by the RSPB. It is an ideal opportunity for pupils of all ages to identify different bird species and count the numbers they see in the school grounds. Details about the competition and the RSPB supporting materials can be found here. Further resources can be found here: https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhgyg

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New Resources

December

	National Tree Week - 25th November - 3rd December 2023 (SORRY for the overlap, should have included in Nov!) National Tree Week is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration. Each year, the country’s conservation sector, volunteer groups and tree-lovers come together to plant thousands of trees to mark the start of the tree planting season. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhfje
	Birmingham Institute for Forest Research (BIFoR) resources - As featured on November STEM Insights POP(23)Cast The Birmingham Institute for Forest Research (BIFoR) is home to the BIFoR FACE facility, one of the world's largest climate change experiments where 150 parts per million extra of carbon dioxide is added to areas of the oak forest, to predict the impact on the ecosystem 50 years into the future. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxj7uh
	Christmas! Here is a collection of resources which can bring a Christmas theme to teaching and learning. The Christmas demonstrations section includes science demonstrations suitable for all age groups and can be done in the home. Other activities more suitable for the classroom can be found in the separate collections for primary and secondary resources. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhfrg
	WONDERVERSE Curious City Welcome to the Wonderverse! A free education programme that brings science to life through relatable curriculum-led activities. Engage students aged 9-14 with an ASE accredited education programme. Inspire them to explore topical and relevant science activities. Excite them with 3x45-minute (for primary) and 2x60minute (for secondary) accessible and interactive lessons, all with curriculum links. Explore topics such as 'electricity', 'forces', and 'renewable energy sources'. Plus develop students' creativity, problem-solving and teamwork skills. https://www.wonderverselearning.com/

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New Resources

November

Outdoor Classroom Day - 2nd November 2023

Outdoor classroom day is part of a campaign to ensure that children spend sometime outdoors everyday. The resources compiled in this collection include activities for children to go outside to look at the natural world or how to use the outdoor environment to teach other topics such as mathematics and space.

Primary: https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhnnr

Secondary: https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhnnu

Chemistry Week - 5th to 11th November 2023

This annual celebration of the chemical sciences coordinated by the Royal Society of Chemistry has selected the theme of 'Chemistry making the world a better place' for 2023. It is an opportunity to introduce students to the critical challenges faced by the planet and how the chemical sciences can address these.

https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhtmo

Green careers week – 6^th to 11^th November 2023

This collection aims to support teachers in the delivery of career-focussed lessons, particularly looking at green careers and how a STEM background makes positive innovation possible. Resources include both job- and subject-specific information packs, real-life careers case studies, practical experiments, and classroom activities across all age groups.

https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhreo

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New Resources

October

	Black History month These resources can be used during Black History Month to help develop students’ understanding and awareness of the ethnic diversity of scientists. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhbot
	Nobel Prize Awards Week - 2nd to 9th October 2023 This is a collection of resources to engage students in the world’s most prestigious awards. Featuring a collection of animations about previous award-winning scientists and their work, these resources tell the inspiring stories of researchers such as Marie Curie and Albert Einstein. Look out for new resources as the winners are announced! https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhrh4
	World Space Week - 4th to 10th October 2023 World Space Week is a very popular STEM awareness event and there are a large number of resources available for all age groups. This collection highlights some of the best and more topical resources to provide inspiration for lesson or STEM Club activities. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhbrc
	Biology Week - 16th to 20th October 2023 Biology Week is a celebration of all things biology! This resource collection provides a fun selection of activities, videos, and games for students of all ages to explore topics across biology, from plants to the digestive system. Biology Week is organised by the Royal Society of Biology and more information is available on their website. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhrh6
	Recycle Week - 16th to 22nd October 2023 To support and highlight Recycle Week in lessons there are a number of resources in this collection to engage pupils across various age ranges and parts of the curriculum. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhbnb
	Halloween! Ideas and resources for STEM activities with a Halloween theme for primary and secondary pupils. Take a look if you dare! https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhe64

See below for the previous months featured resources

New Resources

September

World Rivers Day - 24th September 2023

This list highlights a number of resources that could be used for by different subject areas for different age groups on World Rivers Day. The theme of rivers covers a wide range of STEM topics from building bridges, harnessing their energy to generate electricity, to their importance in terms of the provision of fresh water to humans and to wildlife.

https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhbnc

World Heart Day - 29th September 2023

These resources can be used to help support World Heart Day, a global campaign to encourage people to take charge of their heart health. This collection present games and practical activities for all ages to help children understand how their heart works and what they can do to look after it. The World Heart Day website has more information.

https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhrh5

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New Resources

July

75 years of the NHS - 5th July 2023

To mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS, we've created two collections of resources exploring healthcare, one aimed at primary-aged pupils, and one aimed at secondary-aged pupils.

https://www.stem.org.uk/cxj2e7

Festival of Archaeology - 15 – 30 July 2023

This year the theme for the festival is Archaeology and Creativity and the resources in this collection, suitable for both primary and secondary-aged pupils, explore how scientific skills and knowledge, such as chemical analysis of residues in artefacts, can be used to find out how people lived in the past. The resources also demonstrate how processes for conserving and interpreting artefacts can emerge from scientific research and collaboration across many disciplines, from science, history, archaeology and art.

https://www.stem.org.uk/cxj2cx

National Moon Day - 20th July 2023

National Moon day commemorates the day in 1969 when the astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first person to step on the Moon. This was a ground breaking moment for human-kind.

The resources in this list use the Moon to teach about various topics including:

the phases of the Moon
light and shadows
environmental conditions on the Moon
lunar eclipses and refraction
Measuring the diameter of the Moon

https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhqcv

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New Resources

June

	World Ocean Day - 8th June 2023 These resources can be used to help celebrate World Ocean Day which was started to encourage people to unite and take action to protect and restore the ocean. There are separate collections of resources for both primary and secondary aged pupils. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhzo9
	Insect Week - 19th to 25th June This collection includes some activities for primary and secondary aged pupils which can be used to support Insect Week organised by the Royal Entomological Society as an annual celebration of the ‘little things that run the world’ encouraging people of all ages to learn more about insects. Included are materials to support with surveying and tracking the insects in your area, as well as resources to promote discussion around the topic of 'Would you eat insects?'. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhoez
	World Rainforest Day - 22nd June 2023 The activities highlighted here cover those suitable for primary which include: looking at the both tropical and temperate rainforest habitats; studying and classifying the biodiversity; looking at how human behaviour is affecting the rainforest and the creatures that live within it. There are also a series of resources from Science and Plants in Schools looking at plant growth and life cycles. The 'Make a game project' from Barefoot Computing asks pupils to design a rainforest themed game using Scratch. For secondary pupils there are additional resources looking at useful products from the rainforest and the consequences of changes in a rainforest habitat. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhpgp
	International Women in Engineering Day 23rd June 2023 This collection of resources supports the International Women in Engineering Day, and provides some case studies of women working in engineering roles, and highlights some career opportunities. There are also resources which discuss gender stereotyping in the classroom. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhof7
	Asteroid Day - 30th June 2023 On 30th June in 1908 the largest asteroid in recorded history smashed into Earth in Siberia. This date is now used as an opportunity to highlight the risks of asteroids to equipment in space and the Earth; and their positive effects such as their role in the formation of the solar system and asteroid impact sites providing precious metals. This selection of activities cover all ages and look at how to survive on Earth after an asteroid impact as well as investigations into how speed affects crater size. For older students looking to save Earth from an asteroid impact the 'Our earth under threat' activity guides students through the necessary calculations to deflect an asteroid. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhpg5

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New Resources

May

	Deaf Awareness Week - 1st-7th May 2023 Teaching sound? This collection of resources includes activities, investigations and articles to explore the concept of sound and hearing. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhyto
	World Asthma Day - 3rd May 2023 This collection of resources aimed at secondary school pupils includes a resource produced by Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) to help put hayfever and asthma into the wider contexts of both plant and human biology, resources to explore lungs and respiration with peak flow tests, measuring total lung volume, blood oxygen levels and measuring the effects of exercise to investigate lung function. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhytn
	Star Wars Day - May the 4th Be With You! This collection includes some activities for primary and secondary aged pupils which could be linked to Star Wars day. There are several activities looking at exoplanets and the search for alien life elsewhere in the Universe, which could be used to challenge the scientific validity of the film series. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhnnh
	National Numeracy Day - 18th May 2023 National Numeracy Day showcases numeracy in everyday life and supports confidence working with numbers. This collection of resources contains number problems suitable for classroom starter and plenary tasks, as well as more in-depth activities, including ideas for embedding numeracy skills across the curriculum. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxho4c
	World Bee Day - 20th May 2023 World Bee day helps to highlight the importance of bees to the environment and humankind these resources include activities to help identify different species of bee and bee pollinated plants through to resources looking at the decline in bee numbers and why this is of concern. For secondary pupils there are resources looking at bee behaviour, how bees are classified and taxonomically ranked, and some mathematics activities which use bees to introduce Fibonacci numbers and sequences. In addition, a bee linked BBC micro:bit resource is included showing how it can be used for field research to collect data. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhno8

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New Resources

April

	World Health Day - 7th April 2023 On 7 April 2023 ̶ World Health Day ̶ the World Health Organization will observe its 75^th anniversary. Consider how we can stay healthy, explore causes of ill-health and find out how medicines treat disease. Primary: https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhxdd Secondary: https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhxda
	International Day of Human Space Flight - 12th April 2023 The United Nations has designated 12th April as International Day of Human Space flight to celebrate the beginning of the space era for humankind. It was on this date in 1961 that Yuri Gagarin completed the first successful human space flight so beginning the exploration of space by people. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhxck
	World Quantum Day - 14th April 2023 World Quantum Day aims to promote public understanding of quantum science and technology around the world. The UK is at the forefront of research into Quantum Technology, where physics pushes the cutting edge of technological innovation. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhxdf
	Earth Day - 22nd April 2023 Earth Day is an annual event where people can participate in numerous events to show their support for environmental protection. The theme for Earth Day 2023 is 'Invest in our planet' and is focussed on finding solutions to combat the threat of climate change and making the transition to an equitable, prosperous green economy for all. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhkt3
	International Girls in ICT Day - 27th April 2023 International Girls in ICT day was created by the United Nation's specialised agency for information and communication technologies, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), to encourage girls and young women to pursue STEM education and careers. The theme of this year's event is 'Digital Skills for Life' because for girls and women to thrive in STEM they need to acquire skills to become both ICT users and creators in the digital world. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhnn5
	Easter collections Eggcite your pupils with some Easter related activities. These age appropriate collections include resources linked to eggs, chocolate, rabbits and how to determine the date for Easter Sunday. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhnhw

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March

	World Wildlife Day - 3rd March 2023 World Wildlife Day was started by the United Nations to celebrate and raise awareness of the world's wild animals and plants. The theme for the day in 2023 is 'Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation' and it will highlight the people who are making a difference, on a large scale or just involving a few children or a school, working in their local community to bring about change and promote sustainability. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhjpg
	World Engineering Day - 4th March 2023 World Engineering Day was started by UNESCO to celebrate engineers and engineering, and improve public understanding of how engineering and technology are central to modern life and for sustainable development. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhjpm
	British Science Week - 10th to 19th March 2023 British Science Week, organised by the British Science Association, is a celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths. The theme for this year's activities is 'connections'. There are 4 activity packs which contain age appropriate activities to run during the course of the week which will promote learning and discovery, and breakdown the stereotypes surrounding science, technology engineering and maths. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhw3f
	World Water Day - 22nd March 2023 The theme for United Nations Water's World Water day in 2023 is 'accelerating change' to solve the water and sanitation crisis. In 2015, when setting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the world promised that everyone would have safely managed water and sanitation by 2030. However, we are not on track to achieve this and governments cannot solve this problem on their own. Water affects everyone, so everyone needs to take action. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhkgo
	World Meteorological Day - 23rd March 2023 World Meteorological Day takes place every year on 23rd March and commemorates the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization. This collection includes a number of activities looking at the weather and climate, from measuring weather phenomena such as rainfall, wind direction and speed, to using 3D printers to create 3D models of temperature data. Also included is a video explaining how mathematical modelling is used to predict the weather. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhkgc
	World Tuberculosis Day - 24th March 2023 World Tuberculosis (TB) Day was created by the World Health Organisation to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, the date being the day in 1882 when the bacterium causing TB was discovered. These resources for students aged 11 to 19 describe the disease, how it spreads and how vaccines are used to try and eliminate it. https://www.stem.org.uk/cxhkgh

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New Resources

February

	NSPCC Number Day - 3rd February 2023 The NSPCC is encouraging schools across the UK to take part in their Number Day‚ on 3rd Feb 2022.Number Day is a maths-inspired fundraising day for children in nursery right through to secondary school, with free downloadable activities suitable for all ages and abilities. https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/collection/520048/nspcc-number-day-3rd-february-2023
	Safer Internet Day - 7th February 2023 This collection includes resources which can help pupils aged 7 to 11 use the internet safely and respectfully. In addition, there are resources to encourage pupils to question the reliability of the information they receive from the internet. https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/collection/507472/safer-internet-day-7th-february-2023
	National Apprenticeship week - 6th to 12th February 2023 The collection includes guidance from STEM related industries such as construction and the motor industry on how apprenticeships work and how to find out more information. In addition, there are many case studies, some of which include video clips, of individuals who have followed a variety of careers from science technician to stage engineers. https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/collection/507468/national-apprenticeship-week-6th-12th-february-2023
	International day of women and girls in science - 11th February 2023 This collection of resources have been collated to support the United Nations International day of women and girls in science which recognises the critical role women play in science and technology, and promotes full and equal access and participation in STEM subjects for women and girls. https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/collection/507494/international-day-women-and-girls-science-11th-february-2023
	Darwin Day - 12th February 2023 Darwin Day celebrates the birth of this eminent scientist who challenged the status quo of beliefs of the time to propose the radical new idea of evolution through natural selection. This collection brings together different resources from various publishers, suitable for all ages. https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/collection/507475/darwin-day-12th-february-2023
	NEW EXPLORIFY RELEASE! Celebrate scientists with Explorify. This new collection from Explorify highlights the work of STEM role models from a wide range of backgrounds. To view these you must be registered with Explorify, a free to use primary science website. https://explorify.uk/collections/celebrating-scientists