Technicians’ advance planning sheet
Module P1: The Earth in the Universe
This table shows items which may need to be ordered or prepared in advance for this module. It does not
list standard items, for example, test tubes, beakers, thermometers etc.
Full details of the resources needed for each activity are given in the Requirements section of the Teacher
& Technician notes published by OUP, which also include safety information for the activity.
Activity
Item(s)
Quantity
Notes
AP1.1.1
Red, green, and yellow (or
orange) card
1 small piece of each
colour per student
Large sheets will need to be
cut into small pieces perhaps 5
x 5 cm.
AP1.1.2a/b Copy of timeline cards (with or
without dates) or images
printed from Presentation
slides IP1.1.4
7 m rope marked at 1 m
intervals
Pegs or clips (to attach cards
to rope)
1 set per group or class
AP1.1.4
Scrapbook for students to
collect cuttings
1 per student
AP1.2.4
Loop cards cut into dominoes
1 set per class or per
group
AP1.3.1
Laser / ultrasonic tape
measure
1
AP1.3.2
Hat
Large ball for the ‘Sun’
1
1
AP1.3.3
Large (bright) torch
Small (less bright) torches
1
2
AP1.3.5
Drainpipe tubing, 7 cm2 crosssection, 1.2 m long
1 per group
2.5 V lamp in holder
Power supply for lamp
Connecting leads
Metre rule
1 per group
1 per group
At least 2 per group
1 per group
LDR (NORP 512)
1 per group
1 per group or class
14 per group or class
© in this format University of York (UYSEG) and Nuffield Foundation 2011
Ensure laser is (marked) ‘1
mW class 2 laser.’
For drainpipe tubing, see
Guidance sheet AP1.3.5:
cover one end with black card,
the other is left open.
Lamp will be fixed temporarily
to the metre rule using sticky
tape or Blu-tack. For
permanent fixing the holders
can be screwed into one end
of the rule.
The LDR is mounted on a 7
cm square of plastic to fit the
end of the pipe with a slot cut
into it for metre rule.
If using LDR other than NORP
512 check to ensure they give
a reasonable range of values.
page 1
AP1.3.6
Sheet of A2 paper (or a
double-page spread from a
broadsheet newspaper)
1 per student
AP1.3.7
Sheet of A3 paper
1 per student
AP1.4.1
1 of each per student
Four sizes of plastic bag
labelled A to D from smallest to
largest
Set of Russian dolls (optional)
1
AP1.5.4
Blank bingo cards
1 per student
Guidance sheet AP1.5.4 has
master sheet
AP1.5.5
Large balloon, easy to inflate
Ruler
Spiral galaxies drawn on
paper, approx. 1 cm in
diameter
Blu-tack
Marker pen
1
1
Several examples
Demonstration.
Yellow sand, dry
Washed red sand, dry
A4 coloured paper, at least 3
colours
Plasticine, 3 colours
Ceramic tiles with fossil
pictures stuck onto them
Approx. 50 g
Approx. 50 g
AP1.7.1
Globe or world map
Jigsaw diagrams
1 per group
1 set per group
Copy activity sheet AP 1.7.1
onto a different coloured card
for each set to avoid mixing
sets. Keep sets individually in
either an envelope of small
poly bag.
AP1.8.1
Golden syrup
Thin biscuits
Access to a freezer
1 large tin
1 packet
Demonstration
AP1.8.2
Silly putty (optional)
AP1.8.3
Small plotting compass
Mystery stack
Each mystery stack made with:
Plastic Petri dishes
Bar magnets, small
Felt tip pen
1 per group
1 per group
For instructions on making
mystery stack see Guidance
AP1.8.3
Black out 5 Petri dishes with
thin card.
Each Petri dish contains a
small bar magnet (shorter than
the diameter of the Petri
dishes) taped inside.
‘Stripe sheet’, about 55 cm
long
Dressmakers pins
Bar magnet, strong, poles
marked
Compass, orienteering
1 per group
AP1.6.2
AP1.8.4
1 pack
1
Enough to make layers
6 per group
6
5
1
Approx. 16 per group
1 per group
1 per group
© in this format University of York (UYSEG) and Nuffield Foundation 2011
Demonstration
For yellow sand use sharp
sand from garden centre
For red sand use builders’
sand from builders’ yard.
The pictures stuck to ceramic
tiles are from AP1.6.2.
Stripe sheet could be for
example 2 x A4 sheets of
paper glued together.
Plotting compass may do
instead of orienteering
compass, try first.
page 2
AP1.9.1
(F)
SEP pulley for earthquake
simulation
Plank or a dynamics runway
Brick
Coarse sandpaper, plus
adhesive tape or G-clamps to
stick it onto the plank
Force meter (0–20N or 0–50N)
Metre rule or tape measure
with mm markings
Blu-tack or double-sided tape
to stick the ruler down
(optional)
Straw pointer, plus something
to stick it onto the brick
1 per group
Uniform house bricks
Elastic cord eg luggage cord or
bungee.
Wide, shallow dish containing
water
3
1
AP1.10.2
Metal wire coat hanger
String
Metal fork or other metal object
1 per group
2 pieces per group
1 per group
AP1.10.4
Small box
Slinky springs
Bulldog clips
1
3
3
AP1.12.1
Scotch egg sliced in half to
show layers (optional)
1
AP1.12.2
Laser pointer
Shallow round bowl (10–15 cm
diameter)
Milk or Dettol
1
1
AP1.10.1
AP1.12.4
Plasticine of different colours
1 per group
1 per group
1 sheet per group
1 per group
1 per group
1 piece per group
1 per group
1
Demonstration
Optional – stick pieces of card
with ‘scenery’ or ’strata’ drawn
on them to 2 of bricks which
are to be stacked one on top of
the other.
Demonstration
Demonstration
1 drop
Enough for each group to
make a model Earth
© in this format University of York (UYSEG) and Nuffield Foundation 2011
page 3
Technicians’ advance planning sheet
Module P2: Radiation and life
This table shows items which may need to be ordered or prepared in advance for this module. It does not
list standard items, for example, test tubes, beakers, thermometers etc.
Full details of the resources needed for each activity are given in the Requirements section of the Teacher
& Technician notes published by OUP, which also include safety information for the activity.
Activity
Item(s)
Quantity
Notes
AP2.1.3
UV detector
Security marker pen
Sun cream
1 per group
1 per group
At least 3 different
ones
UV light source e.g.
Blacklight tube
1 per class
A simple UV detector can be made as
follows:
Rectangle of stiff plastic, (eg lemonade
bottle, OHP acetate sheet or CD case).
Coat the plastic with UV nail varnish, allow
to dry then coat again. Fasten the plastic
to white card, varnished side next to card.
Other UV detectors include UV sensitive
beads.
Security marker pens are available from
many suppliers.
At least 2 different factors of suncream e.g
SPF 4 and 2 of SPF 30. Two of the same
factor should be different brands.
UV light sources needs to be able to be
fitted to standard fluorescent fittings, sizes
ranging from 15 cm to 1.6 m. (e.g. 30 cm
tube costs about £13 and fits an £18
fluorescent unit. These are more effective
than UV mercury discharge tubes.
UV-sensitive beads are available from
mindsets.
http://www.mindsetsonline.co.uk/index.php
Transparent dye to colour
water
Piece of single axis
diffraction grating
Colour filter
Access to digital camera
and to computer with
image handling software
(optional)
3 per group
Oscilloscope with single
plain lead with bare end
(or 4 mm plug) connected
to Y-input
Small radio receiver with
external telescopic aerial
Radiant heater (or
spotlight lamp that emits a
lot of heat)
1
AP2.2.1
AP2.3.2
1 per group
1 per group
Demonstration
1
1
© in this format University of York (UYSEG) and Nuffield Foundation 2011
page 4
IR thermometer (if
available)
Gamma-ray source, with
holder and tongs
GM tube system with
audible output
1
1
AP2.4.2
Blank bingo cards
1 per student
AP2.5.1
Soda glass rod
Hot kettle or electric iron
OHP
Digital camera (eg
webcam) sensitive to
infrared, connected to
laptop
TV remote control
Digital camera, eg mobile
phone camera
IR thermometer
1
1
1
1
Microwave oven
Microwave detector
Bowls
Baked beans or similar
Clingfilm
Eggs
Sliced white bread
Chocolate – such as Milky
Way or crème egg
Silvered packaging
material from Microchips
or Micropizza box
1
1
2 of different sizes
1 tin
1 roll
3
1 loaf
1 bar
Large sphere: globe or
football
Thermochromic film (to
cover sphere, plus an
extra sheet)
High intensity spotlight or
radiant heater (safe
design/PAT compliant)
Piece of rock, fist-sized
Clear, empty 2 dm3 soft
drink bottle (no cap)
Water tap and rubber
tube to fit
Large boiling tubes, one
tube painted black
Temperature sensors
connected to data logger
Piece of white card and a
piece of dark green card
each big enough to cover
half the sheet of
thermochromic film
1
AP2.5.2
AP2.6.1
1
Demonstrations
1
1
1
Demonstration
See Guidance AP2.5.2
1 box / tray
Demonstration
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
© in this format University of York (UYSEG) and Nuffield Foundation 2011
page 5
AP2.7.1
Drinking straw
Phenol red indicator
Sprig of Elodea
Bright light source
1
1 bottle
1
1
Demonstration
Keep Elodea at around 16oC or so, add a
little potassium hydrogencarbonate to the
water to supplement the carbon dioxide.
For the light source use a 60 W bulb in
bench or desk lamp.
AP2.7.2
Tray of sand
Microscope lamps –
identical
Drinking straws
Test tubes containing lime
water
Whiteboard or A2 white
paper
Coal
Piece of raw chicken
White bread
Crisps
Cereal
Dead twig
Artists charcoal
Pondweed
1
Several
Demonstration
The activity will include burning objects
over a Bunsen flame to carbonise them
and the teacher should wear eye
protection. Students should be 2–3 m
away, advisably behind a safety screen, in
case the objects spit as they burn.
Old loudspeakers (small
ones like those in car
stereo systems or old
telephone earpieces are
best)
Polystyrene beads
2
AP2.9.2
Image sheet with grid
overlay
1 per pair of students
AP2.9.3
Computer running Excel
software
1 per class or pair of
students
AP2.9.4
Fibre optics signalling kit
CD player/radio with
headphones socket
Loudspeaker
1
1
Plastic drinking cups,
each with a small hole
punched to take the string
String or cord
2 per pair or group
AP2.9.1
AP2.10.1
Several
Several
1
1 small lump
1
1 piece
1 piece
1 piece
1
1 piece
1 piece
Speakers connected so one acts as a
microphone to send signal to the other
Enough to place
inside speaker cones
to see vibrations
The image sheet with grid overlay could
be laminated for reuse.
Various suppliers of signalling kit including
Ascol, Maplin, RS
1
Wooden spill
About 10 m per pair
or group
1 per pair or group
AP2.10.3
Loop cards
1 set per group
AP2.11.1
Mobile phone
Radio receiver
Microwave detector
Tape or metre rule
1
1
1
1
Demonstration
© in this format University of York (UYSEG) and Nuffield Foundation 2011
page 6
AP2.11.2
AP2.12.1
Plastic box big enough to
take a mobile phone
Cardboard box big
enough to take a mobile
phone
Cloth bag (or piece of
cloth) big enough to take
a mobile phone
Metal can big enough to
take a mobile phone
Aluminium foil
Bowl
Jug of water
Mobile phones or a phone
and a sensitive microwave
detector
1 per pair or group
Ordinary drinking glass,
labelled A
Round-bottomed flask,
labelled B
A backdrop of weird
things, preferably
containing a steaming
purple brew (such as
blackcurrant squash –
anything to make it look
scary)
1
1 per pair or group
1 per pair or group
1 per pair or group
1 per pair or group
1 per pair or group
1 per pair or group
2 per pair or group
Demonstration
1
1
© in this format University of York (UYSEG) and Nuffield Foundation 2011
page 7
Technicians’ advance planning sheet
Module P3: Sustainable energy
This table shows items which may need to be ordered or prepared in advance for this module. It does not
list standard items, for example, test tubes, beakers, thermometers etc.
Full details of the resources needed for each activity are given in the Requirements section of the Teacher
& Technician notes published by OUP, which also include safety information for the activity.
Activity
AP3.1.1
AP3.2.1
Item(s)
Balsa wood sticks or
plasticine or thick card
Photocopied map, glue
and scissors
Mains electric kettle
Mains hair dryer
Laptop computer with
mains cable
Hand-held fan with
appropriate number of
cells in cell holder
Bike lamp connected with
appropriate number of
cells in cell holder
Personal music player
connected with
appropriate number of
cells in cell holder
Mains energy monitor (3)
SEP energy meter (3)
Instruction cards from
Guidance AP3.2.1
AP3.3.1
Access to computer with
spreadsheet
AP3.4.1
globe or world map
(optional)
Access to computer with
spreadsheet
Game board
Tokens: each student has
four of one colour, eg red,
blue, green, yellow
Set of game cards
AP3.4.2
Quantity
Several pieces per
student
Notes
1 per student
1
1
1
Experiment circus
1
1
1
3
3
1 for each circus
station
1 per student or pair
1
1 per student or pair
1 per group of 4
4 per student
4 sets per group of 4
See guidance AP3.4.2
The game board is made of the sheet
enlarged to A3 size and laminated. (The
game is based on a Ludo game. Adding
the four colours to the four ‘Start’ and
‘Home’ bases will make the game easier
to play.)
Each game requires 4 sets of the cards on
the sheet, i.e. 48 cards. Copy, laminate
and cut up the set.
© in this format University of York (UYSEG) and Nuffield Foundation 2011
page 8
AP3.5.1
A range of mains lamps in
lampholders, including
tungsten filament,
compact fluorescent (cfl),
halogen lamp
Initially for
demonstration and
then one for each
group
AP3.6.1
Low-voltage power supply
(variable)
Resistance wire
Heat-proof mat.
Small electric motor,
ideally with a visible coil,
brushes and connections
with suitable power supply
Large loudspeaker cone
connected to a signal
generator
Thermistor connected to
an ohmmeter
Solenoid connected to
centre-zero milliammeter
Bar magnet
Model generator, such
that the coil and magnets
can be seen
Hand-driven generator
connected to torch lamp
and holder
Practical hand-powered
devices such as wind-up
radio, lantern or a dynamo
torch
Bathroom scales
calibrated in Newtons
Small platform for
stepping on and off
Sets of words to build
sentences
1
Photovoltaic cell
Small motor to load solar
cell
SEP energymeter
or
Voltmeter
Protractor
Power line terminal rods
Retort stands and bosses
1 per group
1 per group
AP3.6.2
AP3.7.1
AP3.8.3
AP3.10.2
AP3.11.1
Initially set up the lamps with each shining
onto a page of text or plain paper. Arrange
this in advance so that there are amongst
the lamps a number of different types that
have similar light output.
Lamp holders will need PAT testing.
Demonstration
1 piece
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 per pair or group
Try out the generator to get the best
power-rated bulb for your generator – the
bulb should light impressively when the
generator is turned fast, but you don’t
want to burn out bulbs too frequently!
Scrap car and bicycle dynamos can also
be used creatively.
1 per pair or group
1 per group
Bathroom scales can be shared by more
than one group
1 per group
1 set per group
1 per group
Print the words on to paper or card.
Place each set in an envelope – with the
number of the sentence and the first word
on the outside of the envelope. Also write
the number of words in the sentence on
the envelope.
If you are making several sets, it may be
helpful to copy each sentence on a
different coloured card.
If there are insufficient energy meters for
each group then there is an alternative
activity using a photovoltaic cell and
voltmeter
1 per group
1 per group
2
2
Demonstration
This is a low voltage alternative to the high
© in this format University of York (UYSEG) and Nuffield Foundation 2011
page 9
AP3.11.3
Bulbs (2.5 V, 0.2 A) in
bulb holders
Eureka wire, bare (28
SWG)
Power supply, 0 to 6 V AC
AC voltmeters, reading to
5V
Transformers, to step 2 V
up to approximately 12 V
and then to step down to
2 V again. (turns ratios of
1:6 and 6:1 )
Safety screen to prevent
anyone touching the live
wires
Loop cards
2
turns ratio power line, which could be used
if available.
2 lengths of 1.5 m
1
2
2
1
1 set per group
Guidance AP3.11.3
Cards printed on to card and cut into
dominoes.
© in this format University of York (UYSEG) and Nuffield Foundation 2011
page 10