Projects resources

The Practising Science course developers are providing a variety of projects to support teachers and students who want ready-made, structured activities. These projects are designed to be flexible, accommodating students with varying levels of experience in investigative work, and are suitable for both Year 10 and Year 11 students.

Guided and independent versions

Each project resource is available in two formats

  • Guided: for Year 10 or less confident Year 11 students and HPQ/FPQ
  • Independent: Designed for more confident Year 11 students and HPQ/EPQ.

The guided versions provide a well-structured scientific investigation or engineering design problem, allowing students to explore topics of interest. These versions come with ready-to-use curriculum resources that can be easily adapted to meet the needs of both teachers and students. The resources include:

  • Teacher guide
  • Presentation materials
  • Student sheets
  • Technician guide

The independent versions offer a less structured approach, giving students more autonomy to conduct more sophisticated inquiries. These projects are designed to meet the requirements of the EPQ if needed. The independent projects come with:

  • Teacher guide
  • Student guide
  • Technician guide

Project themes

The projects in this course are designed to be relevant to the interests and concerns for 14-16-year-old students. Based on research, we have identified a number of promosing themes, and developed a number of projects within each to cover:

  • Personal, local, and global issue
  • Accessible and cutting-edge science
  • Easy-to-run activities and technology-based projects
  • Low-cost options as well as those requiring more expensive equipmen

Free and paid resources

A range of project resources will be offered free to schools participating in the pilot project. The projects below are planned for the first year of the course, subject to confirmation.  The following projects are planned for the first year of the course (subject to confirmation). Some are sponsored by external organizations and will be available at no cost. Other resources may require a modest fee. >> Launch your course 

Sports theme

VAR in Football

Students investigate the accuracy and uncertainty of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system by simulating video analysis to determine whether a player is offside.

  • Project type: Investigation (science)
  • Equipment: No special equipment required
  • KS3 Science: Speed

Paralympic sports

Students explore how mechanical engineers enhance athletic performance by designing a prototype wheelchair for disabled basketball players.
No special equipment required.

  • Project type: Design
    Equipment: No special equipment required
  • KS3 Science: Balanced & unbalanced forces, Friction, Energy transfer
  • GCSE Science: Force vectors, Force equilibrium

Space theme 

Colonise Mars

Students design a rocket and investigate its acceleration using micro:bit or create a system for safely landing a rocket on Mars (e.g., using a parachute).

  • Project type: Design (engineering)
  • Equipment: Microbit or sensors recommended but not essential
  • KS3 Science: Forces, Speed, Motion graphs
  • GCSE Science: Acceleration, Newton's laws of motion

Extraterrestrial Life

Students learn how astronomers detect planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. They can analyze telescope data, classify exoplanets and participate in citizen science research.

  • Project type: Investigation (science)
  • Equipment: No special equipment required
  • KS3 Science: Gravitational force, Solar system, Cell structure
  • GCSE Science: Wave model, Electromagnetic spectrum

Climate theme 

Climate action

Students research how industries like fashion or transport are moving towards carbon neutrality, or conduct an energy audit at their school to propose solutions for greater energy efficiency.

  • Project type: Research
  • Equipment: No special equipment required
  • KS3 Science: Energy transfer, Wasted energy
  • GCSE Science: Energy resources, Thermal transfer, Global warming

Biofuels

Students learn about different types of sustainable fuels and experiment with biofuel production through fermentation while comparing its energy output with conventional fuels.
Chemicals required.

  • Project type: Investigation
  • Equipment: Chemicals required
  • KS3 Science: Mixtures, Chemical reactions, Cellular energy
  • GCSE Science: Atom conservation, Reaction energy

Food theme 

Hydroponics

Students design hydroponic systems to grow plants without soil and investigate how nutrient variations affect plant growth.

  • Project type: Design
  • Equipment: Either a hydroponics system or a DIY version is needed
  • KS3 Science: Cell structure, Solutions
  • GCSE Science: Cell transport, Photosynthesis, Plant transport

Processed food

Students explore the chemicals in ultra-processed foods by analyzing health databases or conducting surveys to identify trends between processed foods and health outcomes.

  • Project type: Investigation
  • Equipment: No special equipment needed
  • KS3 Science: Digestive system
  • GCSE Science: Enzymes, System damage

Well-being theme 

Crash testing

Students learn how distractions increase stopping distances by developing models and testing predictions using crash test cars or DIY dummies.

  • Project type: Design
  • Equipment: Microbit or sensors recommended but not essential.
  • KS3 Science: Speed, Motion graphs
  • GCSE Science: Force equilibrium, Acceleration, Momentum

Exercise & mood

Students investigate how physical activity correlates with self-reported fitness or mood levels by analyzing public health data or conducting their own experiments.

  • Project type: Investigation
  • Equipment: Microbit or sensors recommended but not essential.
  • KS3 Science: Aerobic & anaerobic respiration
  • GCSE Science: Circulatory system

Genetics theme

Genetic engineering

Students use kits to investigate gene editing technologies like CRISPR and consider both practical applications and ethical implications.

  • Project type: Research
  • Equipment: Genetics kit required
  • KS3 Science: Cell structure, Variation
  • GCSE Science: Genes, Monohybrid inheritance

Chronotypes and school start times

Students examine studies on how school start times affect academic performance and plan their own investigation into how students with different chronotypes respond to various start times.

  • Project type: Investigation
  • Equipment: No special equipment required.
  • KS3 Science: Cellular energy
  • GCSE Science: Endocrine system

Disasters theme

Earthquake protection

Students build earthquake shake tables and simulate seismic waves to test model buildings' resistance to earthquakes.

  • Project type: Design
  • Equipment: Smartphone with sensor app or Microbit needed.
  • KS3 Science: Energy transfer
  • GCSE Science: Wave model

Predicting eruptions

Students use satellite data on ground deformation or gas emissions around volcanoes along with historical eruption data, to identify patterns which could be used to to forecast future eruptions.

  • Project type: Investigation
  • Equipment: No special equipment required
  • KS3 Science: Earth processes
  • GCSE Science: Earth's atmosphere

Technology theme

Noise-reducing headphones

Students simulate human hearing and investigate how different headphones use passive noise reduction vs active noise cancellation techniques.

  • Project type: Investigation
  • Equipment: Function generator and oscilloscope required
  • KS3 science ideas: Wave model, Longitudinal & transverse (waves).

Nano-materials

Students create silver nanoparticles, which are used for antimicrobials, by using a chemical process. They observe the silver nanoparticles under a microscope and try to improve the manufacturing process.

  • Project type: Design
  • Equipment: Requires a stereo microscope. 
  • KS3 science ideas: Particle model, Elements & compounds, Chemical & physical (changes)
  • GCSE science ideas:  Subatomic particles, Ionic, covalent and metalic (bonding).

Environment theme 

Indoor air pollution

Students will learn about indoor air pollution and monitor the levels of pollutants in their school using sensors. They will then design a prototype air filter, similar to Dyson's models.

  • Project type: Design
  • Equipment: Air quality monitors/sensors, chemicals.
  • KS3 Science ideas: Mixtures, Solutions, Chemical & Physical Changes, Oxidation & Reduction
  • GCSE Science Ideas: Earth's Atmosphere

Biodiversity monitoring

Students will use remote monitoring techniques to investigate endangered species, utilizing satellite data. This project can be done in collaboration with Institute for Research in Schools.

  • Project type: Investigation
  • Equipment: No special equipment required.
  • KS3 Science Ideas: Competition, Abiotic & Biotic Factors, Variation
  • GCSE Science Ideas: Biodiversity