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Ice cream is basically droplets of fat from milk suspended in millions of tiny crystals of ice, fluffed up with tiny pockets of air. This activity from the Science Museum shows you how to make the right mixture then make it cold enough to create those ice crystals without the aid of a freezer – and reveals how salt and ice make a chilling combination. A great activity for exploring changes of state and the properties of matter. Learning outcomes: - Investigate the properties of different states of matter and how they look and behave differently - Use observation and questioning skills - Recognise how different states of matter behave have useful applications in our everyday lives Curriculum Links: KS2 & 3 Science: States of matter KS2 &3 Science: Working scientifically

Shapes and patterns can be found all around us – from flowers to footballs, seashells to staircases. In this activity from the Science Museum, simple lines drawn on bottle tops or jam jar lids provide a fun way into the wonderful world of geometry. Learning Outcomes: - Investigate position, direction and movement of different shapes - Use observation, questioning and creative problem solving skills - See that patterns are used everywhere in the world around us Curriculum Links: KS1 & 2 Mathematics: Geometry KS1 & 2 Science: Working Scientifically

Maths is used to collect and interpret data about individuals and populations to better understand health and disease. The objects in this image bank showcase ways of using maths to understand bodies and diseases.

Railways transformed the ability to move things and people across the country and beyond, faster than was previously possible. The objects in this image bank showcase the influence of maths in the stories of trains and railways.

It’s because of mathematicians that we have computers today. The objects in this image bank showcase the tools, people and challenges behind the development of computers.

Stripes on a knitted jumper, the rhythm of lessons on a school timetable, spots on a leopard’s skin… Wherever something repeats over and over again, you will find a pattern. The objects in this image bank showcase the many ways we can find and interpret patterns.

This activity from the Science Museum investigates how sound travels, using a kind of gong made from a coat hanger and some string. The gong makes a surprising and intriguing sound – but only when you have your fingers in your ears. Learning Outcomes: - Experience that sound is produced by vibrations and travels better through solids than gases - Use observation and questioning skills - Understand how sound travels through different materials has useful applications in our everyday lives Curriculum Links: KS2 Science: Sound KS1 &2 Science: Working scientifically

We rely on electric circuits every day, in our homes, schools and places of work, in our portable gadgets and kitchens. In this activity from the Science Museum, a circuit drawn in pencil conducts electricity to light an LED. You’ll need to get hold of an LED and some wires and crocodile clips – all these things are available cheaply online or from high street electronics shops. Learning Outcomes: - Investigate the conductive properties of graphite - Use observation and creative problem solving skills - Understand how the conductive properties of materials have useful applications in our everyday lives. Curriculum Links: KS3 Science: Physics; Electricity KS3 Science: Working scientifically; experimental skills and investigations

Love music, but disappointed with the puny sound you get from smartphone speakers? In this activity from the Science Museum, things found around the home will boost the sound those speakers make. It’ll also make you think about how sounds are made and how they can be made louder. Learning Outcomes: - Investigate how sound vibrations can be directed to increase their amplitude (volume) - Use observation and creative problem solving skills - Understand that the way sound behaves has useful applications in our everyday lives Curriculum Links: KS3 Science: Physics; Sound waves KS3 Science: Working scientifically

Treasure Hunters is a game designed to help school groups explore the larger world around them, whether they are visiting one of our museums, in the classroom or at home. It encourages players to look beyond the most popular objects in the gallery and create a completely unique experience, with the chance to learn about objects they might not have noticed otherwise. Everyone can get involved and go head-to-head for badges and treasure! iPhone and iPad download here: https://apple.co/2GHUETk Android download here: http://bit.ly/SMLearn_THApp Treasure Hunters can be played anywhere, not just in a museum, but our museums do have their own specific questions. The app poses challenges to players, for example: ‘Take a picture of something you think was expensive to make’ ‘Find something designed to move really fast’ ‘Take a picture of the biggest wheel you can find’ Players competing against each other will take it in turns to find an object that fits the description and photograph it. It is not just competition, either: on some rounds, competing players will be asked to team up and do a challenge together to collect special badges. Learning outcomes Make links between museum objects and science in their everyday lives. Develop discussion and communication skills. Develop observation skills.

Museums are full of wonderful and weird objects, and sometimes it can be hard to know where to begin. Here at the Science Museum Group we’ve come up with a simple question tool, See Link Wonder, to help inspire thought and discussion about the world around us. By encouraging students to observe and talk about what they encounter in our galleries, you can strengthen those links between museum objects, curriculum science and everyday life. Not to mention develop important skills that you can use back back in your classroom. See Link Wonder is not just for teachers, it can be used anywhere and everywhere by anyone: it is an easy way of exploring and investigating the objects around us, and making everyone a little bit more curious.

Total Darkness is a web-based game which can be played for free on any browser: https://totaldarkness.sciencemuseum.org.uk Total Darkness uses digital storytelling to help children recognise how the skills they have and use everyday are useful to STEM. When developing the game, we undertook a huge amount of research to make sure it was based on SMG’s approach towards informal science learning – what we call science capital. Science capital is all about helping people see that science is a subject beyond the classroom, part of everyday life and something everyone can be part of and do. Learning outcomes: Recognise using scientific skills like asking questions, team work, finding and using evidence, communication, creative problem solving, curiosity Understand the relevance and usefulness of science skills in our everyday lives Make a personal connection with a science experience

Trigonometry is a branch of maths that relies on the relationships between the angles and sides of triangles. This activity uses trigonometry to estimate the heights of tall objects, by making a simple tool that can measure angles.

Geometry is the study of shapes and their properties. This activity makes use of geometry in observing the shapes and angles soap bubbles create when they join together.

A key mathematical skill is reasoning – making deductions based on logical analysis of available information. This activity, which involves trying to work out how shoelaces are connected inside a closed tube, provides a fun way to practice and think about logical reasoning.

This activity involves cutting out templates and looking through the openings to find these shapes in the real world.

A downloadable booklet of fun science activities using everyday ingredients, with notes for teachers. This booklet contains step-by-step instructions for science activities and experiments that are safe and easy to do in the classroom or at home.