Primary link directory
Primary Links Directory
A selection of education resource links - originally collated to support home learning - curated by the ASE's Primary Committee.
The resources linked to in this directory have been curated by representatives of the Association For Science Education's primary committee as having particular relevance for educators focusing on the 3-11 age groups. The intention is for this to be a living, breathing set of community resources so if you are a primary-age educator and have suggesstions for additions please share them either by email (info@ase.org.uk) or through Twitter via either direct message to @TheASE or the #ASEChat hashtag.
Also, please note that these are all resources hosted by external organisations, and while the ASE's primary education team have highlighted all as having educational value we have no control over the content and make no guarantees over its accuracy. As always, utmost care and attention should be taken when recommending any science-based activities for pupils to carry out in a home environment...
Section A - Primary resources aimed at teachers
The resources in this section are aimed at teachers and other science educators who wish to provide support, resources and activities for their students.
Explore the resources...
- Science Fun At Home
Primary Science Teaching Trust
The Primary Science Teaching Trust is working with Science Sparks to create activities for children to have some fun with science at home. A new Science Fun at Home will be available every Wednesday.
- Technology for Fun
Youtube channel and book series
Caroline Alliston, a mechanical design engineer and the author of the popular Technology for Fun series of books and teacher resources provides children (and their carers) with fun educational projects to do at home.
- Science@Home
Royal Society
A number of resources, activities and videos that could be used to support teachers and parents while children are currently learning from home. These resources are free to download or view and no sign-up is required.
- Wow Science
PSTT and Learning Science (Commercial)
Wow Science provides links to a wide variety of primary science games, activities, videos and other websites.
- Explorify
Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust’s Explorify provides a wide range of short activities to develop critical thinking skills. Through the #ScienceFromHome hashtag on Twitter, further bite-sized activities will be shared and updated and can be accessed by families at home.
- STEM Learning – Primary
STEM Learning
STEM Learning offers wide-ranging primary science resource packages for all age groups and has added extra resources for supporting home learning.
- EncounterEdu
Digital Fieldtrips Website
EncounterEdu provides opportunities for teachers, parents and students to explore distance learning through free live lessons, downloadable curriculum-aligned resources, STEAM activities, subject updates and multimedia.
- SAPS
Science And Plants For Schools
SAPS has a wide collection of worksheets, activities, resources and inspiration for primary science – with a focus on plants.
- Corona Help
The Curiosity Box (Commercial)
A curated collection of Coronavirus-specific content such as videos and Q&As brought together by science resource suppliers The Curiosity Box.
- What's in my tray - Science
Gratnells (Commercial)
A favourite session strand at ASE Conference, leading SciEd supplier Gratnells have developed many experiments and activities, some of which can be done at home.
- TigTag World
TigTag (Commercial)
TigTag provides on-line lesson resources and short video clips for Key Stage 2. The Free Trial period has been extended during the school closure period (Summer 2020). TigTag Junior has similar resources for Key Stage 1.
- CLEAPSS – primary
CLEAPSS
CLEAPSS supports practical work in science, D&T and art. It gives clear guidance to all teachers wanting to suggest practical activities for children learning remotely or carrying out activities with children remaining in school. For school members of CLEAPSS, there is also a list of suitable activities with links to full practical details (membership required).
- Great Science Share for Schools
Website
The Great Science Share For Schools - a brilliant annual campaign to inspire primary and secondary children to share their scientific questions with new audiences - is still going ahead in 2020. Check the website for updates on virtual sharing!
- Stop The Spread
Crest Discovery Awards
Stop the Spread is a Crest Discovery Award project to teach children to design and build a handwashing device for a school in Kenya. You can find more excellent projects that have formed part of the Crest Discovery Award offering elsewhere on the page.
- British Science Week packs
British Science Association
The British Science Association provides a series of three age-group specific general science packs featuring ideas and activities based on the theme "Our Diverse Planet".
Section B - Educational Resources provided by institutions, societies, zoos and more
The educational resources in this section can be used in school and many are also suitable for home learning.
Explore the resources...
- Practical Action
Website
Practical Action is an international development organisation with a schools hub featuring project-oriented activities and worksheets which could be adapted for home learning.
- ExperRimental
Royal Institution
ExpeRimental is a series of short films that make it fun, easy and cheap to do science at home with children aged 4 to 11. It is provided by The Royal Institution.
- Trees for Learning
Community Forest
Trees for Learning is a resource for families and teachers of Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, providing activities associated with the four seasons.
- Nature Self-Isolation Activities
The Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust has many nature-based activities which can be used at home or in the garden.
- Chester Zoo Learning Resources
Chester Zoo
The Chester Zoo schools team have created a range of resources to help with teaching and learning at home and at school.
- The Day
Online Newspaper
The Day Home is a free daily news report, published at 7am Mon-Fri aimed at parents and children (registration required). It has suggestions for activities for KS1 and KS2 children, some of which relate to STEM or science.
- RSC - Primary Resources
Royal Society Of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry has a large variety of experiments, cartoons, videos, podcasts and other resources to support primary science topics such as ‘states of matter’ and ‘properties and changes of materials’.
- IOP - Marvin and Marlo
Institute of Physics (IOP)
The Institute of Physics has a range of ‘Marvin and Milo’ practical activity resources for primary aged children; search under the different topics such as ‘Light, Sound and Matter’ or ‘Forces and Motion’ for Age 5-11.
- RSB - Primary Schools
Royal Society of Biology (RSB)
The Royal Society of Biology has links to various useful websites and informal activities which are available on the ‘biology for all’ and ‘outreach’ pages.
- Explore
Website
Explore has over 50 live cameras following wildlife around the world.
- Endeavour
Kew Gardens
Endeavour is the learning platform of Kew Gardens, one of the world's pre-eminent botanical gardens. It has a range of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 resources (registration required)
- London Curriculm Resources
Greater London Authority
As part of a a free programme that takes inspiration from the city’s people, places and history to make the national curriculum more tangible for students, the GLA have produced a series of assets that are free to download. This particular series focuses on KS2.
- Linnean Learning At Home
The Linnaean Society
The Linnaean Society has short clips and information about the classification work of Carl Linnaeus suitable for Key Stage 2 pupils.
- Natural History Museum - Teaching resources
The Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum has lesson plans and activities for classroom learning.
- STEMterprise – NFU Education
National Farmers Union - Education
STEMterprise provides free farming/STEM resources for teachers for years 3-6.
- The Geological Society
The Geological Society
Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 resources for schools, including fossils, rocks, volcanoes, earthquakes and much more.
Section C - Useful blogs and digital communities for primary school teachers
A series of blogs and social media destinations created by individuals and organisations to share resources and help primary science educators connect with their peers.
Explore the resources...
- STEM@home1
Twitter
A Twitter account set up by a Primary science lead teacher and MA student, sharing useful links and simple ideas for working scientifically at home.
- #ScienceFromHome
Twitter
A hashtag created by primary science specialist Dr Sarah Bearchell that is quickly gaining traction.
- Science Sparks
Blog
An excellent blog dedicated to helping even very young children enjoy science at home with super a list of simple science activities - many of which have been featured in the ASE Primary Science journal.
- Kitchen Science - Guest Post by Dr Jo Science Solutions
The World Is Their Classroom (blog)
A series of fun and thought-provoking ideas for a guest blog post put together by qualified teacher and research scientist (and ASE member!) Jo Montgomery (who also a thoroughly useful blog of her own).
- @MrsPassSci
Twitter
Wonderful daily STEM challenges from a working primary school teacher
- HowToStem
Blog
Great blog from primary school teacher Emily Hunt, with recommendations and activities on all things STEM.