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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Anyone know any good secondary science revision resources?

12 replies

Hakluyt · 02/08/2014 09:12

DS is going it to year 9 in September, and we have agreed that he will do some bits of work over the summer to keep his brain ticking over. We've found a fantastic maths practise thing that even his dad (physics PhD) approves of. We've agreed on a couple of books to read, and some music to listen to, and films to watch. But we can't find anything science related that's both interesting and relevant to the GCSE course he'll be starting. It all seems very dull and exam revision-y which he doesn't need yet. He's already been a bit turned off science by the rather plodding teaching he's had- I'd love something that will teach but also enthuse. I just don't understand how people can make science dull!! Any ideas?

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summerends · 02/08/2014 10:46

Lots of really good science documentaries that are relevant in the wider sense by for example Jim Al Khalili or Michael Mosely or the Royal Institute Christmas Lectures. Bill Bryson's short history of nearly everything ( child's version) also good for dipping into. I think it is more important to engage the interest at this stage so that he can see the relevance and wider context of the dry stuff and stick with it even when taught badly.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 02/08/2014 10:53

New Scientist, my teen DD dips in and out of mine (Although thats sometimes just to pinch the illustrations for art).

Scientific American (slightly harder going as the articles are longer, but that also means you may not need as much background to follow them.)

Hakluyt · 02/08/2014 15:19

I didn't realize there was a child's version of A Short History- thank you.
Wow- I don't think he's ready for New scientist yet.... Very impressed by your dd!

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pamplemoussed · 02/08/2014 20:10

Look at Frontiers for Kids online - a kids online science mag by kids for kids. Also, Scientific American for teens

pamplemoussed · 02/08/2014 20:10

Look at Frontiers for Kids online - a kids online science mag by kids for kids. Also, Scientific American for teens

TheFirstOfHerName · 02/08/2014 20:53

DS1 (about to start Y10) likes the Crash Course youtube videos by Hank Green. I'll try to find a link.

TheFirstOfHerName · 02/08/2014 20:57

Sorry, I can't link to the main youtube channel from my phone, but he has made quite a few videos on Biology and Chemistry.

twentyten · 02/08/2014 20:59

Listen to infinite monkey cage on BBC I player? Qi??

LadyWithLapdog · 02/08/2014 21:07

I get the occasional Focus and How Things Work mags for my DS.

Hakluyt · 03/08/2014 08:45

Thank you for Crash Courses- I've now watched loads! And the history ones are fab too. I think they are a bit too difficult for ds yet, but I'll get him to try. Yep, already do Monkey Cage.

Great ideas- keep them coming. I think it says something about how we view science in this country that there is tons of stuff to support literacy and maths- but much less for science. Maybe we could make a Mumsnet List?

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JustRichmal · 03/08/2014 18:19

I don't know if "It's Elementary" by Robert Winston may be a bit young, (you could get a copy from the library to see). It is quite a fun introduction to chemistry.

Thanks anyway for starting the thread, as I've got good ideas from it too.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 03/08/2014 22:54

Edheads (sorry can't link on iPad but Google it) great interactive site e.g. Heart surgery, some physics stuff too.

Science museum has a good website with more interactive games.

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