Tag: primary science

Teaching the Vikings

Posted on | by Kirsty Williams | Leave a Comment on Teaching the Vikings

Are you looking for inspiring planning resources for teaching about Vikings in upper key stage 2? Here’s how you can use our new downloadable Vikings teaching resources to easily create a memorable lesson…

Where to start?

Before you use the lesson pack, pupils should already know when the Viking period was, and be aware of how they lived. This lesson pack links with history and science, particularly with the topic ‘Properties and changes of materials’.

Pupils will carry out a simple investigation to see what affects how well an oil lamp burns. This lesson involves making an oil lamp, which means using fire! We have checked the primary CLEAPS guidance and have given you some tips for your risk assessment. However, you will need to review it and make any alterations for your class. Pupils will plan their own investigation to answer one of three questions, which are included in the PowerPoint presentation, along with simple instructions to make the oil lamp.

Oil lamp lesson pack

The downloadable pack includes:

  • A differentiated lesson plan
  • A PowerPoint presentation
  • A suggested risk assessment
  • Vikings silly science puzzle
Download the pack here
Individual membership

Quality reading texts related to the Vikings

We have a whole issue dedicated to the Vikings, which is full of fun facts and information suitable for primary-aged children. Our teachers have created two reading resources with questions linked to the National Curriculum and Curriculum for Excellence:

Whizz Pop Bang magazine and teaching resources are brilliant ways to enhance your school’s science teaching:

  • We provide downloadable science lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, hands-on investigations and science reading comprehensions written by primary school teachers.
  • Whizz Pop Bang teaching resources link to the National Curriculum, ensuring correct coverage.
  • All of our resources are year group specific, ensuring progression between the years.
  • We make cross-curricular links to other subjects, such as English, Maths, History, Geography, Art, Design and Technology and PSHE.

Prices from as little as £254.99 per year for a copy of Whizz Pop Bang magazine through the post each month and whole-school access to our ever-growing library of downloadable teaching resources, with unlimited teacher logins.

We’ve also launched a new individual membership option so teachers and home educators can access all of our amazing downloadable resources for just £20 for the whole year. 


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British Science Week FREE resources

Posted on | by Kirsty Williams | Leave a Comment on British Science Week FREE resources

Are you looking for some interesting resources on the theme of ‘Time’ for British Science Week? Whizz Pop Bang has produced a whole magazine called ‘Time Quest’.

Our teachers have created a STEAM-based lesson pack ready for you to use. Download it for FREE!

English curriculum sand timer lesson packDownload

There are also reading resources ready for you to use for FREE!

All other curricula Cuckoo clocks reading resourcesDownload
All other curricula Ten ancient living things reading resourceDownload
English curriculum periodical cicadas reading resourceDownload

We have thousands more resources available on our website.


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British Science Week – ­Time

Posted on | by Kirsty Williams | Leave a Comment on British Science Week – ­Time

Are you looking for some STEAM ideas for this year’s British Science Week on the topic of time? February’s issue, called ‘Time Quest’, is full of great ideas.

The lesson pack for year 3 is on the maths objective of estimating time. Pupils will create their own sand timers which measure an exact amount of time, for example, one minute.

Pupils will use their timers to test their time perception. For example, can they talk non-stop for a minute? Or stand like a statue? As we all know, depending on what you are doing, time can feel like it’s passing more quickly or slowly!

The magazine also has a perpetual calendar to craft, instructions to make a leapfrog game and a shadow clock.

Click now to buy a copy of the magazine

How to keep the science theme of time in your reading sessions

Using science texts in guided reading or whole-class reading sessions is an easy way for children to delve further into the subject matter and acquire more knowledge. Here are the reading comprehensions that link with this topic:

Whizz Pop Bang magazine and teaching resources are brilliant for enhancing your school’s science teaching:

  • We provide downloadable science lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, hands-on investigations and science reading comprehensions written by primary school teachers.
  • Whizz Pop Bang teaching resources link to the National Curriculum, ensuring correct coverage.
  • All of our resources are year group specific, ensuring progression between the years.
  • We make cross-curricular links to other subjects, such as English, Maths, History, Geography, Art, Design and Technology and PSHE.

Prices from as little as £204.99 per year for a copy of Whizz Pop Bang magazine through the post each month and whole-school access to our ever-growing library of downloadable teaching resources, with unlimited teacher logins.

Buy your school subscription here

We also have individual membership option so teachers and home educators can access all of our amazing downloadable resources for just £20 for the whole year. 


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Teaching thermal conductivity in year 5

Posted on | by Kirsty Williams | Leave a Comment on Teaching thermal conductivity in year 5

Are you teaching the topic properties and changes of materials to year 5? One of the objectives is teaching thermal conductivity; continue reading for two great science investigations…

Save the ice cubes!

This lesson pack contains an investigation in which pupils try to stop ice cubes melting by wrapping them in different materials. It’s like giving the ice cubes their own little winter jackets! The PowerPoint presentation explains how items stay warm or cold. Pupils are expected to design their own comparative test, with some guidance given in the PowerPoint presentation. They should decide how to record their results and write their own conclusions.

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Blubber glove

In this lesson, pupils will be able to feel the difference with their hands. This hands-on approach encourages students to actively participate in their learning, transforming them from passive observers to enthusiastic explorers. They will find out how animals stay warm in cold conditions by creating a blubber glove using different materials to see which is the best insulator. They will try to make it a fair test by using a thermometer to make sure the icy water stays a similar temperature during their investigation.

Download now

It can be a tricky topic to teach as pupils often find it hard to understand that an item can stay warm and cold. Issue 102 ‘BRRRRR! The science of keeping warm’ is the perfect companion for your book corner whilst teaching this topic.

How to get more science into your reading sessions

Using science texts in guided reading or whole-class reading sessions is an easy way for children to delve further into the subject matter and acquire more knowledge. Here are the reading resources that link with this topic:

Whizz Pop Bang magazine and teaching resources are brilliant for enhancing your school’s science teaching:

  • We provide downloadable science lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, hands-on investigations and science reading resources written by primary school teachers.
  • Whizz Pop Bang teaching resources link to the National Curriculum, ensuring correct coverage.
  • All of our resources are year group specific, ensuring progression between the years.
  • We make cross-curricular links to other subjects, such as English, Maths, History, Geography, Art, Design and Technology and PSHE.

Prices from as little as £254.99 per year for a copy of Whizz Pop Bang magazine through the post each month and whole-school access to our ever-growing library of downloadable teaching resources, with unlimited teacher logins.

We also have individual membership option so teachers and home educators can access all of our amazing downloadable resources for just £20 for the whole year.


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How does huddling help penguins stay warm?

Posted on | by Jo at Whizz Pop Bang | Leave a Comment on How does huddling help penguins stay warm?

Many animals, including walruses, penguins and monkeys, huddle in groups to keep warm. The centre of a huddle of Emperor penguins can reach 24℃ when the air temperature is as low as -40℃!

Watch a video about how huddling works here!


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Exciting news: Dive into dynamic discussions with our new reading resources!

Posted on | by Kirsty Williams | Leave a Comment on Exciting news: Dive into dynamic discussions with our new reading resources!

Fantastic news! We’ve just added a game-changing feature to our reading resources: Discussion questions! Starting from issue 99, our teachers have crafted engaging questions to accompany our non-fiction texts, designed for whole-class or paired discussions in response to the new reading framework.

What’s in it for you?

Imagine your pupils not just reading, but actively discussing high-quality science content. These questions go beyond comprehension – they spark curiosity, encourage collaboration and fuel a passion for science exploration.

Why you’ll love it:

  • Engagement boost: Turn reading into an adventure as students eagerly discuss scientific wonders.
  • Reading miles: Every discussion is a step towards accumulating valuable “reading miles”.

Get access to a world of resources:

Ready to elevate your reading sessions? Customize a school package or subscribe as an individual teacher. Gain access to 1,600+ science resources aligned with the National Curriculum and Scottish Curriculum for Excellence.

Don’t miss out – start the adventure today!

Sign up now for your school


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COMPETITION CLOSED – Win a set of Edible Science booklets for your class!

Posted on | by Kirsty Williams | 52 Comments on COMPETITION CLOSED – Win a set of Edible Science booklets for your class!

Hooray! It’s time to celebrate a remarkable milestone as Whizz Pop Bang reaches its 100th edition. We are thrilled to share this exciting moment with all our teacher enthusiasts and young learners. To mark this special occasion, we have an incredible treat in store for our dedicated readers – the chance to win a class set of Edible Science booklets! We are giving away 100 in total! These delightful booklets make perfect Christmas presents for your class, and we can’t wait to share them with you. Will you be one of our lucky winners?

To be in with a chance of winning, simply leave the number of pupils you have in your class in the comments.

This competition closes at midnight on 30th November 2023 and is open to UK residents only. For full terms and conditions visit whizzpopbang.com/terms-and-conditions


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Science class party

Posted on | by Kirsty Williams | Leave a Comment on Science class party

Unleash the Wonder: A Guide to Hosting an Unforgettable Primary Class
Science Party

Are you looking for something fun and educational to reward your class with? Maybe it’s got to the end of term and you want to do something a bit different for an afternoon. Our science class party pack is just what you are looking for. The good news is it’s inexpensive to resource and is guaranteed to excite your class.

What does the pack contain?

There are six experiments to do:

  • Chromatography decorations
  • Static Slime
  • Magic Icing
  • Bed of Pins
  • Incredible invisible ink
  • Fizz Pop Bang powder

Each experiment has its own set of instructions so you can be flexible about how you organise the afternoon. You could set up stations in the classroom for the children move around and follow the instructions to do each activity, or you could do them together step by step as a whole class. We have given you all the scientific explanations but kept them on a separate page so you can choose when to share them with your class.

If you want more party science experiments buy a copy of our 100th issue of Whizz Pop Bang

Whizz Pop Bang magazine and teaching resources are brilliant ways to enhance your school’s science teaching:

  • We provide downloadable science lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, hands-on investigations and science reading comprehensions written by primary school teachers.
  • Whizz Pop Bang teaching resources link to the National Curriculum, ensuring correct coverage.
  • All of our resources are year group specific, ensuring progression between the years.
  • We make cross-curricular links to other subjects, such as English, Maths, History, Geography, Art, Design and Technology and PSHE.

Prices from as little as £205 per year for a copy of Whizz Pop Bang magazine through the post each month and whole-school access to our ever-growing library of downloadable teaching resources, with unlimited teacher logins.

Subscribe here for your school

We’ve also launched a new individual membership option so teachers and home educators can access all of our amazing downloadable resources for just £20 for the whole year. 


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Teaching living things and habitats in year 6

Posted on | by Kirsty Williams | Leave a Comment on Teaching living things and habitats in year 6

Are you looking for some help and ideas for teaching about microorganisms in year 6? Here is how to use our downloadable teaching resources in your unit of work on living things and habitats.

Yeast is a microorganism and a type of fungus. It is used to make bread soft, squishy and full of bubbles! The yeast feeds on sugar in the dough, releasing bubbles of carbon dioxide gas as a waste product. The dough gets filled with bubbles, making it rise. In our lesson pack, pupils will investigate what yeast requires to grow. In this controlled experiment, pupils will plan their own investigations, making sure they only change one variable at a time.

More science reading links…

From our Fantastic fungi issue, we have three reading resources for year 6 that link to the topic and will spark your pupils’ curiosity. Carl Linnaeus is an important historical scientist for year 6 to learn about. He was a botanist and doctor whose ideas on naming and sorting organisms are still used today!

Whizz Pop Bang magazine and teaching resources are brilliant ways to enhance your school’s science teaching:

  • We provide downloadable science lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, hands-on investigations and science reading resources written by primary school teachers.
  • Whizz Pop Bang teaching resources link to the National Curriculum, ensuring correct coverage.
  • All of our resources are year group specific, ensuring progression between the years.
  • We make cross-curricular links to other subjects, such as English, Maths, History, Geography, Art, Design and Technology and PSHE.

Prices from as little as £197.99 per year for a copy of Whizz Pop Bang magazine through the post each month and whole-school access to our ever-growing library of downloadable teaching resources, with unlimited teacher logins.

subscribe now

We also have an individual membership option so teachers and home educators can access all of our amazing downloadable resources for just £20 for the whole year. 


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COMPETITION CLOSED – WIN Humungous Fungus by Lynne Boddy

Posted on | by Jo at Whizz Pop Bang | 74 Comments on COMPETITION CLOSED – WIN Humungous Fungus by Lynne Boddy

Professor Lynne Boddy is a woodland fungi expert at Cardiff University and she told us all about her amazing career in Whizz Pop Bang 99: Fantastic Fungi.

Lynne has written a beautiful book, Humungous Fungus, an exploration of all things fungi which will amaze young readers, and open their eyes to the fungi thriving all around them and we’ve got four copies to give away!

Simply answer this question in the comments for your chance to win a book.

Which one is a part of a mushroom?
a) Gill
b) Hill
c) Spill

Good luck!

This competition closes at midnight on 31st October 2023 and is open for UK residents only. For full terms and conditions visit whizzpopbang.com/terms

Humongous Fungus, written by Lynne Boddy and illustrated by Wenjia Tang. DK, £12.99. Out Now. 


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