image of the science of electrical equipment logo

Electrical Equipment Worksheets KS3/4

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We use electrical equipment every day at home, work and at school. Whether a piece of toast in the morning, a nice cup of tea or photocopied worksheets, almost everything we do in the modern world relies on electricity to power it. But do we actually know how they work and what to do with them at the end of their lives? The science of electrical equipment explains how they work and helps us to dispose or recycle items safely and sustainably at the end of their lives.

The worksheets on this page will help young people understand the science behind the electrical equipment they use at home.

Electrical Equipment Worksheets

Electrical Equipment Quizzes

Key Stage 3/4 Worksheet:

(pdf) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: The Physics of a Toaster

(Word) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: The Physics of a Toaster

Link to KS3/4 Zone YouTube Playlist about Electrical Equipment and Toasters


Home Education Worksheet:

(pdf) Download Home Education Worksheet: Design a new pylon!

(Word) Download Home Education Worksheet: Design a new pylon!

Visit our Home Education pages for more Activities suitable for Home Learning.


Link to Home Education Playlist about Electrical Pylons


image of science of paper

Paper Worksheets

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Paper is everywhere! From our earliest pictures stuck to the fridge by our parents to the letter telling us about the latest supermarket offers, even in our modern society, paper is still used for writing and drawing or passing on information. And who can imagine a world without toilet roll! From magazines to junk mail there are lots of ways to reduce the amount of paper we use in our everyday lives. Check out our resource pages to find out more about Paper.

Paper can be recycled everywhere in Devon from the kerbside (see our District Recycling Sheets). To find out what happens after the recycling truck leaves your doorstep watch our video about how paper is recycled in Devon.



Downloadable Worksheets and Paper Quizzes


We have created Science of Materials: Paper worksheets for all ages. Each worksheet is accompanied by a quiz to assess learning. Some also include a playlist of relevant videos.

We hope the worksheets on this page will help young people understand the science behind paper. We hope doing these activities will create better scientists and more critical thinkers. We know the wicked problems (complex and difficult issues like climate change and biodiversity loss) we are leaving the next generation will need some innovative thinking to solve them!

Why not try out our fun quiz at the bottom of the page too!

Key Stage 1 Worksheet:

(pdf) Download KS1 Worksheet: Tearing Newspaper

(Word) Download KS1 Worksheet: Tearing Newspaper


Key Stage 2 Worksheet:

(pdf) Download KS2 Worksheet: Comparing strengths of different paper

(Word) Download KS2 Worksheet: Comparing strengths of different paper


Key Stage 3/4 Worksheet:

(pdf) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: Making paper bridges

(Word) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: Making paper bridges

Link to KS3/4 Quiz: Making paper bridges

Link to KS3/4 Zone YouTube Playlist about Making Paper Bridges


Home Education Worksheet:

(pdf) Download Home Education Worksheet: Investigating the Absorbency of Toilet Paper

(Word) Download Home Education Worksheet: Investigating the Absorbency of Toilet Paper

Link to Home Ed YouTube Playlist about Toilet Paper

Visit our Home Education pages for more Activities suitable for Home Learning.


Microplastics up Snowdon

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Lake and mountains

This lesson plan will help students from Y5 to Y8 evaluate and assess some recent news stories from the waste industry, understanding what is going on and what might be happening behind the scenes when we read things online.

See more about improving digital and media literacy for KS2 and KS3 students on our PSHE and Life Skills related page on media literacy.

The activity here will help improve students’ critical thinking skills as they compare different types of information about microplastics found in a lake on Mount Snowdon.

Microplastics are released from plastic clothing (ie. clothes made from nylon, polyester – especially fleece – and acrylic) when they are washed, making their way into the environment through water courses and drains. Some microplastics may also be released into the air during active wear. Microplastics are invisible to the naked eye but can be seen under a microscopes. Spectral analysis can find out the type of plastic, and sometimes point to a source of the pollution.

Download Lesson Plan on Digital Literacy: Microplastics on Snowdon

Download PowerPoint for Digital Literacy Lesson: Microplastics on Snowdon

image of the science of food

Food Waste Worksheets

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We all rely on the science of materials every day as it tells us which are the best materials to use for different things – like not using chocolate to make teapots, or glass to make trampolines. It also shows us how to dispose or recycle items safely and sustainably at the end of their lives.

Food is vital and a precious resource, so isn’t it crazy that we waste about a third of all food produced! Check out our resource pages to find out more about Food Waste.

Food can be recycled almost everywhere in Devon. Most districts collect food waste in special caddies in their kerbside collections (see our District Recycling Sheets).

The worksheets on this page will help young people understand the science behind food waste. We hope doing these activities will create better scientists and more critical thinkers. We know the wicked problems (complex and difficult issues like climate change and biodiversity loss) we are leaving the next generation will need some innovative thinking to solve them!

Downloadable Worksheets

Key Stage 1 Worksheet:

(pdf) Download KS1 Worksheet: Making a Rot Pot

(Word) Download KS1 Worksheet: Making a Rot Pot

Link to KS1 Youtube Playlist about rot pots and composting


Key Stage 2 Worksheet:

(pdf) Download KS2 Worksheet: Dying eggs with food waste

(Word) Download KS2 Worksheet: Dying eggs with food waste

Link to Youtube Playlist KS2 Food Waste: Science of Materials


Key Stage 3/4 Worksheet:

(pdf) Download KS3/4 Worksheet:What happens to food waste? Or understanding bacteria farts!

(Word) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: What happens to food waste? Or understanding bacteria farts!

Link to KS3/4 Zone YouTube Playlist about Food Waste, Carbon, Cows & Bacteria Farts


Home Education Worksheet:

(pdf) Download Home Education Worksheet: Make your own zero-waste lunch

(Word) Download Home Education Worksheet: Make your own zero-waste lunch

Visit our Home Education pages for more Activities suitable for Home Learning.


Plastic Worksheets KS3-4

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This activity will help KS3 and KS4 children to understand some of the properties of plastic as a material and the impacts on the environment. It links with the National Curriculum and is a fun and active way of teaching science.

Downloadable Worksheets

Key Stage 3/4 Worksheet:

(pdf) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: Experiments in Floating and Sinking

(Word) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: Experiments in Floating and Sinking

(PowerPoint) Download KS3/4 Powerpoint: Experiments in Floating and Sinking

Link to KS3/4 Zone Youtube Playlist about Floating and Sinking

Metals Worksheets KS3-4

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This activity links with the KS3 and GCSE curriculum by teaching about the extraction of aluminium and iron, how the metals are manufactured from the ore and how recycling compares to mining and transportation.

It can be taught as a series of 3-4 lessons, or could be split into stand-alone activities according to the needs of the class.

Downloadable Worksheets

Key Stage 3/4 Worksheet:

(pdf) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: Comparing the Material Life Cycles of Iron and Aluminium

(Word) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: Comparing the Material Life Cycles of Iron and Aluminium

(Powerpoint) Download KS3/4 Powerpoint: Comparing the Material Life Cycles of Iron and Aluminium

(pdf) Download KS3/4 Info Sheet: Comparing the Production Life Cycles of Iron and Aluminium

(pdf) Download KS3/4 Info Sheet: Extraction methods of Iron and Aluminium

Link to KS3/4 Zone Youtube Playlist about Production and Recycling of Aluminium & Iron


Icon for science of materials worksheets glass Key Stage 3-4

Glass Worksheets KS3/4

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We all rely on the science of materials every day as it tells us which are the best materials to use for different things – like not using chocolate to make teapots, or glass to make trampolines. It also shows us how to dispose or recycle items safely and sustainably at the end of their lives.

Glass is used to carry and transport liquids and solids, make windows and decoratively in vases, figurines, jewellery and as stained glass. It is extremely unreactive, being a type of silicon-based ceramic, making it ideal for holding food and drink. It is heavy and brittle, but can be recycled endlessly, without losing quality, as long as colours are separated.

Glass can be recycled everywhere in Devon. Most districts collect glass in kerbside collections (see our District Recycling Sheets) while glass can be taken to banks at recycling centres. Find your nearest one on our main Recycling website.

The worksheets on this page will help young people understand the science behind glass. We hope doing these activities will create better scientists and more critical thinkers. We know the wicked problems (complex and difficult issues like climate change and biodiversity loss) we are leaving the next generation will need some innovative thinking to solve them!

Fizzy water in a glass

Downloadable Worksheets

Key Stage 3/4 Worksheet:

(pdf) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: The amazing disappearing glass

(Word) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: The amazing disappearing glass

Link to KS3/4 Zone YouTube Playlist about Refraction

Textiles Worksheets KS3-4

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Bright colourful rolled up textiles

The worksheets on this page will help young people understand the science of textiles. We hope doing these activities will create better scientists and more critical thinkers. We know the wicked problems (complex and difficult issues like climate change and biodiversity loss) we are leaving the next generation will need some innovative thinking to solve them!

Downloadable Worksheets

Key Stage 3/4 Worksheet:

(pdf) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: How Old Is That Jumper?!

(Word) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: How Old Is That Jumper?!

Link to KS3/4 Zone YouTube Playlist about Forensics and Fabrics

Metals Worksheets

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The science of materials is the basis of much recycling knowledge and helps scientists work out how to recycle stuff better. Many of the sorting machines used to separate out recycling rely on scientific principles; for example, metals are separated using magnets.

Metals can be recycled everywhere in Devon. Cans and tins are recycled in kerbside collections (see our District Recycling Sheets) while larger metal household objects can be taken to local Recycling Centres. Find your nearest one on our main Recycling website.

The worksheets on this page will help young people understand the science of the material called metal. We hope doing these activities will create better scientists and more critical thinkers. We know the wicked problems (complex and difficult issues like climate change and biodiversity loss) we are leaving the next generation will need some innovative thinking to solve them!

Downloadable Worksheets

Metal Quizzes

Key Stage 1 Worksheet: Ice Magnets

(pdf) Download KS1 Worksheet: Ice Magnets

(Word) Download KS1 Worksheet: Ice Magnets

Link to KS1 Magnets & Metals Zone Youtube Playlist


Key Stage 2 Worksheet: Magnetic Barriers

(pdf) Download KS2 Worksheet: Magnetic Barriers

(Word) Download KS2 Worksheet: Magnetic Barriers

(Word) Download KS2 Recording Sheet: Magnetic Barriers

Link to KS2 Magnets & Metals Zone Schools Playlist


Key Stage 3/4 Worksheet:

(pdf) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: Comparing the Material Life Cycles of Iron and Aluminium

(Word) Download KS3/4 Worksheet: Comparing the Material Life Cycles of Iron and Aluminium

(Powerpoint) Download KS3/4 Powerpoint: Comparing the Material Life Cycles of Iron and Aluminium

(pdf) Download KS3/4 Info Sheet: Comparing the Production Life Cycles of Iron and Aluminium

(pdf) Download KS3/4 Info Sheet: Extraction methods of Iron and Aluminium

Link to KS3/4 Zone Youtube Playlist about Production and Recycling of Aluminium & Iron


Home Education Worksheet:

(pdf) Download Home Education Worksheet: Can Balancing

(Word) Download Home Education Worksheet: Can Balancing

Visit our Home Education pages for more Activities suitable for Home Learning.