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Resources for teaching & learning in the Primary sector
The collection of a range of resources will be necessary to enable pupils to undertake investigations in science. The tables below indicate some generally useful materials that may be required for various strands of the science component of environmental studies. Some of these materials may only be obtained from specialist science suppliers. The addresses of common suppliers are also listed. Environmental studies science topics require materials (e.g. scissors, glue, ruler, string and paint) that are used in other areas of the curriculum. Some topics will require consumables such as sand, sugar, salt or dried foods. Other topics will require surplus or recycled domestic items that can be readily collected and cleaned, for example, plastic bottles, jars, tins, lids, thread spools, and yoghurt pots.   See Exemplar Equipment Lists & Suppliers
SSERC has produced more detailed equipment lists for selected schemes of work. Further advice and specific, up-to-date information on resources and suppliers can be accessed by Scottish local authority schools, and other subscribers, or by means of direct enquiry to SSERC as follows :- SSERC 2 Pitreavie Court South Pitreavie Business Park Dunfermline KY11 8UB Tel: 01383 626070   Fax: 01383 842793     E-mail
The Association for Science Education (ASE) has also published a useful guide in this area. Primary Science Equipment by Rosemary Feasey, (1998, ISBN 0863572804) (guide price £8.50). Published with the support of Esso UK plc, this is a comprehensive guide to the basic science equipment needed to teach all stages of the primary science (national) curriculum. It is available from ASE Booksales It provides:
an itemised, illustrated equipment list under topic headings	OHP masters for the use in policy development meetings and INSET	guidance on buying, storing, maintaining and using equipment	safety information.

Exemplar Equipment Lists & Materials
Living Things & Processes of Life
Variety & characteristic features	The Processes of Life	Interaction of living things with their environment
mirrors (plastic) metre sticks height chart thermometers selection of flowering and non-flowering plants measuring tapes bathroom scales ink pads magnifiers bioviewers	sound tape Braille print sandpaper of different grades dental mirrors diagram/model of human body, skeleton, teeth stopwatches selection of bones selection of flowering and non-flowering plants collection of seeds and fruits seeds for sowing, e.g. cress, broad bean bulbs for planting, e.g. daffodil, hyacinth	hand lenses nature viewers pooters binoculars magnifiers bird table flower pots plastic trays pond nets
Energy & Forces
Properties & uses of energy	Conversion & transfer of energy	Forces & their effects
screw-in bulb holders battery holders bulbs and appropriate batteries crocodile clips wires torches curved mirrors plane mirrors glass blocks and triangular prisms shiny objects that will act as mirrors, biscuit-tin lid, sheet metal a variety of percussion instruments transparent, translucent and opaque materials colour filters electric buzzers electric bells electric motor a selection of metals/non metals wire-stripping pliers steel wool screwdrivers (plastic handled) candles old spectacle lenses projector magnifying glasses hand lenses lamps thermometers candles tuning forks rubber bands (different sizes and thicknesses)	solar cells, e.g. solar powered calculator yo-yo that lights up lamps, bells, motors, buzzers, etc., as above wind chimes propellors toy windmills	wheeled toys oil, grease, polish, wax inclined plane sandpaper springs weights magnets (selection to include bar, button, horseshoe and more familiar everyday magnets such as fridge magnets) iron filings needles marbles ball bearings timers stop-clocks and watches balloons plastic syringes compasses a range of magnetic materials ping-pong balls golf balls
Earth & Space
Earth in space	Materials from earth	Changing materials
polystyrene sheets, blocks, balls and beads globe of the Earth torches different sized balls - tennis, ping-pong football compasses stop-clocks or watches	samples of different metals and plastics range of different types of rocks, e.g. granite, marble, sandstone, limestone samples of manufactured materials, e.g. concrete, glass, plastic, steel objects made from naturally occurring materials, e.g. wool, cotton, leather, wood elastic bands chalk samples of different woods and wood products samples of different types of paper (blotting paper, tissue paper, paper towels, waxed paper, greaseproof paper, newsprint) coal samples oil samples sandpaper	funnels filter paper sand dried peas night-light candles paper towels plastic sieves materials from the kitchen or bathroom (sugar, salt, bicarbonate of soda, chalk, oil, baking powder, vinegar, tea, coffee, bath salts, flour)

Materials
Consumable	Domestic Reclaimable
plasticine plaster of Paris clay a range of fabrics and fibres fasteners - bulldog clips, paper-clips, hair-clips, clothes pegs balloons play dough Blu-tack cement candle wax ink corriflute soft woods foil metals acetate plastic rubber dowels of various lengths and thicknesses thin wire string and threads adhesives paints	plastic bottles plastic straws aluminium foil thread spools tins range of empty boxes, containers and tubes coathangers polystyrene blocks scrap card and board corks of varying sizes sponges cotton wool

Suppliers
SSERC Online Members SSERC St. Mary's Building 23 Holyrood Road Edinburgh EH8 8AE Tel. 01383 626070 Fax. 0131 558 8191 E-mail Range of inexpensive bits and pieces for science and technology activities
ASCO Educational Supplies 19 Lockwood Way Parkside Lane Leeds LS11 5TH Tel: 0113 2707070 E-mail General primary educational supplies from nursery to P7.	Sansord UK Oldmeadow Road King's Lynn Norfolk PE30 4JR Tel: 01553 761221 Primary measuring instruments	Commotion Group Group 11, Tannery Road Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1RF Tel: 01732 773399 Fax: 01732 773390 Comprehensive selection of equipment for IT, science and technology
Heron Educational Ltd Findel House Excelsior Road Ashby Park Ashby De La Zouch Leicestershire LE65 1NG 'Freephone': 0800 373 249 E-mail Comprehensive selection of equipment for IT, science and technology	Scientific & Chemical Supplies Ltd Woodburn Road, Blackburn Industrial Estate Kinellar Aberdeen AB21 0RX Tel: 01224 790190 Fax: 01224 790990 E-mail	Hope Education Ltd Hyde Buildings Ashton Road Hyde Cheshire SK14 4SH Tel: 08702 412 308 Fax: 0800 929 139 E-mail General primary educational supplies from nursery to P7
NES Arnold Findel House Excelsior Road Ashby Park Ashby De La Zouch Leicestershire LE65 1NG Tel: 0845 120 4525 Primary and secondary equipment suppliers	Philip Harris Scientific Philip Harris Education Findel House Excelsior Road Ashby Park Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire LE65 1NG Tel: 0845 120 4520 Fax: 01530 419 492 E-mail Supplier of a comprehensive range of science equipment for primary and secondary	Griffin & George Ltd Bishop Meadow Road Loughborough Leicestershire LE11 5RG Tel: 01509 233344 Fax: 01509 231893 E-mail

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