Teaching materials Science on Stage festivals

The biennial Science on Stage festivals are the core of our network, where STEM teachers from all over Europe (and beyond) present their innovative teaching projects. These projects are selected at national Science on Stage festivals prior to being presented at the European festival.

To spread these examples of good practice, we publish some of them as teaching materials – in line with our motto "from teachers for teachers".

Below you find a selection of materials. Enjoy browsing through them!

Shedding “light” on a Picasso!

This project introduces students to multispectral imaging in a highly motivating way, combining it with new findings from the art world. Multispectral imaging is a process of creating digital visual images of an object by using different wavelength regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Authors: Kalliopi Giannakoudaki and Georgios Chatzisavvas, Greece
Keywords: multi-spectral imaging, light, electromagnetic spectrum
Subjects: physics, ICT, art

Go to: Shedding "light" on a Picasso!

Finding Water in the Universe

This project-based learning approach complements the primary school curriculum with practical experiments and fun classroom activities from the interdisciplinary field of astrobiology.

Authors: Juan Antonio Prieto Sánchez and María Pilar Orozco Sáenz, Spain
Keywords: astrobiology, meteorites, solar system, water
Subjects: chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy

Go to: Finding Water in the Universe

Oranges and Lemons

This project contains experiments in which students learn about the chemistry of limonene using simple equipment made from yoghurt pots, pans, 3D cinema glasses and a homemade colorimeter.

Authors: Francesca Butturini and Gordon Kennedy, Italy
Keywords: chiral molecule, limonene, steam distillation, polarimeter, colorimeter
Subjects: chemistry, physics, biology

Go to: Oranges and Lemons

Optical Tweezers – The Nobel Prize in Physics 2018 at your school

Light carries energy and momentum and it can be reflected or refracted while it travels from one transparent medium to another. This project demonstrates how these characteristics of light can be utilized for the development of “optical tweezers”.

Authors: Michalis Orfanakis and Mikis Mylonakis, Greece
Keywords: optical tweezers, optical trapping, Nobel Prize, laser tweezers
Subjects: physics, biology

Go to: Optical Tweezers

Tomography in school – Optical CT Scanner with Lego and Arduino

Students develop a low-cost optical CT scanner and use tomography to investigate transparent objects of their interest, such as gummy bears, candies, fruits and plants. They are familiarized with the basic principles of tomography and simulate the scientific method during their research activities.

Authors: Michalis Orfanakis, Greece
Keywords: CT scanner, computed tomography, tomography, optical projection tomography, Lego Mindstorms, Arduino
Subjects: physics, biology, ICT, chemistry

Go to: Tomography in school

Strong as a bear through leverage – Feel the leverage power

Students are introduced to the principle of levers. A door can be opened, a nail pulled out. Kids have to be made aware of the problem so that they can recognize it. They investigate where they can be found in their daily life and how they work.

Authors: Heidrun Boll, Germany
Keywords: levers, leverage, balance, force
Subjects: physics, science in primary school

Go to: Strong as a bear

Understanding geometry in a playful way – Learning by doing in mathematics

Tactile mathematics: Drawing three dimensional objects on paper with all their geometrical characteristics is often a challenge for students. However, with simple materials, you can help students develop a spacial understanding for complicated geometric structures.

Authors: Jimmy Serment and Thierry Dias, Switzerland
Keywords: polyhedra, manipulate, mathematics, experiment, geometry
Subjects: mathematics

Go to: Understanding geometry in a playful way

Seawater experiments: Discover biology and chemistry in a fish tank

Students design an investigation unit with low budget materials. They monitor the water quality, grow phytoplankton, Artemia (brine shrimp), measure the filter capacity of shellfish or the feeding habit of bristle worms.

Authors: Hans Mulder, The Netherlands
Keywords: sea water, Artemia, bristle worms, low budget, aquarium, student research, algea
Subjects: biology, chemistry

Go to: Seawater experiments