Should I give my little sister my old mobile phone? Weigh up the evidence linked to the health and safety of mobile phones AF1.7.2 Decide how different.

Should I give my little sister my old mobile

phone?

Weigh up the evidence linked to the health and safety of mobile phones AF1.7.2

Decide how different pieces of scientific evidence relate to this question or support your argument AF1.7.3

Evaluate the relative importance of the arguments presented by others in the scientific community AF1.8.2

Arrive at an informed opinion about a scientific matter, after considering the associated ethical, medical and financial issues.

Some people say that GM foods are dangerous. I

have just eaten a sandwich made from GM

wheat.

What should I do?

Weigh up the evidence linked to the health and safety of GM foods AF1.7.2

Decide how different pieces of scientific evidence relate to this question or support your argument AF1.7.3

Evaluate the relative importance of the arguments presented by others in the scientific community AF1.8.2

Arrive at an informed opinion about a scientific matter, after considering the associated ethical, medical and financial issues.

An argument FOR the production of GM crops

We can make crops that are resistant to attack from insects, so crops won’t be lost and people, particularly those in the third world won’t be faced with famine.

But the argument AGAINST the production of GM crops might be:

How long will ‘clever crops’ last? Many genetic modifications result in crops that repel pests because they taste horrid, or even poison the insect. But pests evolve – eventually a resistant strain of insect will arise - and the problem returns.

But then your counter argument might state:

Yes, but…… if we can solve the problem for now, by the time the pests have evolved there might well be another solution because there will have been even more research to identify more ideas and discoveries!

Has the no smoking in public places ban

worked?

Formulate questions that can be investigated by bringing together information from a range of sources AF4.7.1

Assess the strength of evidence deciding whether it is strong enough to support a conclusion AF5.7.3

Critically interpret evaluate conflicting evidence AF5.8.3

If the Ukrainian tourist board were encouraging

people to visit the Chernobyl nature reserve what would your advice

be?

Weigh up the evidence linked to the health and safety of exposure to radioactive sources AF1.7.2

Decide how different pieces of scientific evidence relate to this question or support your argument AF1.7.3

Evaluate the relative importance of the arguments presented by others in the scientific community AF1.8.2

Arrive at an informed opinion about a scientific matter, after considering the associated ethical, medical and financial issues.

The Diamond 9approach

A thinking skills/discussion activityThe purpose of diamond ranking is to provoke

discussion or reflection about the relative importance of a range of factors. AF1.7.2

The purpose of diamond ranking is to provoke discussion or reflection about the relative importance of a range of factors.

AF1.7.2

1

2 3

4 65

1514

16

most important

least important

MRSA: Hospital Superbug?• MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus

aureus.• Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that is often found on

the skin.• People who have Staphylococcus aureus on their skin are

perfectly healthy and normal.• However, if it gets in the body, for example in the lungs or

under the skin, it can cause infections such as boils and pneumonia. These infections can be treated.

• Methicillin is an antibiotic that is no longer used.• Antibiotics are used to kill bacteria.• Staphylococcus aureus is spread by physical contact (skin

to skin) or through droplets (sneezing and coughing).• If MRSA is passed onto someone who is already ill, a more

serious infection can occur.

Statements to go on cards

• Nurses wash their hands between all patients.• The hospital food is tasty.• All visitors must wash their hands on arriving and

leaving.• Visitors are not allowed to bring flowers.• Visitors are only allowed during visiting hours.• Patients have their sheets changed every day.• A supervisor checks the cleaner’s work regularly.• The ward is always cleaned with antibacterial cleaner.• All doctors wear gloves.

Assemble a diamond 9

Using the following statements decide what are the most important things to

consider when …..• building electrical circuits? • handling radioactive sources?• explaining how a plant makes it’s food?• handling acids and alkalis?• explaining what our solar system is?

Electric circuits – easy to construct?

• A complete circuit must be set up before an electric current will flow• A switch is added to a circuit to control it (on/off)• An ammeter must be connected in a circuit if the current is to be

measured• Fuses are necessary because they will melt when the current is too

high, protecting circuit components• A battery transfers energy to a circuit• The mains electricity supply has a voltage of 240V• All batteries have a positive and negative terminal• Bulbs, batteries and switches are the main components of electrical

circuits• The size of the current in a circuit depends on the number of cells

A complete circuit must be A complete circuit must be set up before an electric set up before an electric current will flowcurrent will flow

A switch is added to a A switch is added to a circuit to control it (on/off)circuit to control it (on/off)

An ammeter must be An ammeter must be connected in a circuit if the connected in a circuit if the current is to be measuredcurrent is to be measured

Fuses are necessary Fuses are necessary because they will melt because they will melt when the current is too when the current is too high, protecting circuit high, protecting circuit componentscomponents

The radiation surrounding The radiation surrounding us is called ‘background us is called ‘background radiation’radiation’

The mains electricity supply The mains electricity supply has a voltage of 240Vhas a voltage of 240V

The size of the current in a The size of the current in a circuit depends on the circuit depends on the number of cellsnumber of cells

A battery transfers the A battery transfers the energy to a circuitenergy to a circuit

Bulbs, batteries and Bulbs, batteries and switches are the main switches are the main components of electrical components of electrical circuitscircuits

Radioactivity – using radioactive sources

• Radioactive sources must be held at arms length• Radioactive sources must be stored in a lead-lined box• Atoms which have become charges are called ions• An atom contains a central nucleus containing protons and

neutrons• A Geiger Counter is necessary to measure the amount of radiation

given off by a source• Gloves and long tongs are vital when handling radioactive sources• The radiation surrounding us is called ‘background radiation’• A thin sheet of metal is needed to absorb beta radiation• Alpha radiation is absorbed by skin and (a thin sheet) paper

Radioactive sources must Radioactive sources must be held at arms lengthbe held at arms length

Radioactive sources must Radioactive sources must be stored in a lead-lined be stored in a lead-lined boxbox

Atoms which have become Atoms which have become charges are called ionscharges are called ions

An atom contains a central An atom contains a central nucleus containing protons nucleus containing protons and neutronsand neutrons

The radiation surrounding The radiation surrounding us is called ‘background us is called ‘background radiation’radiation’

Gloves and long tongs are Gloves and long tongs are vital when handling vital when handling radioactive sourcesradioactive sources

Alpha radiation is absorbed Alpha radiation is absorbed by skin and (a thin sheet) by skin and (a thin sheet) paperpaper

A Geiger Counter is A Geiger Counter is necessary to measure the necessary to measure the amount of radiation given amount of radiation given off by a sourceoff by a source

A thin sheet of metal is A thin sheet of metal is needed to absorb beta needed to absorb beta radiationradiation

Photosynthesis – how does a plant make its food?

• Raw materials required for photosynthesis are carbon dioxide and water

• The formula for carbon dioxide is CO2

• Chlorophyll in the chloroplasts are needed for photosynthesis to take place, absorbing light

• Leaves have a large surface area to absorb sun light• Glucose and oxygen are the products of photosynthesis• Leaves can be tested for starch using iodine• The roots support the plant and absorb water and nutrients• The top surface of a leaf is covered in a cuticle to make the leaf

waterproof• Carbon dioxide comes from the air and enters the leaf through small

holes called stomata

Raw materials required for Raw materials required for photosynthesis are carbon photosynthesis are carbon dioxide and waterdioxide and water

The formula for carbon The formula for carbon dioxide is CO2dioxide is CO2

Chlorophyll in the Chlorophyll in the chloroplasts are needed for chloroplasts are needed for photosynthesis to take photosynthesis to take place, absorbing lightplace, absorbing light

Leaves have a large Leaves have a large surface area to absorb sun surface area to absorb sun lightlight

The roots support the plant The roots support the plant and absorb water and and absorb water and nutrientsnutrients

Leaves can be tested for Leaves can be tested for starch using iodine solutionstarch using iodine solution

Carbon dioxide comes from Carbon dioxide comes from the air and enters the leaf the air and enters the leaf through small holes called through small holes called stomatastomata

Glucose and oxygen are Glucose and oxygen are the products of the products of photosynthesisphotosynthesis

The top surface of a leaf is The top surface of a leaf is covered in a cuticle to covered in a cuticle to make the leaf waterproofmake the leaf waterproof

Acids & Alkalis – how should they be handled?

• When using acids and alkalis goggles must be worn

• Laboratory acids can be corrosive so all safety procedures must be followed

• Treat contact with the skin and eyes with lots of cold water

• All acids taste sour and produce salts when neutralised

• Lemonade and vinegar are acidic

• Alkalis taste very nasty – just like soap!

• Kitchen acids are used a lot in cooking because they can add taste to food

• Laboratory acids and alkalis should always be stored in a safe place

• Concentrated acids turn red, indicating they are harmful – treat with caution

When using acids and When using acids and alkalis goggles must be alkalis goggles must be wornworn

Laboratory acids can be Laboratory acids can be corrosive so all safety corrosive so all safety procedures must be procedures must be followedfollowed

Treat contact with the skin Treat contact with the skin and eyes with lots of cold and eyes with lots of cold waterwater

All acids taste sour and All acids taste sour and produce salts when produce salts when neutralisedneutralised

Kitchen acids are used a lot Kitchen acids are used a lot in cooking because they in cooking because they can add taste to foodcan add taste to food

Alkalis taste very nasty – Alkalis taste very nasty – just like soap!just like soap!

Concentrated acids turn Concentrated acids turn red, indicating they are red, indicating they are harmful – treat with cautionharmful – treat with caution

Lemonade and vinegar are Lemonade and vinegar are acidicacidic

Laboratory acids and Laboratory acids and alkalis should always be alkalis should always be stored in a safe placestored in a safe place

Space – what is our solar system?

• At the centre of our solar system there is one star which we call the sun

• Nine known planets orbit our sun at different distances from it• The word planet comes from the Greek word for ‘wanderer’• Pluto is a very cold planet• Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system• It takes 365 ¼ days for the Earth to orbit once around the sun• A comet is a lump of rock and ice travelling at velocity• Planets are held in orbit around the sun by a gravitational force• Our sun (at the centre of the solar system) is just one star in a

group of stars called a galaxy. Our galaxy is called the Milky Way

At the centre of our solar At the centre of our solar system there is one star system there is one star which we call the sunwhich we call the sun

Nine known planets orbit Nine known planets orbit our sun at different our sun at different distances from itdistances from it

The word planet comes The word planet comes from the Greek word for from the Greek word for ‘wanderer‘wanderer’’

Pluto is a very cold planetPluto is a very cold planet

A comet is a lump of rock A comet is a lump of rock and ice travelling at velocityand ice travelling at velocity

It takes 365 ¼ days for the It takes 365 ¼ days for the Earth to orbit once around Earth to orbit once around the sunthe sun

Our sun (at the centre of Our sun (at the centre of the solar system) is just the solar system) is just one star in a group of stars one star in a group of stars called a galaxy. Our galaxy called a galaxy. Our galaxy is called the Milky Wayis called the Milky Way

Jupiter is the largest planet Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar systemin the solar system

Planets are held in orbit Planets are held in orbit around the sun by a around the sun by a gravitational forcegravitational force