Curriculum Programme

GCE A2 Applied Science

Teaching Applied Science

Applied Science is quite different from conventional academic science courses, and to teach it effectively you need to have its unique character clearly in mind.

The best Applied Science teaching is techniques-led and mimics authentic and contemporary workplace practice. How scientists (and other practitioners) work underpins A-level Applied Science. This is distinct from GCSE Science and A-level Separate Science which are underpinned by how science works.

These materials build on and clarify the guidance given by the Awarding Bodies. The resource does not provide full coverage of all units. However, it does contain much new material and new approaches.

FREE A2 resources to download
See the list below of activities you can download, and what each one contains. Each activity includes:
• Activity brief, which describes the tasks to be carried out.
• Science at work, which sets the tasks in a vocational context.
• A variety of work sheets and information sheets, which may be downloaded in PDF or Word format and printed for student use.
• Teacher notes, which contain technical notes on the equipment and materials required, hints and suggested teaching strategies and references to other supporting resources.

Download the materials from the web pages below - click on the links.
AQA and OCR unit numbers refer to their GCE Additional Applied Science specifications.

Cells and batteries OCR Unit 12
Comparing thermometers or blood pressure monitors AQA Unit 8
Distribution and abundance of species OCR Unit 14 and AQA Unit 16
Dyes: Industrial scale up AQA Unit 13

Ecology and Simpsons Diversity Index OCR Unit 14 and AQA Unit 16
Enzyme technology OCR Unit 15
Estimating environmental damage in freshwater OCR Unit 14 and AQA Unit 16
Extracting and purifying metals OCR Unit 12
Extracting and testing a natural plant dye AQA Unit 13

Impact testing OCR Unit 11
Investigating the Wisconsin card sorting test OCR Unit 13
Investigating thermography AQA Unit 8 and OCR Unit 16
Investigating X-rays AQA Unit 8 and OCR Unit 16

Lung function testing AQA Unit 14
Metals OCR Unit 11
Microbiology and the pathology service AQA Unit 15
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) AQA Unit 14
Physics of performance effects AQA Unit 10

Preparing and testing a synthetic dye AQA Unit 13
Researching and planning bioassays AQA Unit 12
Researching and planning chemical assays AQA Unit 12

Scientific investigations: Getting started AQA Unit 7 and OCR Unit 8
Scientific investigations: Reporting AQA Unit 7 and OCR Unit 8
Using blood pressure monitors AQA Unit 9
Waste disposal, recycling and land reclamation AQA Unit 16
Wisconsin card sorting test correlational studies OCR Unit 13

Acknowledgements
These resources are the result of a 4science and Nuffield Curriculum Centre joint project, which developed from work with the Advancing Applied Science teachers’ community.

The project was made possible thanks to generous support from:
• Gatsby SEP (Science Enhancement Programme)
• Institute of Physics
• Wellcome Trust