Have you got time to read two very short science texts? Both of them are surprising and wonderful. First text: a … More
Author: BenRogers
18 years secondary teacher: 4 years primary. MA in SciEd. Author of 'Big Ideas of Physics and How to Teach Them.' Director of Curriculum and Pedagogy for Paradigm Trust.
A Little Knowledge is a Many-Splendored Thing
We’ve been thinking about knowledge and reading a lot recently. Christine Counsell has given the leaders of my trust reading … More
Primary Topics, Reading and Knowledge
Reading comprehension is about knowledge. It is about vocabulary and ideas. Primary schools, including ours, invest considerable curriculum time on … More
The Leyden Jar – 1745
I have reached the key object in my “History of Electricity in 10 Objects”: the Leyden jar. Philosophically, the Layden jar has … More
Imaginary Ice Block Discovered in School Field Causes Writing and Reading
The whole of this blog centres on a mean trick (and I feel bad about it), which has produced something special, … More
The Dangling Boy – 1730
Anyone who has had the opportunity to charge small children to thousands of volts will appreciate the skill and showmanship … More
A Kitchen Museum of Electrical History
Since Easter I have been reading about electricity. I think it is the hardest topic to teach. Circuits are … More
Guericke’s Sulphur Sphere
It seems reasonable to suppose that if the Earth has a fitting and appropriate attractive potency it will also have … More
The Versorium Needle
A draft extract from my book using narrative to teach the big ideas of physics: These are the utterly false … More
My Electricity Chapter
I don’t really mind which model for current anyone prefers – rope, hosepipe, cups with marbles etc. They all help … More
Reading for Learning 