Planet Foss is an amazing websites that brings creativity and technology into the science curriculum in an incredibly simple and meaningful way. Students are encouraged to take photographs of a range of different scientific concepts in the real world and upload them to share with others. For example in the Force and Motion category students are asked to upload images showing motion, gravity or speed.  In addition to uploading images students can also search for and view images taken by others.

How can I use Planet Foss to enhance teaching and learning?

One of the most tricky aspects of science can be relating it to the wider world and the fact that science is a key part of everyday life.  Through using the challenges on the site and developing your own challenges you can really get your pupils thinking about science in a new and exciting way.  Why not set the activities as a simple monthly homework challenge via the VLE or use a blog to share some of the best images from the site or your students work?

Many of the images from the site can be used as a stimulus for discussion- for example choose an image and ask your pupils what they think it represents. How is it showing the concept? You could also print some of the images and ask the pupils to sort them into categories- a simple thinking skills activity that can be highly effective at provoking discussion.

http://www.fossweb.com