Teaching overview
Learning points
- Scientists have used flocking birds as a model to engineer a group of drones that can fly through a series of obstacles.
- Plastic pollution flows into the ocean along major rivers, but now boats have been designed that can remove the plastic from rivers before it reaches the sea.
- An artist in Japan has used modern digital technology to bring to life a traditional painting of a famous Japanese battle.
Curriculum keywords
- Drones
- Pollution
- Art
Video viewing guide
This graphic organizer supports your students to capture their thoughts and questions as they watch the news update.
Spark a discussion
Drones Dodge Obstacles
- How do birds fly together in a flock?
- What technology have scientists used to enable drones to fly in a group?
- As well as search and rescue missions, what else could groups of drones be used for?
Plastic-Clearing Boats
- How does most plastic pollution enter the ocean?
- How do plastic-clearing boats work to rid rivers of plastic?
- Other than clearing rivers of plastic waste, can you think of any other methods to reduce plastic pollution in the seas?
Animating Ancient Art
- How have developments in science and technology changed art over time?
- If you could create a moving painting using digital technology, what would it show?
- What other modern technologies do you think could change art in the future?
Discover more about the topics covered in this week’s news update
Classroom resources
Use these resources to get the most out of the news update and engage your class in topical science!
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Video viewing guide
This graphic organizer supports your students to capture their thoughts and questions as they watch the news update.
Make your own science news update
This simple guide helps your students to create their very own science news updates.
Language and literacy activities
This guide gives you ideas for how the news update can be used to support language and literacy activities.
Twig Science: A Complete Pre-K–8 Program for the NGSS
Immersive Investigations with High-Quality Multimedia
- Investigating, designing, building, and understanding phenomena
- Hands-on, digital, video, and print investigations
- Synchronous/asynchronous distance learning