By Sam Conway
(Primary Teacher and Science curriculum lead)
Whether a school follows a specific scheme for science or they have created their own series of lessons, these videos can be used by all because they match the statutory learning objectives.
If you're looking to bring energy, humour and curriculum-aligned content into your science lessons, Horrible Science might just be your new secret weapon.
Packed with funny songs, memorable sketches, and brilliantly gross facts, Horrible Science is now available in short video clips on BBC Bitesize - designed with classroom use in mind and aligned with the National Curriculum for Primary Science.
As a Primary Teacher and Education Consultant with over ten years' experience, I was invited to work with BBC Bitesize to make sure these clips hit the mark for teachers. Here's a look at how the project came together, and how you can get the most out of it in your classroom.
Why use Horrible Science in the classroom?
The Horrible Science brand is already loved by children across the UK - the books are a staple in primary school libraries and book-nooks up and down the country and children are already familiar with Horrible Histories. Using these videos in the classroom taps into that familiarity and excitement, creating a unique opportunity for learning.
The humour and storytelling make tricky concepts more accessible. Children the jokes, the songs, and the silly moments and through those, they the science.
One of my favourite songs is the T-Rexs singing about their impending doom in ‘'Meteor for the Dinosaurs’' to the tune of Sophie Ellis Bextor’s ''Murder on the Dancefloor'', which explains extinction, adaptation and evolution (Year 6 Science) in a really fun and memorable way. I also think children will enjoy the sketches involving the Earth and Moon. The Earth is a character that appears in clips outside of content related to the Earth and Space Science Programme of Study (National Curriculum) such as in sketches relating to the water cycle which is important for children to help them realise how many scientific concepts are linked to the world around us.
Ensuring content is curriculum-linked
All of the clips have been checked to ensure they align with the statutory learning objectives in the Primary National Curriculum for Science. I worked on reviewing scripts, advising on any scientific gaps, and making sure age-appropriate vocabulary was used throughout. In cases where a script needed to include more detail to meet an objective, I would suggest ways this could be naturally added into the storyline.
We also made sure to identify which clips were most suitable for Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2, helping teachers quickly find what’s right for their year group. Ultimately, the learning objectives used all meet the National Curriculum but also have enough breadth to satisfy the curious minds of children!
How can teachers use the clips?
Whether a school follows a specific scheme for science or they have created their own series of lessons, these videos can be used by all because they match the statutory learning objectives which all schools must follow. Here are just a few ways you might use them:
For pre-teaching. You may want to share some of these clips before starting a new unit of work as a form of pre-teaching: no extra planning or resources needed.
As part of a science enquiry or research activity. Research is a type of science enquiry used in schools and also links to the Working Scientifically content of the National Curriculum. Because the content is age-appropriate and fact-checked, you can be confident children are accessing reliable information.
As a whole-school activity. During Science Week, why not show the clips across different year groups to get everyone talking about science?
At home. Whether for homework or remote learning, the clips are ideal for keeping children engaged. A fun homework task could be to ask pupils to write their own Horrible Science script based on what they've learned!
Why it works
The humour in Horrible Science makes it genuinely fun - and that fun leads to learning that sticks. When children laugh, sing along, or talk about a sketch with their friends, they’re building connections that help them retain key ideas.
We’ve all got memories of something silly that helped us understand something complex. These clips work on the same principle -a series of funny anecdotes that the children will enjoy and .
Working on this project has been a fantastic experience. I’ve been involved in reviewing scripts, quizzes, games and web content, and I’m proud to say it all works together seamlessly. Whether you're showing a sketch in class, setting a video for homework, or linking to a BBC Bitesize quiz, you can be confident it's curriculum-aligned and ready to your learners.
So go ahead - bring a little creativity and comedy into your science teaching. With Horrible Science, learning gets a lot more fun (and maybe just a little bit disgusting… in the best possible way).
