Spotlights

Putting on a play

We love the theatre, and seeing actors perform. But a play needs more than actors – there are many people involved. Spotlight looks at some of the jobs required to make a good play.

Portraits: picturing people

As human beings, we are fascinated by images of ourselves. Portraits are artists’ impressions of themselves or others. Spotlight takes a look at how people are presented in art.

National anthems: music for your country

Every country in the world has a national anthem. This is a song or piece of music that is played in important national or international events. Spotlight will investigate where they come from and look at a few from different countries.

Gloria’s story: life in an African village

This month’s Spotlight follows a day in the life of one African girl, Gloria. She doesn’t have much money and has many responsibilities. Find out exactly what life is like for her.

The science of snowflakes

Winter has already seen snowfall across the country, causing a mixture of excitement and chaos. What causes it to snow? Spotlight investigates the science of snow.

Number patterns

There are patterns everywhere. Our entire world is made up of numbers, shapes and lines. We investigate some famous patterns and work out how to identify them.

Christmas around the world

In Britain there are many Christmas traditions. Some we have borrowed from other countries. There are many other traditions from different countries we haven’t borrowed. We find out how people around the world celebrate Christmas...

Leonardo: artist and scientist

Even though Leonardo da Vinci lived 500 years ago in Italy, he is still one of the world’s most famous artists. However, he was more than just an artist. We investigate...

Birds: spotting the difference

What do you know about birds and how they live? Have you ever been bird-watching? We take a closer look at some high-fliers.

Tennis: game set and match

Summer is the tennis season, with Wimbledon and other major tennis tournaments. Tennis isn’t just for champions: everyone can play. Let's get started...

Newspapers: fact or fiction?

Newspapers are a source of information about what's happening in our area, country or world. How do we know they’re telling the truth? We explore the world of newspaper journalism...

Touch typing: the QWERTY way

In today's world we take computers for granted. Would they be so easy to use without the keyboards that come with them? Why are keyboards and being able to type so important? We find out...

Mozart: musical mastermind

Do you wish you could do something well and become really famous? Mozart was composing music at the age of five! Find out why this musical genius is still famous today.

Ancient Egypt: the river kingdom

Most people know about the pyramids built by the Ancient Egyptians. How could they afford to build these massive stone tombs for their kings? Where did their great wealth come from? We investigate...

Communicating: the electronic way

Communication has never been so easy! In the past a letter took days, weeks or even months to reach the other side of the world. We now have many ways to communicate across the world. Read all about it!

Toys: making and designing

We might be given them for Christmas or our birthdays if we're lucky. Have you ever thought how toys are made? It isn’t always as easy as it seems. We find out what it takes to make a moving toy!

Poetry: be inspired!

What inspires someone to write a poem? Where do the ideas come from? How do they know what form it should take? Poetry uses sounds and images to express feelings and ideas. We take a closer look...

Decimals: what is the point?

We know that a full stop marks the end of a sentence in English. But decimal points in maths come somewhere in the middle. So why do we use them? Do they really have a point?

Diwali: festival of light

Which religions celebrate Diwali and why did it begin? How is it celebrated? We take a closer look...

Heavy metal: Iron Age Scotland

When iron was discovered it caused a revolution. For a start, it made better farming equipment and that meant more food. We travel back to the Iron Age.

Game on: the Olympics

After four years, the waiting is over - 2008 is an Olympic year! Do you dream of Olympic gold? How do the ancient Greeks still influence modern sports? We find out about the Olympic Games.

The bees' knees: pollen counts

If you've got the springtime sneezes, you'll know that it's hay fever season. The pollen count on the weather forecast tells us how much pollen is in the air. How does it get there? We zoom in on plant life...

Police dogs: law and order

Day and night, our local communities are kept safe by the police. Helping them is a top team of police dogs. How do their doggy noses help detect crime? How does a big bark come in handy?

Ace adventurer: Sir Francis Drake

We all know the name Francis Drake, but what adventures did he have? Just how did an ordinary lad become a national hero? Why did he choose to risk his life to circle the globe?

Dragons and daffodils: St David's Day

There's more to Wales than rugby and a red dragon. March 1st is a very special day there. St David's Day is a time for dressing up and showing off - in a good way. We find out more about it...

Coast to coast: investigating coasts

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside... do you? It's not all buckets and spades, though. What impact do we have on our coasts? How do they affect us?

New Year's resolutions: Fresh Start 08

Happy New Year! After the Christmas holidays, it's back to school and work. You might hear grown-ups grumble that they've eaten too much over Christmas. How much do you know about keeping healthy?

Angel voices: Christmas carols

Millions of people enjoy singing and listening to carols at Christmas. Some of the words were written a very long time ago. We find out more about them...

Happy birthday: Spanish celebrations

We all love birthdays. What are birthdays like in other countries? Do they have different traditions? We see how Raúl celebrates in Spain. He's not the famous footballer, but he does live in Madrid...

Bread: from seed to sandwich

It's harvest season. The wheat to make our bread has been brought in from the fields, but what happens next? We chart the bread-making process from seed to sandwich.

Sacred space: the mosque

12-year-old Mohammed takes us on a tour of his local mosque. We learn a bit about his religion, Islam. Why do some mosques have a fountain outside? Do you know which city Muslims face when they pray?

Charles Dickens: growing up the Victorian way

As a boy, Charles Dickens had to go to work in a factory. Would you swap lives with a Victorian boy or girl for a day? Have a closer look before you decide...

Shaping up: 2D and 3D shapes

Shapes are everywhere - you just have to keep your eyes open. Do you like triangles of toast for breakfast? Do you know what shapes are in honeycombs? Let's take a closer look...

Spring into action: let's dance!

With Billy Elliot on the stage, Bollywood on the big screen and ballroom dancing on TV, dancing is making a comeback. Did it ever really go away? Adam, a professional dancer shows us his moves.

Early birds: German school days

What's it like to go to school in Germany? Why are new pupils given a giant cardboard cone on their first day, and what's inside?

Ancient Greece: a holiday hotspot

Have you ever been to Greece on holiday? What about ancient Greece? Prepare to go back in time! Hold on tight, the time machine is about to set off...

Creature comforts: caring for animals

From the Queen's corgis to the school hamster, pets can play a big part in our lives. How can we be good pet owners? Who looks after poor, abandoned pets? We meet Mike, an animal welfare worker...

Zooming in: heroes of microbiology

They're all around us, on us and inside us. Some help us and some harm us. How does a tiny microbe have such a big effect? We put three famous scientists under the microscope.

Non-fiction: finding the facts

Stewart writes guidebooks. He travels around the world and writes about what he sees. It may sound like one long holiday, but careful research is the secret of Stewart's success. Would you like to be a travel writer?

Climb every mountain: the Canadian Rockies

Life in the mountains isn't all building snowmen and sledging! The freezing cold and wild animals can be dangerous. We ask 11-year-old Jerome what life is like in Canada's highest town.

Harvest: let's celebrate!

Many people 'give thanks' for their food in special autumn festivals. Does your school have a Harvest Festival? Why do Jewish people eat in a special building at harvest time? Have you ever eaten a pumpkin pudding?

Bringing objects to life: still life paintings

Artists don't just paint portraits of people or pictures of the countryside: sometimes they paint 'still lifes'. Why do artists choose certain objects for their still lifes? What do these objects mean? What would you paint in a still life?

Read all about it: news and the media

News is being made even as you read this. We watch stories unfold on TV, newspaper offices work through the night, and websites are updated by the second. How do you keep your finger on the pulse?

Into orbit: the Earth, Moon and Sun

If the Earth was the size of a pea, how big would the Sun be? Are there planets in a planetarium? We join a year five class on an 'extraterrestrial' school trip.

Jorvik: a Viking centre

With their big beards and long boats, the Vikings are the stuff of legend. Yet how do we sift the fact from fiction? Hold on to your helmets, it's time to uncover - and discover - some more.

Get a move on: transport for the future

Getting from A to B means many things, from putting your best foot forward to blasting off in a space shuttle. How do people feel when a new road is going to be built through their back garden? What about transport in other countries? Let's get going – we've got a lot of ground to cover.

Mind the gap: a year in France

When gap year student, Matt Johnson, went to France, he didn't know what to expect. After a great time, he came home speaking French and with lots of stories about his fun year. Allons visiter la France! Let's visit France!

Imagine: the life of John Lennon

John Lennon was a worldwide celebrity. Now, he is a legend. He found fame and made his fortune with the Beatles, but his biggest dream was world peace. How did an ordinary boy from Liverpool become a superstar?

Through the keyhole: inside the world's churches

Why are some churches peaceful and empty, while others are filled with beautiful pictures and statues? What is an icon and what is it for? How were pictures of fish used as a top-secret code? It's time to take a journey of discovery through 2 000 years of change...

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