Martin spent last week touring schools in the Lowestoft area providing a workshop on the theme of stars and space.
In each of five different schools, Y5 and Y6 classes had chance to find out about phases of the moon, constellations, the solar system and even how current research is discovering more about supernovas.
The "Space" workshop is one of the many primary workshops on offer - see the primary workshop page for more details.
It's electric!
Using the sun's light to generate electricity was the focus of an activity Martin provided at the recent "Science at work" days in Milton Keynes. Showing how chemists have adapted the properties of silicon for photovoltaic cells was the background for about 480 pupils to investigate how these cells work.
They made solar-powered fans but, this being Britain, had to test them most of the time under lamps rather than outside in bright sunshine.
But everyone had a great time!
It wasn't a waste!
Sarah went to the RWM conference at the NEC to find out more about the waste industry. She saw an eddy current separator separating aluminium cans and other non-ferrous materials. Found out about separating with air and what happens to the left overs once everything that can be recycled is removed.
Of course, she took with her our jumping beans activity. Here she is with one of the exhibitors and with their jumping bean.
Big Bang South East
We had a great day at the South of England Showground this week with lots of visitors to our stand - we barely had time to stand still. All our visitors enjoyed making jumping beans (as you can see!), hoopsters and there was also our fantastic busking show too!
Click here to find out more about the busking.
Wakefield SPLATS!
A group of Y10 students from the Wakefield Grammar School Foundation spent a happy three days last week doing SPLATS. After one day of training to learn some of our workshops (see photograph), they then spent two days running science activities for about 250 Y5 primary pupils.
Dipping candles, flying kites and racing rollers all formed part of the fun. The Y5 pupils learnt lots of science and the Y10 students honed their transferable skills while they ran the various activities.
Both event days finished with smiles all round and several primary pupils asking about going to the secondary schools after they finish Y6.
Click here for more details about having a SPLATS in your school.
A lot of fun in Liverpool!
A group of trainee teachers from Liverpool Hope University enjoyed one of our Cascade courses recently. After a day spent learning some of our activities, they then had chance to put them into practice in a local primary school. What did they have to say?
"Very useful, in the three years of the course I haven’t had the opportunity to teach science in my schools, this has helped me get an intensive experience of practical science."
"Enjoyed running the practical science activities – I could run these activities with classes."
And they finished the day with big smiles still on their faces.
Click here for more details about Cascade.
New term, new workshop!
We're celebrating the start of the summer term by launching another exciting workshop.
Aimed at upper primary pupils, it is on the theme of "Separation". The pupils, working in pairs, are challenged to separate out different mixtures culminating in finding out how to separate dissolved carbon dioxide from a fizzy drink.
Fun! Fun! Fun!
"Fun and kept us all enthusiastic. Thank you!" was just one of many similar comments made about one of our recent CPD courses. We run several of these every year - some are in-school events, some are at central venues.
All of these courses are hands-on from start to finish, inspiring teachers to be abel to deliver practical science activities to their own classes. We focus on developing skills with activities that can be adapted to different ages and different parts of the curriculum.
Click here for more details.
All The Fun Of The Fair!
Last week we were at The Big Bang and didn’t we all have lots of fun! In just two days 2000 people visited our stand Teams think and test to try out our challenges.
Team “Dr Dagger” built the tallest straw tower – an amazing 231cm tall.
Team “The Mitchell Massive” created the slowest marble run – a truly incredible 23 seconds.
And the results for the balloon buggies shows just how good everyone was at investigating, especially with so many variables to consider. Well done everyone!
We liked best this quote (which neatly sums up everything we do): These activities are very simple but get everyone’s brains working.
It's The Big Bang!!!
Not the popular TV show (Sheldon, Leonard and co were otherwise engaged!) but we are going to be at The Big Bang Science Fair later this month. Not only will our popular "Street Science" show be on of the attractions but we're also providing a set of activities. "Team, Think and Test" comprises a series of challenges for you to have a go at.
Teams will design their own investigations, make the models, test and collect results. We will also have challenges for small teams to see if they can create the 'best' design.
Find out more at The Big Bang website.
Didn't we have a lovely time?!
The day we went to Brighton. Such a busy day, having fun while we played. We hadn't realised just how popular our session would be as people just kept in coming through the door. Dipping candles, discovering just how many marbles can float in a paper raft (more than you might think!), enjoying our "Street Science" show and making simple science toys to take home - everyone was busy all the time.
The picture shows two young scientists finding out how much Vitamin C is in different fruits. They now know the best way of keeping colds at bay. And they enjoyed themselves so much they asked if they could come back again the following day! Sorry, boys, we were there for just the one day this year.
Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside!
Come and join us in Brighton at half-term. We're there as part of the Brighton Science Festival. Our drop-in workshop is called "Science for Winter Afternoons".
Find out all about candles and how they work, take up a challenge and compare the amounts of Vitamin C (to help you maintain winter health) in different fruits. Watch the surprising, exciting “Street Science” entertainment and work out how it’s all done. Make yourself some souvenirs.
Click here to find out more.
Have you seen the light?
We have just launched a new workshop on the theme of light.
Featuring five practical activities that support the lower Key Stage science curriculum it is also a fun way to help celebrate the International Year of Light.
Happy New Year!
Here we are at the Annual ASE Conference in Reading, stand B4. Having a great time, meeting lots of interesting people, and doing lots of interesting things with them.
And, to celebrate the start of our fifteenth year in business, we'll be having cake this afternoon. So come and grab a slice before it's all gone!
Come and meet us!
Next month we'll be at the ASE Annual Conference (stand B4) eager to meet you and chat about what we can do for you. There will also be a chance for you to try out some of our activities for yourselves. And we'll be giving three different talks while we're there.
Find out more here.
It's showtime folks!
Due to popular demand we have produced a show “Street Science”.
Available as a show or an assembly, it comprises many amazing science ‘tricks’ with the audience attempting to work out how they work.
It's about change!
Ever wonder why children find “change of state” difficult, often assuming everything that melts turns into water?
We’ve found the best solution is not to use ice/water but a wax candle. Unlike water, wax doesn’t change its name when it changes state. And, while burning, all three states of wax are present.
This forms a key part of our “Fire” workshop.
It's new!
A new school year.
A new national curriculum.
We’re celebrating with a new website and new workshops.