Science Visits

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Science visits out of school (science venues):
Many schools have used a grant from the Edina Trust to fund science trips out of school. There are many exciting science shows, science workshops and science providers to visit across the country.

Science visits into schools (science workshops and shows):
Many schools incorporate visits as part of their science week or as a one off addition to enhance the learning of a certain science topic. However, it can be expensive to take a class out on a trip as travel costs are high so many science providers now run outreach programs to cater for schools that otherwise could not fund a trip. Below are a few examples of the types of workshops available. A full list of workshops the Edina grant has funded can be found on our Science Resources page.

Science Visit Examples
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 Explorer Dome
Generation Science
Birmingham Think Tank Outreach
The Black Hole Planetarium
Science Oxford
The Royal Observatory
ZooLab
The National Space Centre
Combe Mill

Explorer Dome

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 'Explorer Dome' - is a portable planetarium that travels to schools in South West England, Wales and beyond. KS1 experience light and dark, shadows and rainbows and why not to be afraid of the dark. KS2 experience and investigate light and colour, what light is, where it comes from, how it travels and how we see. Also mirrors, prisms, lenses, reflection and colour mixing."

Photos courtesy of Explorer Dome

Feedback:

"To the children's amazement they set up a huge inflatable dome in the school hall. Each from the foundation stage to yr 6 had a session in the dome….All the children were spellbound; the atmosphere inside the dome was electric. The presentation was displayed outstandingly, it was all visual so all the children could understand and learn from it. Afterwards the children demonstrated how much they had learnt and gained from the session. The presenters successfully managed to aim the level of the content to the age of the children. The staff were very impressed and have requested that we book them again next year... As a school we could heartily recommend them. We certainly intend to ask them to come back again."
(Science Coordinator, St Kenelm's Primary School, August 2008)

For more information: www.explorerdome.co.uk

Generation Science

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 Generation Science is the Edinburgh International Science Festival's outreach science programme, providing science workshops and shows to schools traveling to remote areas of Scotland to run workshops that make science exciting to learn and teach. Generation Science offer a wide range of workshops that cover a variety of curriculum relevant topics that have been tailored to each age range.


Photos courtesy of Generation Science

Feedback:

"We are a small country school in an isolated part of the Scottish Borders so an important part of our work is encouraging our pupils to look outward to the larger world of which they are a part. So we decided to ask Generation Science to visit us with workshops for all the children. Each workshop was carefully chosen to fit in with the work the children had been doing in class. All three workshops were very well done and the children enjoyed them very much. Our children really benefited from this grant and learned that science can be fun as well as interesting!"
(Headteacher, Newcastleton Primary School)

"I spoke to both classes about the Generation Science workshops they had experienced to compliment and enhance their science topics. The children thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and thought the presenters were very good. The children talked proficiently and enthusiastically about what they had learned. The children felt they had learned a lot and had really enjoyed the workshops. They, too, would recommend it to other schools."
(Edina consultant reporting on her visit to Kirkhope Primary School, Scottish Borders)

For more information: www.generationscience.co.uk

Birmingham Think Tank Outreach

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 The innovative science museum in Birmingham, Think Tank, runs an outreach programme for schools. The team presents stimulating and informative curriculum relevant shows, workshops and debates.

Shows include:

Photos courtesy of Thinktank Trust

Feedback:

"Wow! That was the children's reaction and also that of the adults present... They were efficient, well organised, knew their science and equipment and were extremely professional with the children. The content of the programme was excellent and the children have commented on numerous occasions on what they have learned. Value for money - Excellent... Again, all I can say is WOW! What a great day."
(Teacher, Shellingford Primary School, January 2008)

For more information: www.thinktank.ac

The Black Hole Planetarium

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 The Black Hole Planetarium is a mobile Planetarium which is based in Leamington Spa that can travel to you! The objective is to amplify and enhance aspects of the National Curriculum by use of various projection devices and visual aids in what is a unique and stimulating learning environment.

Feedback:

"The experience has been a positive one for the whole school and all the children have been inspired by it... Year 4 have been so enthralled that they wrote poetry as well as using the information for their literacy report writing... Their non chronological report writing has improved as a result of their interest in the topic and they have produced work which they find interesting and are keen to share with others... Children who find literacy challenging have been able to use the planetarium visit as inspiration for writing and have been able to revise this topic for their forthcoming SATs tests... The planetarium visit has given the whole school a joint focus which has led to pupils being engaged in the learning process. This is evident in the quality of the artwork pupils have produced. The children have been inspired to use their imaginations to develop a theme, which although initially teacher led, has enabled them to take ownership and express themselves... The experience of an activity which could be accessed by the whole school, whilst only for one day, has been very rewarding for both pupils and staff... The children's enthusiasm for knowing more about our solar system and the universe continues unabated. Thank you very much for giving us this opportunity, which we hope will inspire life long learning in our children."
(Science Coordinator, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School)

Email: black.hole@ntlworld.com
Tel: 01926 733440

Science Oxford (formally the Oxford Trust)

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 Science Oxford is at the heart of science and enterprise in Oxford; it offers a range of facilities to aid the learning of science for children and also runs an outreach programme for schools.

Photos courtesy of Science Oxford

Feedback:

"The workshops were very well planned and carefully timetabled in advance by Science Oxford. We would certainly recommend them to other schools. They were very good value for money. Presenters were experienced with working with children of this age group and children responded well to the challenges.
(Science Coordinator, Larkrise Primary School)

For more information: http://www.scienceoxford.com/

The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh

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 The Royal Observatory in Edinburgh provides curriculum linked activities to inspire and support teachers and pupils in their science education. Tours include: Telescope Dome, Meteorite Handling, Moon Phases and Eclipses, and Stars and Galaxies!


Photos courtesy of The Royal Observatory

For more information: www.roe.ac.uk

ZooLab

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 ZooLab provide curriculum based workshops and hands-on roadshows. These include: Habitats, lifecycles, minibeasts, and the rainforest. A wide range of animals are brought to each school, including boa constrictors, African land snails and cane toads!


Photos courtesy of ZooLab

Feedback:

"All children were invited to handle or touch each animal...the talk included details of habitat, growth, diet, species and grouping. [The presenter] was sensitive to the children and encouraged questions and sharing of knowledge."
(Science Coordinator, Lewknor Primary School)

For more information: www.zoolabuk.com

National Space Centre, Leicester

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 The National Space Centre in Leicester run a range of education and Space Academy programmes, all linked with the curriculum. These include space theatre shows, tailored workshops and simulated space missions.


Photos courtesy of Woodcote Primary School

For more information: www.spacecentre.co.uk

Combe Mill, Oxfordshire

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 Combe Mill is a timber saw mill, museum and workshop located in Oxfordshire. It presents a wonderful hands-on experience of the history of small scale industrial technology. Many aspects of the school syllabus can be illustrated using the engines, machinery and craft tools at the Mill.


Photos courtesy of Combe Mill

Feedback:

"The class had a fantastic day when they went to Combe Mill. We split into 2 groups and one had a guided tour of a very varied woodland (not open to the public), complete with activities to do. The other group had a tour of the mill led by some very kind and knowledeable gentlemen volunteers (who had given up their whole day for us!) They explained how a basic steam engine works with models the children could use, but the best bit was watching wood turners and a jigsaw then they got to work in the forge making pokers!!!!!! Every child and adult had a turn and we brought the pokers home with us. It was a fantastic day, the parent helpers thought it was great too. Thoroughly recommended!"
(Teacher, Bladon Primary School)

For more information: www.combemill.org