Scottish Borders science visit case studies
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Generation ScienceThe Royal Observatory
The National Museum of Flight
Hirsel Country Park
Generation Science
Back To TopGeneration 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
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"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
The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh
Back To TopThe 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!
For more information: www.roe.ac.uk
The National Museum of Flight
Back To TopThe National Museum of Flight in East Lothian has an interactive flight science exhibition called 'Fantastic Flight', which contains hands on exhibits which explain how and why things fly. Children get the opportunity to build and test aircraft, fire up a hot air balloon, or launch a jet powered aircraft. The Museum offers a fun and interactive way to learn about topics such as 'forces and motion' and 'energy'. The Museum's workshops include 'Supersonic Streamlining' and 'Aerotots' in which children get to board Concorde.
Photos courtesy of Eyemouth Primary School
Feedback:
"This was a fantastic experience for the children which they all thoroughly enjoyed. The trip was a celebration of all their work in the project but also extended and provided more depth to their learning. A visit on concorde was very exciting and engaging for the children but immediately provoked discussion as to why it had "such a pointy nose" and also "why is it so tiny inside?" A paper aeroplane competition demonstrated if the children could apply their learning about aerodynamics to a new situation. The interactive flying forces show was a brilliant opportunity for the children to investigate forces themselves more freely but also whilst having lots of fun playing on the activities. The wind tunnel and different wings proved a hit as well as the rising hot air balloon. The trip has definitely proved to be one of the highlights of the year for the Primary 2 and Primary 3 children. They would definitely recommend the visit to others."
(Science Co-ordinator, Eyemouth Primary School)
For more information: www.nms.ac.uk
Hirsel Country Park
Back To TopHirsel Country Park, Coldstream, offers a variety of environments and habitats for school children to explore, including a lakeside, river and a wood. There are many forms of wildlife to see and a museum featuring exhibits which provide an insight into how people lived and worked in the past.
Photos courtesy of Eccles/Leitholm Primary School
For more information: www.hirselcountrypark.co.uk