Oxfordshire science week case studies

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Barley Hill Primary School - Become a Science Detective Science Week 2007
Chilton Primary School Science Week 2008
Faringdon Infant Primary School - Bright Sparks Electricity Science Week 2008
Langford Primary School - 'Wow' Factor Science Week 2007
Larkrise Primary School - Animal Science Week 2007
North Kidlington Primary School Science Week 2006
Woodcote Primary School Science Week 2007

Barley Hill Primary School, Oxfordshire

Project: Become a Science Detective Science Week 2007
Barley Hill Primary School held a "Become a Science Detective" science week in which pupils learnt how to carry out science investigations using scientific techniques, data handling and active research.

"The grant will be used to attract demonstrations and exhibitions to our school during our science week…we will book the 'Explorer Dome' for Key stage 2 and 'The Animal Man' for the entire school."
(Science Coordinator, Barley Hill Primary School)

View Barley Hill's planning and activity ideas
View Barley Hill's science week letter to parents

Chilton Primary School, Oxfordshire

Project: Science Week October 2008
Chilton Primary School held a science week in October 2008, which consisted of a visit from Explorer Dome, a "messy explorations" investigation into the properties of different substances, a visit from Science Oxford, work on electricity circuits, K'Nex model making and more!

"I've learnt how many things you can do with science - it's nearly everything in the world!"
(Pupil, Chilton Primary School)

Faringdon Infant School, Oxfordshire

Project: Bright Sparks Electricity Week 2008
Faringdon Infant school held a "Bright Sparks Electricity Week" in which pupils made circuits, played buzzer games and discussed the safe use of electricity and the importance of saving electricity.

"Thank you for our grant money; we had a very successful electricity topic week. The children loved learning to become 'Sparky's'. All the children learnt how to stay safe around electricity and successfully designed and made their own working lighthouses. They were all very proud to receive their 'trained electrician' certificates at the end of the week. We would not have been able to do this without the resources purchased with the grant money so many thanks."
(Head Teacher, Faringdon Infant School)

View Faringdon Infants' science week planning

Langford Primary School, Oxfordshire

Project: 'Wow' Factor Science Week 2007
Langford Primary School held a "Wow factor Science Week" which covered a wide range of topics such as materials and weather, taught in a number of ways including a class room setting, through drama activities, and outreach workshops.

"The aim of the project is to raise the profile of science in our school community. We are aiming to put the 'wow' factor back into learning this subject through a number of motivational events. We would like each year group to experience at least one show and to do mini projects and activities involving the use of equipment not normally available to them. We are involving the secondary school in our partnership and they are going to give us much invaluable help both in provision of resources and equipment."
(Science Coordinator, Langford School)

View Langford's science week planning View Langford's science week ideas
View Langford's actvity planning View Langford's lesson plans

Larkrise Primary School, Oxfordshire

Project: Animal Science Week 2007
Larkrise Primary School held an 'Animal' science week. The 'bugman' Martin Rapley visited. The week covered science topics including habitats, food chains, animals and us, life cycles, adaptations, reproduction, variation, classification and use of keys.

"First hand experience of bugs etc. in an educating environment was valuable…There was no shrieking, skiving or running a mile!"
(Comment from a Teacher Evaluation form)

"I enjoyed seeing the rapport between Martin and the children and also appreciated the patience he showed with them. They obviously had taken in the experience they had had in school and it was lovely to see all the animals. I think the children were very lucky to have the opportunity - very different from my early days as an infant teacher!"
(Comment card from a pupils grandmother)

"Everyone - children, teachers, parents and other school staff- are now looking forward to our annual science week as a major event in the school year. Thank you for your invaluable support in making it possible."
(Science Coordinator, Larkrise)

View Larkrise's evaluation sheet View pictures of Larkrise's science week

North Kidlington Primary School, Oxfordshire

Project: Science Week 2006
The North Kidlington Partnership held a successful science week in 2006. The week included visits from Hands on Science-Oxford, Space fund Road Show, Wasps and Bees workshop and a talk on Bats.

View North Kidlington Patrnership's activity sheets

Woodcote Primary School, Oxfordshire

Project: Science Week March 2007
Woodcote Primary School held a successful science week in which pupils covered curriculum relevant topics including habitats, life cycles, forces and light. The pupils took part in many activities such as experiments and pond investigations, saw theatre shows, and visited the National Space Centre.

"We had a fantastic 'science' week at Woodcote Primary School. We are extremely grateful for the money that the Edina Trust provided to the school. We could not have had such an inspirational week for the children without it."
(Headteacher, Woodcote Primary School)

(Children investigating the pond during science week at Woodcote)

View Woodcote's science week planning View Woodcote's science week assessment View Woodcote's science week pictures