Science Week Case Studies
Cwmfelinfach Primary School,
Caerphilly
Cwmfelinfach Primary School held a whole school STEM Week. Children from Nursery to Year 6 participated in a wide variety of activities throughout the week. The primary aim was to increase pupils' engagement and enjoyment. Foundation phase to Year 2 took part in a carousel, visiting 4 classes over the course of the week and took part in making magic potions, dissolving skittles to make a rainbow and freeing dinosaurs from ice. At the end of the week, they had the Techniquest Outreach team deliver their "Music Makers" workshop. Pupils learned about various sounds and had to use their problem-solving skills to crack the code. The Key Stage 2 classes focused on enriching the science and technology aspect of their curriculum and they were able to take part in an ExCAELO Aerial drone workshop. The workshop provides exciting opportunities for students to realise that learning digital competence can open up real world opportunities and use technology that they may not have access to otherwise. All of the children were talking about their experiments and the staff have ideas for next year's science week!
Field View Primary School,
Wolverhampton
Field View Primary School held a whole school STEM Week with the topic of 'Animals including Humans'. They focused on creating an exciting and accessible approach to science, where the teachers were able to deliver science in a more experiential way. The pupils were given freedom to examine the topic in their own way, regardless of ability, and many are now interested in pursuing STEM topics further. Some of the events included: KS1 had a visit from the Animal Man and were introduced to a variety of animals. Reception and Year 1 spent time hunting minibeasts in their forest school. Year 2 investigated their teeth. Year 4 even dissected a heart! The only request they had was that next time the students want each session to last longer because they enjoyed it so much!
William Hildyard C of E Primary School,
Lincolnshire
William Hildyard C of E Primary School held a science week with the theme of 'Changes'. The funding allowed them to buy resources to enable each class to be able to complete a variety of exciting practical science activities throughout the week. The science week helped raise the profile of science and further developed the children's skills of planning and carrying out investigations. The children were actively engaged in science and there was a buzz throughout the school. Parents specifically commented on the children's excitement about science. After the science week ended, the classes created scrapbooks featuring all the experiments and activities that took place throughout the week.