Hands On Science with Teachers

The last two nights we have been working with teachers sharing exciting science for the primary classroom.

On Tuesday we had a great evening at Runcorn's newest free school Sandymoor where the Head had invited local primary schools to come for a look around and we were there to so a session of experiments. 

It was lovely to see Alan from Daresbury labs sharing what they can offer schools especially the Starlab - very exciting.

We showed off some of our favourite gadgets and gizmos including our smart heart which features in our All About You - healthy humans show. If you've not come across one of these before - it is a giant stethoscope but in the shape of a heart with a speaker so that people can hear your heart beat and then a little bit of magic...it tells you your heart rate. 

No more trying to find your pulse and counting - this does it for you. 

It is actually designed to work on children, they just place it over their heart on top of their clothes and it picks up the sound. Super!

Wednesday evening we were back at Upton Heath in Chester running a cluster science evening. Emma - the science co-ordinator had organised the event and invited lots of teachers from the local area.

The teachers, tired, after a day in school arrived BUT we had fantastic cakes and biscuits from the school's Fair Trade cafe with tea and coffee to pep us all up.

Everyone was pleased when we began to hand out things to play with - no heavy duty note taking in our sessions - it's all Hands ON!

We played with thermo moulding plastic,

colour changing straws

heat sensitive paper

LCD sheets

 and of course no event would be complete if we didn't make bath bombs.

Lots of ideas for science plus an Ideas Bag to take away full of science goodies to try out.

It was lovely to meet all the teachers and I know we will be seeing some of them soon!

Our birthday month has come to an end - I can't quite believe we have been going a whole year. Lots of schools have taken advantage of our birthday discount offer, we are busy with plenty of bookings and - the big thing - we are having a GREAT time.
Next - National Science and Engineering Week which has already started for us and will last until the Easter holidays - it's good to be popular..so take a deep breath...here we go!

A day out in Chester

Science2U had a super day with Upton Heath CofE Primary school in Chester. 

The science co-ordinator Emma had very wisely decided to hold the school science week early - in other words outside the usual March dates for National Science and Engineering Week. She knows from experience that science presenters get booked up very quickly during those dates so her school were having their special science week in February.

All week scientists have been coming and going working with various classes doing hands on science.  Some of the classes have been out to experience science learning outside the classroom. 

Then on Thursday it was our turn to bring exciting science to the whole school.

The theme for national Science and Engineering Week this year is Invention & Discovery and we have written a super new show for the event.

Starting from the premise that scientists are always asking questions we look at some quirky links between objects such as instant snow and astronauts......pirates and the rhinovirus........and we investigate modern materials and find out their use in our everyday lives.

Did you now that those hydrogel balls that we love and flower arrangers use are similar to those used to clean water conserve water in developing countries?

The show has the same basic content for all ages but the delivery differs to suit the audience - a bit more science vocabulary for some and lots science magic for others.

So polishing up our pirate ARRGGGHHs and fluffing up our big rhinovirus we spent the morning exploring the wonders of the scientific mind.

First the juniors and after break the infants - a quick clear away before lunch and then two sessions in the classroom with year 2.

These lucky children got very up close and personal with the instant snow, raced liquids, made paper change colour just by the heat of their hands and then we all made bath bombs to take home. 

Soon the year 2 classrooms and corridor were smelling wonderfully of bubble gum...the fragrance we use in our bath bombs.

The verdict from the children....awesome! From the teachers.....well they can't wait for their turn! We are back at the school for a staff cluster training session just after half term when they will be able to get their hands on the goodies!!