The logistics of this sort of event mean that there has to be a minimum number paying in advance to make it financially viable plus enough free dates in our diary to accommodate such a commitment.
Summerhill had 33 pupils from KS2 who signed up and paid which meant we were able to buy some great resources and consumables. We also worked on a Monday which is our quietest day and we happened to have 6 Mondays in a run, free.
The next thing was to work with the school, thinking about what sort of activities would work, how many helpers were needed for each session and where the club would take place.
We were able to get to know staff - especially in the office - so that we could arrive and set up in the hall without having to pull a teacher out of class. We also worked closely with the caretaking staff so that they trusted us not to make a mess or leave unsuitable chemicals and equipment around. They gave us access to their cleaning room which was brilliant as it was straight off the hall, had plenty of hot water and let us wash all our equipment before we left.
So this is what we got up to.....
Week 1
We were quite ambitious because we wanted to start with a WOW so we went for acids and alkalis using home made indicator. We taught pipette technique which we would use on a few occasions during the club, how to behave in a "lab" - which is very hard when you are super excited - and working methodically - also quite hard for young ones.We collected a range of household liquids which we tested either with home made indicator paper or liquid.
We then asked each small group to choose their best acid, alkali and neutral liquid to test and to share their results. Everyone felt very scientific and behaved extremely well following our safety rules.
Week 2
This was the first of two weeks exploring colour. We looked at how our eyes work including optical illusions and seeing in colour.
We then used colour paddles to mix light to get different colours and saw how light and pigment are different. We used the amazing rainbow glasses to split up light.
We then mixed colours using the 3 primary colours which was great fun and improved on our pipette skills.
Finally we made home made lava lamps and turning off the main lights put a torch underneath to make an awesome effect.
Week 3
The second week of colour explored splitting colour up using chromatography.
We looked at how it works by joining the chromatography bus ( you really had to be there!!) and then used paper and waterbased pens to split up mixtures
Then we got adventurous and used permanent markers and alcohol to create an almost tie dye effect on material with some very artistic results
Week 4
This was a week all about electricity especially light.
The room was in darkness as the children came in and our display of light sources brought the expected WOW! response
We used lots of different torches to show that you don't necessarily need batteries to power a torch!
We had a play with our plasma ball.
Then we turned on the lights and went into lab mode to test a huge range of objects to see if they were conductors or insulators using our amazing energy sticks
Week 5
This week was all about pretty amazing polymers and we set homework too!!
We thought about plastics all around us and what impact they have had on our lives.
We looked at polymers such as instant snow, the incredible disappearing hydrogel balls, nappies and then we used a thermo moulding plastic.
The small granules transform to a stretchy clear strand at about 45degrees C. So after lots of exploring what it felt like and how to mould it we finally made keyrings to take home.
Oh and the homework?? using dehydrated hydrogel balls we challenged everyone to rehydrate them in the most unusual liquid they could find at home and bring them back to show us the next week.
Homework results!!
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| oil doesn't work!! |
Week 6
Our last week with these super scientists so we wanted to make it a bit special!
The theme was How Clean are You??
We looked at why we needed to keep clean to be healthy and had quite a gross session on all the things our bodies produce everyday including wind, shed skin and snot!
We then looked close up at plaque on our teeth and decided we needed to try out some toothpaste. We made homemade paste which we tested against shop bought. We didn't use our own teeth though!
And finally........
We were very close to Christmas so we made bath bombs like Christmas puddings smelling of mince pies!!
We had an incredible time with our new friends at Summerhill Primary. Huge thanks to Ms Lindsay Rannard for organising it all, to the parents for funding, helping with the plastics week and joining in so enthusiastically with the homework.
Every week Twitter was alive with photos and comments
Running a science club isn't something we can do all the time but is definitely something we shall try again. It has been super getting to know a group of very excited, enthusiastic and dedicated scientists.
Hope to see them again!
