Another new experience for Science2U - a road trip!
Well only one night away but all the same.....
We were going back to Sue's roots - she comes from Chadderton near Oldham - we had a super time with St Matthew's CofE primary school in Chadderton Hall Road.
The newly amalgamated St Matthew's infants and Chadderton Hall junior schools were in the middle of a very exciting science week with so many different experiences happening. The Science Co-ordinator Elaine had booked us for two days back to back to deliver 7 shows and a hands on session.
So we decided that it would make sense to stay overnight in a local B&B rather than trek all the way home along the M62 and fight our way back the next day.
Packing two days of shows plus a workshop was quite a logistical task but by Tuesday night everything was in the car apart from our one extra member of staff Candy who had to sit on the back seat.
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| Candy the Bear |
We arrived at the school and set up our first day of shows - Get a Move On exploring the forces in everyday toys. We were working in an upstairs room often used for music. It was light and airy with room for about 60 pupils and soon our first two classes arrived and we were off!
That first day we met all the infant classes and year 3 Juniors from the building across the main road.
We explored historical toys and modern toys looking at pushes, pulls and spins. How modern toys are powered and just what it is that makes a teddy so special........you can cuddle them!
The staff made us extremely welcome and at lunch time chatting in the staff room we were thrilled to listen to their plans for science assemblies led by different classes. There were no barriers here to having a go at some adventurous science - it was exciting to be chatting science with such inspirational teachers.
That evening after settling down in a very confortable B&B in nearby Shaw we went off to find somewhere for an evening meal. The landlord of the B&B had recommended a local eatery so off we went into a foggy night, in the car, climbing slowly up the hillside, not sure where the road was going but eventually we arrived in Delph and a super place The Kings Arms. It was a great place to relax with good food and plenty of frothy coffee.
The next morning we had a rare luxury - a later start. Our first show was not until 9.30 and of course we had set everything up the previous day so we were able to enjoy our full English breakfast in peace before setting off for school.
This second day we were working with the juniors who came across the road to the upper room very expectantly. First we saw year 6 who were full of questions and impressed us with their science knowledge. Year 5 were very keen to experiment with the rainbow glasses to see what different light sources produced.
After lunch we met year 4 who were excited to be meeting real scientists who were female. One young man commented that he thought we were officially well cool!
The final session of the day saw all hands to the pumps as we quickly brought in tables and chairs so 30 hand picked year 6 could have a lesson getting up close and personal to some of our equipment.
They were able to see how materials react to a stimulus such as temperature
We then did an observational session using handwarmers. What is happening, how do they work, what do you think is inside, how could you use them in science.........
We were very impressed with the young people we met, with their fascination with science and their excitement in finding out about their world.....and then we discovered that we were teaching at the very same school that Prof. Brian Cox had attended. Is there something in the water in Chadderton?
