ROAD TRIP

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.

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?

Get A Move On!

A big shout out for everyone at Parochial primary school Ashton under Lyne!!

Helen and I had a super day with pupils and staff starting off their celebrations for National Science and Engineering week. They have loads of great activities lined up with different classes exploring an experiment and then sharing it with the rest of the school in assembly.

Great conversations about the best way to do bicarbonate volcanoes, making lava lamps and much more!

It was a very early start for us and as ever the traffic on the M56/60 was heavy but we found the school very easily and were soon sorted, settled in and a coffee in hand!

First was a mini session with reception so we took our lovely wicker basket into one of the classrooms and explored moving toys. They gave our cuddly teddy a name - Lulu - she doesn't move but she is very soft and  after all "teddies don't need to do anything they are just there for hugging" - what a lovely quote!

After reception we did a turn in assembly and then it was onto the main shows.

Year 1 and 2 - huge fun with lots of giggles especially with the poppers and the space hopper - forces in action - good luck with your CD hovercrafts year 1!

After lunch it was the turn of year 3 and 4 who were amazed with Helen's air pressure demonstrations - I think there will be a few trying out the leaky bottle on friends and family!

Year 5 and 6 - the super scientists - and also extremely good at hoola hooping and the Tudor cup and ball game. I think their favourite was probably the air powered rocket which flew the whole length of the school hall. 

Year 6 were also impressed with the solar toys - I think there might be a project in the making there - perhaps an entry for the Global Adventure competition?

Finally we gave the staff a hands on session exploring Materials and hopefully some inspiration for future science lessons. Hope the lava lamp goes well!

Have a great science week guys and hopefully we will see you all again!

Toys are us!

Having a wondeful time creating a new show for National Science and Engineering Week in March.
The theme this year is MOTION which gives huge scope so to make a show that we can keep running after the event I have come up with something all about forces but using toys to explain.
It isn't a unique thought - there has been a section in most curriculum topics about toys and forces but I am hoping that my take on it will be just that bit different.
I have started where most other teachers would start with Bruegal's wonderful picture of children at play in 16th century.
click to see Bruegal's painting of children in16th century

I used this many years ago with a class of 11 year olds looking at how toys had changed over time. What was really interesting was that the toys had changed but the games hadn't - at least not for my class.
We observed our own school playground and saw a group of girls spinning on the spot, a rough and tumble (nice euphemism there!) some juggling, the modern equivalent of 5 stones ( jacks to me) and of course Chase.

My dad who is quite an accomplished wood worker made me some replica toys especially a cup and ball and a Lenten rattle ( can you imagine the racket that must have made - what fun)

So I am starting there - looking at Tudor toys, how they work - where is that off switch????
Then we will head off through Victorian toys, tin clockwork toys and the emergence of plastic through to today.
I have managed to acquire some wonderful resources on the way and as we look at how batteries changed the way we played with toys but also how alternative energy toys and gizmos are becoming more popular we will be thinking about the forces needed to make the toys work.
I will have to get a volunteer out for the  space hopper and probably the hoola hoop too!
Our first booking for this show is on 5th March - hopefully we will be able to get some images but none of me on a space hopper!!