Science

Science

The teaching and learning of science can take many forms due to the large number of branches of the discipline, but all of them involve a large element of  doing things, of experimenting, of making and breaking, of trying out new ideas, whether at primary or secondary level. This has been appreciated by museums and visitors centres, so that we now have a plethora of possibilities.

The Association for Science Education is the lead body helping schools to develop their teaching and learning. It offers support for primary and secondary science subject leaders, teachers and schools, and keeps schools abreast of curriculum and assessment changes and reforms. The Association aims to enrich science teaching and learning with free resources, which can be found at: www.schoolscience.co.uk

Some venues are obviously specifically suitable for science groups, but others, which are more cross-curricular, are less obvious. Below we give staff a pointer to these as well as making it easy to access the websites of the well known attractions.

CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, has long been popular with British school groups. It is celebrating 60 years this year and is encouraging teachers to look at its Cern Education website.

CAT, the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, is also celebrating a major birthday this year – its 40th. It is a very different experience from CERN, but fascinating nonetheless.

We should draw your attention to the fact that farm visits are popular with primary schools and there is a growing number of farms offering excellent opportunities – from feeding animals to driving tanks. But there are some stringent health and safety rules to be observed. For advice and guidance please contact Handsam by calling 0844 335 1737 or emailing info@schooltripsadvisor.org.uk.

 

Main organisations:

British Science Association

Association for Science Education

CLEAPSS

Membership through Handsam

Radiation Protection Officer services through Handsam

Science Learning Centres

National STEM Centre

Inclusion: NASEN

 

Thought of visiting?

The Science Museum

Natural History Museum

National Space Museum

Centre for Alternative Technology

Cern Education website

ThinkTank, Birmingham

Michael Faraday Museum, London

National Conservation Centre, Liverpool

Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester

Techniquest (various locations in Wales including Cardiff, Wrexham and Pembrokeshire)

The Wellcome Collection, London

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Earth Centres

 

For a complete list of venues and providers who deliver specialist courses and activities for this subject see below

Venue Type: 
Maritime / Sea Life
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At SEA LIFE Mooloolaba you and your students will experience:

  • A wide range of interactive and educational programs to suit your students, your time and your budget.

  • Our amazing interactive touch pool, enthralling talks and feeds, and highly entertaining seal presentations.

  • Highly trained and knowledgeable Education Officers who are passionate about helping to remove barriers and provide more intimate hands-on experiences with our marine animals.

A beautiful woodland garden and a fun place to be
Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
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Set in a tranquil secret valley this hidden woodland garden with a rich industrial past is full of surprises.

Spring brings carpets of bluebells, crocuses, and daffodils, then swathes of camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas, followed by hydrangeas and the summer wildflowers.

Enjoy shady woodland walks, the wildflower meadow and colourful walled garden in summer, and the marvellous colours of acers, dogwoods and Sweet-gum in autumn.

Explore the meadow with its lovely stream, stepping stones, log bridge and abundant dragonflies and butterflies.

Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
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Unstaffed open site, no booking required

Superb subtropical garden, with special interest for families
Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
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Lose yourself in the three valleys of Glendurgan Garden - full of fun, natural beauty and amazing plants.

Discover giant rhubarb plants in the jungle-like lower valley and spiky arid plants basking in the sunny upper slopes.

Wander through the garden down to the beautiful hamlet of Durgan on the Helford River: a place to watch birds and boats, skim stones and build sand-castles.

Find a boat-seat, gigantic tulip-trees and ponds teeming with wildlife. Learn about the Fox family who created this 'small peace [sic] of heaven on earth.'

Discover secluded creeks on this walk following the River Dart
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
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Crownley Wood is a small area of delightful woodland that has been left to develop and flourish naturally with little management.

Sessil oak, Ash, Beech, Sweet and Horse Chestnut and Sycamore are all to be found here.There's a circular walk through the woodland, taking in views across to Tuckenhay and Bow Creek a tributary of the River Dart.

This woodland can only be accessed through the field at the top of the hill, on a path past the water treatment plant. Please note there is no public access through the houses on the creek edge.

Paths wind through ancient oak woodland with sunny glades
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
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Borthwood Copse is a delightful spot to wander amongst ancient oak and beech trees, sunny glades and chestnut and hazel coppice. You may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a red squirrel as it scurries through the upper branches in search of food.

Borthwood Copse used to be part of a much larger Medieval hunting forest in which the landscape would have been more open like parts of the New Forest. The landscape is more densely wooded now.

Get onto the coast whatever the season.
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
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Two of the best beaches on the lovely Roseland peninsula, with fine stretches of sand and rock pools, they're both popular families beaches. Walk along the coast and inland to discover the rich wildlife around; it's a butterfly and bird watchers paradise.

You can also discover about the rich history, from the Bronze Age to the Cold War.

Venue Type: 
Battlefield / Military
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Unstaffed open site, no booking required

Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
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Unstaffed open site, no booking required

One of the Isle of Wight's favourite beaches and biggest expanses of open downland
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
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Compton Bay and Downs are at the the heart of the much loved open landscape of the south west of the Isle of Wight. It has all the elements of a great day out in the countryside. There is plenty of space for families, surfing and other non-motorised water sports and a part of the beach open to dog walkers all year round. The many coloured cliffs behind the beach and the coastal views provide a wonderful backdrop as well as a fascinating geological history going back to the time of the dinosaurs.

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