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

Stratford Butterfly Farm

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Whatever the weather stroll through the wonderful world of an exotic rainforest: a lush landscape of tropical blossom surrounding splashing waterfalls and fish-filled pools.

Enjoy the unique pleasure of watching hundreds of the world's most spectacular and colourful butterflies flying all around. You can see them feeding and flying in a wonderful tropical environment.

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Birmingham Nature Centre

Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

Home to a wide range of animals from across the world. These animals include many charismatic and exciting species like meerkats, lemurs and otters. The Centre has a wide collection of endangered reptiles.

These animals include many charismatic and exciting species like meerkats, lemurs and otters. The Centre has a wide collection of endangered reptiles, and it plays an important role in international breeding programmes for them.

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Georgian House

Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
Overall Rating: 
0

On the north side of Charlotte Square is Robert Adam's masterpiece of urban architecture, the Georgian House, with its elegant furnished interior.

There is a formal Schools Programme linked to the Curriculum for Excellence: 'People, Past Events and Societies'.

Three tours are available: Houses and Homes for First Level; and two tours linked to Understanding People in the Past / Development of Edinburgh (namely, Georgian Life and Trainee Servants) for First and Second Levels.

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Clumber Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
0

With 3,800 acres of parkland, gardens, woodlands and a lake, 20 miles of cycle routes and bike hire, plus a Discovery Centre, and a Woodland Play Park. Visit the Discovery Centre to see what children's activities they are offering during the holidays. This National Trust managed Estate offers lots to do.

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Linton Zoological Gardens

Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

Linton Zoo has evolved out of our family's love, interest and concern for the wildlife of the world.

We have a large collection of wildlife ranging from Mexican red-kneed tarantulas and snakes through giant tortoises, hornbills, toucans, parrots, owls and pheasants to beautiful snow leopards, magnificent Amur tigers, Hartmann Mountain zebra and Brazilian tapir. Each year new species are brought in, many of them being part of an international captive breeding programme, so the collection's constantly on the increase.

Schools

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Battersea Park Children's Zoo

Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

Battersea Park Children's Zoo invites you to check on the monkeys, crawl down the tunnel to see the meerkats, talk to the parrots and mynah birds, on to the farm to say hello to the goats, donkeys, pigs, emus etc. Playground which includes climbing frames,large sandpit with water toys, swings and roundabouts etc.

Have you ever come face to face with a ring tailed lemur? Or popped up right beside a meerkat? Have you ever spent time with Kune Kune pigs? Seen an otter at work? Chatted with a mynah bird? Or patted a pygmy goat?

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Calke Abbey

The un-stately home and country estate
Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
Overall Rating: 
0

With peeling paintwork and overgrown courtyards, Calke Abbey tells the story of the dramatic decline of a country house estate. The house and stables are little restored, with many abandoned areas vividly portraying a period in the 20th century when numerous country houses did not survive to tell their story.

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Hawk Conservancy Trust

Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

The Trust is an award winning visitor attraction and registered charity dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey. We work with many organisations and conservation groups across the world to deliver conservation programmes, education projects and to generate environmental awareness for the benefit of birds of prey and their habitats.

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The Falconry Centre

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

A Falconry centre with over 70 beautiful birds of prey, and over 30 species, including American Kestrel, Snowy Owl, Saker Falcon, Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture and loads more! There are great opportunities to meet some of these birds at close quarters, and to take some great photos of the flying birds, without the barrier of cages or netting.

A friendly team of falconers, who are also very keen on conservation and rehabilitation, run the centre. They love to share their knowledge, which is a great if the kids have any questions about the different birds that they see.

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Lakeland Wildlife Oasis

The Little Zoo With Lots To Do
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Lakeland Wildlife Oasis is a unique and exciting blend of exotic wildlife and interactive hands-on displays, which take you through 3,000 million years of evolution and follows the development of life on Earth - from magic molecules to mischievous monkeys.

Exhibits range from curassow to computers, from fossils to fossas and include some of the world's most threatened species which are kept here as part of international breeding programmes.

Schools

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