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: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
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The 112 acres of Kenwood is on the crest of one of the most popular open spaces in the capital, Hampstead Heath. In contrast to the natural Heath, the park around Kenwood is very much a designed landscape in an English style.

Set on the edge of Hampstead Heath and surrounded by tranquil landscaped gardens, Kenwood is one of London's hidden gems.

Venue Type: 
Science & Technology
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The National Space Centre is the United Kingdom's leading visitor attraction that is devoted to space science and astronomy. 

The Centre has on display one of the only known Soyuz spacecraft in Western Europe. It also encompasses the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium.

Venue Type: 
Theme Parks
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Our wide range of talks and workshops are curriculum-linked and suit ages from early years to college levels. Enjoy an exciting and educational visit, coming face-to-face with exotic animals and artefacts in our Education Centre.

We offer three types of activity for visiting schools: guided tours of the zoo or theme park, workshops led by our team of qualified education staff, and Meet a Creature sessions. How you divide your day between these activities is entirely up to you!

Now updated for the 2014-15 academic year!

Guided Zoo/Theme Park Tours

Venue Type: 
Outdoor Activity
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Otway Fly Treetop Adventures offers a whole host of experiences with the two core activities being The Treetop Walk and The Zipline

Venue Type: 
Museums
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This accredited museum is supported by the Friends of Windsor & Royal Borough Museum, the Heritage Lottery Fund and a team of very enthusiastic volunteers.

The Museum covers five themes; The Royal Borough & its settlement, Military Associations, Aeronautical Windsor, Working Windsor and Childhood.

In addition to the permanent exhibition, smaller temporary displays reflect current themes and anniversaries: Royal Occasions, The Olympics & Medieval Times

What can you discover?

Venue Type: 
Equestrian Activities
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A riding school offering lessons and great hacks, with a choice of over 50 horses, plus ponies for children. Suitable for all levels of ability. Regular fun rides held throughout the year.

There are over 50 well schooled horses to choose from, so they will be able to choose the right horse for you, whatever your ability level, and there are ponies for the smaller kids.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider, you are sure to have an enjoyable experience with the team of instructors and guides on hand to improve your confidence and skills.

Venue Type: 
Museums
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The Hunterian Museum is the oldest museum in Scotland.

Venue Type: 
Outdoor Activity
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A wildlife habitat offering many outdoor and leisure activities, such as adventure playgrounds, fishing, bird watching, sailing and cycling.

Staunton Harold is a wildlife habitat offering many outdoor and leisure activities, such as adventure playgrounds, fishing, bird watching, sailing and cycling, as well as countryside walks for those who want to explore the region.

Discover the remains of an Iron Age hill fort
Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
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On the summit of Oldbury Hill, commanding a powerfully defensive position, is one of the finest Iron Age hill forts in the Medway, with substantial earth ramparts 2 miles in length. Ancient woodland, scrub and relic heathland disguise its complete outline.

The woodlands support oak, birch and Scots pine with a variety of fungi and plants from the former heathland, including heather and bilberry. Areas of oak coppice are being re-coppiced, making this one of the few Kentish woods where this traditional Wealden management is being practised.

A world of educational adventures waiting to be explored
Venue Type: 
Theme Parks
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School Adventures at Chessington

There's nothing like a sense of wild adventure to make your class really want to dig deeper and discover more. And at Chessington World of Adventures Resort, you can let your intrepid explorers loose on the wildest lessons of their lives!

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