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

Amazon World

Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

Amazon World Zoo Park has a huge range of unusual rare and exotic animals. At the last count it was somewhere in the region of 200 different species, spanning the entire animal kingdom!

We have mammals, reptiles, birds, insects, spiders, fish and amphibians. Botany is important too.

Education and Exploration

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Folly Farm Centre

Pride of Pembrokeshire
Venue Type: 
Farms
Overall Rating: 
0

Amazing adventures, penguin parties, toddler takeovers, cwtch corners, and zoo keeper experiences are all ways to describe Folly Farm today. This theme park has come a long way since its roots as a humble dairy farm to become one of the most exciting places to visit in Wales!

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Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park

Enlighten and Inspire, Educate and Energise
Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

Come and see our variety of exotic animals.

We invite you to use our park as a living classroom, a place to educate and inspire, to increase understanding and respect for animals and the environment.

Free Daily Keeper Talks:

  • 12pm Elephants

  • 12:30pm Giraffe

  • 2pm Tigers

  • 14:30 Rhino

  • 15:30 Penguins

  • 4pm Meerkats

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Blue Planet Aquarium

Venue Type: 
Maritime / Sea Life
Overall Rating: 
0

Be sure to check out one of our daily Aquatheatre shows and get up close to our divers as they feed the fish in our huge underwater viewing window – all in front of the sharks.
Blue Planet Aquarium is famous for its Shark collection – one of the largest in Europe!

There’s always a range of different feeds at Blue Planet Aquarium every single day! Check out the timetable located in our foyer when you arrive.

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Calderglen Children's Zoo

Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

Calderglen children's zoo opened in 1982 and is home to over 50 different species, some of which are critically endangered. Being about an acre in size, the zoo specialises in small creatures and amongst the ornamental gardens and Conservatory you'll discover meerkats, families of monkeys, noisy Kookaburras, cheeky Ring-tailed Coati, and Burrowing Owls.

Come and meet the smallest tortoise and the rarest bird and find out how Calderglen is helping to conserve these endangered animals and about our work with the British and Irish Associations of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA).

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Camperdown WIldlife Centre

Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

The aim of Camperdown Wildlife Centre's education programme is to supply the highest standard of zoological education to visitors using every possible resource that is available to education staff. The programmes available reflect the current zoological conservation and preservation aims as guided by British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Education lessons will in most cases be guided by the outlines of the current national curriculum and attainment levels required for each student age group.

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Chester Zoo

Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

We have a whopping 12,000 animals at the zoo from 400 different species.

About half those species are on the threatened list. We’re one of the world’s leading centres for conservation, working in the UK and worldwide to help protect animals and plants from extinction.

We’re devoted to caring for own animals too, and are always looking for ways to make their lives even better. Our Animal Health Centre, for example, is decked out with the best possible facilities for the veterinary team.

Education

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Longleat Safari and Adventure Park

The UK's No. 1 Safari Park
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Longleat Safari and Adventure Park, in Wiltshire, was opened in 1966 and was the first drive-through safari park outside Africa.

Your drive-through safari adventure will take you unbelievably close to creatures you’ve only dreamed about.  So mind the zebras crossing, give the rhinos right of way, watch out for the wolves and beware of the meddling monkeys.

Venture into the Bat Cave, visit the African Village, Gorilla Colony, Stingray Bay, Cheetah Kingdom and even the Postman Pat village,

Learning with Longleat

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Dollar Glen

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
0

Dollar Glen has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its range of wildlife habitats and important geological features.

The whole area is a haven for wildlife, and the scenery is spectacular. There are a selection of activities available to suit schools' needs, covering natural heritage, geology, cultural heritage and food and farming topics.

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Curraghs Wildlife Park

Venue Type: 
Zoos / Wildlife Parks
Overall Rating: 
0

Come and meet hundreds of incredible animals!

South American Pampas

  • Humboldt Penguins
  • Chilean Flamingos
  • Gaunaco
  • Mara
  • Rhea
  • Waterfowl

Asian Swamp

  • Capybara
  • Crab-eating Macaque
  • Short-clawed otter
  • Fishing Cat
  • Waterfowl
  • Red Panda

 

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