A PAULTON'S VISIT INCLUDES…
- The chance to visit our brand-new interactive lab
- 60+ theme park rides and attractions
- A choice of curriculum based workshops
- Explore gardens, birds and animals
- Free downloadable resources
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.
The announcement in April 2015 that the new SKA radiotelescope is to be built in the UK will also be a huge boost for scientists looking for projects to follow and then visit as the telescope is built in readiness for full operational capability in 2025.
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 03332 070737 or emailing trips@handsam.co.uk.
Main organisations:
Association for Science Education
Membership through Handsam
Radiation Protection Officer services through Handsam
Inclusion: NASEN
Thought of visiting?
Centre for Alternative Technology
Michael Faraday Museum, London
National Conservation Centre, Liverpool
Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester
Techniquest (various locations in Wales including Cardiff, Wrexham and Pembrokeshire)
Venues for this Curriculum
The All-Action Theme Park
Twinlakes Park offers the very best in family entertainment jam-packed with a breath-taking variety of family Rides, Attractions, Animals and even a Waterpark!
Set in 70 acres of glorious countryside, where you'll find unlimited action and play zones, a massive 125,000sqft indoors plus rides and attractions galore. All weather action all year round!
Arbury Hall, originally built on the ruins of a 12th century Augustinian Priory, now stands in the midst of beautiful 18th century landscaped gardens and surrounded by over 100 acres of lakes and parkland, and has been the home of the Newdegate family for over 400 years.
Welcome to Ireland's leading centre for Astonomical Education
Armagh Planetarium was established by the seventh director of Armagh Observatory, Dr. Eric Mervyn Lindsay, who, after 25 years of effort, secured funding from local councils and the Ministry of Commerce of Northern Ireland in 1965. In the same year, Patrick Moore was appointed as Director of the Planetarium to oversee its construction.
Flame gasworks is Ireland's sole surviving coal gasworks and is one of only three left in the British Isles. Opened in 1855, it supplied Carrickfergus with gas until 1965 and was closed in 1987. It is now fully restored and was reopened as a visitor and educational attraction in August 2002.
The RPSI is an all-island body, run by volunteers, which preserves steam and diesel powered railway locomotives, carriages and other equipment from all over Ireland and uses them for passenger excursions on the Irish railway network. RPSI steam trains carry passengers to places as far apart as Portrush and Tralee, Rosslare and Bangor.
St Peter's Garden Centre is a family run garden centre offering the very best quality plants, indoor and outdoor goods, gardening equipment and a very high quality range of garden furniture and BBQ's. We pride ourselves on our high standards of customer service and have an excellent team of qualified staff providing gardening advice.
Combine an educational day out with a fun-filled trip to Gulliver’s World Theme Park!
Who says learning can’t be fun? We have put together some brilliant education packs that will show you how to create a fantastic educational experience at Gulliver's.
Take the lesson out of the classroom and onto the theme park. We have topics and ideas that will really engage your group.
Remains of a Roman camp with visitor & community centre open Tuesdays and Wednesdays with artefacts, handling collection, mystery excavation, dressing up clothes, activity packs and facilitated visits available.
Segontium was later plundered to provide stone for Edward I's castle at Caernarfon.
Facilitated education activity: Life of a Roman Soldier.
Country house, romantic garden, 14th century moated castle - all in a beautiful wooded estate
Relax in our picturesque garden with the glorious backdrop of our fairytale castle. Venture into the wonderful woodland and parkland with over 770 acres to explore. Discover the delights of our Victorian country mansion with its secrets and stories; you might meet our much loved cat in residence 'Puss Puss'.
Outstanding dune habitat supporting a wealth of wildlife and with magnificent views
Sandy estuary of the River Duddon with panoramic of the Lakeland mountains. All the dune grasslands at Sandscale Haws support a rich flora including the very rare Dune Helleborine.
A coastline of dramatic cliffs, open farmland and sandy coves
Grab your walking boots and discover a spectacular stretch of coast made up of secluded sandy beaches and majestic ragged cliffs which have claimed countless ships over the centuries.
Welcome to the seaside home of inventor and scientist Otto Overbeck. His gardens and house are perched high on the cliffs above Salcombe, with glorious views over the estuary and coast.
A hidden hamlet nestled in the downs
Saddlescombe farm is a hidden gem on the South Downs Way. Near Devil's Dyke in West Sussex, the hamlet is only five miles from the seaside city of Brighton.
Documented in the Domesday Book, this unique example of a Downland farm recounts what life was really like throughout the last 1,000 years. Intriguingly, it was, even once home to the Knights Templar.
BHS approved all weather facility, beginners to competition riders over 10 years old welcome. Scenic hacks and BHS exam training offered.
Hacking is set within the College's magnificent 600 acre estate through woodlands and open fields and grass paths with some optional jumps.
Offering hourly rides tailored to suit you, pleasure rides, pony days, picnic rides and pony parties. Fully licensed family run centre, welcoming visitors of all ages and abilities.
Visiting the Station in steam will provide a unique and unforgettable learning environment
Historic Victorian industrial building with many rare original engines and boilers. Children’s trail to follow, plus a Visitor Centre and mini museum to explore. Steaming Days held throughout the year.
Claymills Victorian Pumping Station will transport you and the kids more than 120 years into the past, when steam powered engines were being used in all aspects of Victorian life.
The three Somerset Wildlife Trust reserves that make up the Cheddar Complex (Velvet Bottom, Black Rock and Long Wood) offer a chance to explore the Mendip Hills. The remote landscape is fractured with traditional stone walls and offers panoramic view across the Levels and Moors. The area is famous for its caves and the spectacular Cheddar Gorge, which runs close to the reserves.
Unique adventure playground and assault course, plus a stunning indoor play facility, scenic active adventure trail, fishing, cycle hire, plus big sand and water play, with small stream and water wheels, plus a climbing tower and giant slide.
Extensive forest paths lead walkers through vast areas of mixed coniferous and broadleaf woodland. Path side vegetation management has provided the favoured habitats for butterflies and other flora and fauna. Follow the yellow waymarked path on an hour and a half walk around the forest to discover the variety.
The Museum of Zoology is now closed for refurbishment until 2016, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Schools Outreach during closure - we come to you!
Exploration into science: Discover the story of planet Earth's coldest, driest, windiest, highest and deadliest places…
The Fitzwilliam Museum is the art and antiquities museum of the University of Cambridge, located on Trumpington Street in central Cambridge, England. It receives around 470,000 visitors annually.
Our collections include:
Welcome to the Cambridge University Botanic Garden where you can discover plants from all over the world in 40 acres of beautiful gardens and glasshouses.
The Garden opens daily at 10am.
School Visits
Every cast tells two stories.
One ancient. One modern.
If you're looking for things to do in Cambridge, look no further than the Museum of Classical Archaeology. We're a small museum with a friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere, so why not pay us a visit?
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