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)
Large park with canal-side patio cafe, adventure Play Areas are suitable for children between the ages of 2 and 14, picnicking and fishing opportunities.
Children must be supervised at all times. Colouring and worksheets available for children.
Colliery
Then look no further. Whether they’ve worked hard on a project or simply just an end of term treat, your students will be spoilt for choice with plenty of adrenaline fuelled rides to let off steam away from the classroom.
This former ironstone quarry has a wonderful children's play area as well as a network of long and short trails through 83 hectares of mixed woodland. The park is home to the Quarryman's Rest Cafe, Jungle Parc UK and the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway museum.
Jungle Parc high ropes adventure course
Lepe Country Park has a wonderful mix of habitats for you to explore; discover what lives along the shore, bird watch over the Solent, North Solent National Nature Reserve and Dark Water Estuary, spot a variety of insects attracted to our wildflower meadows or stroll along the cliff top lined with Monterey and Corsican Pines.
This park's vast open spaces are perfect for family fun, picnics and games as well as their regular events. Gorgeous sensory park nearby if you have younger children.
Near to the Riverside Park is Lockside Park Sensory Garden which overlooks Newark’s picturesque town lock.
Kingsbury Water Park Outdoor Education Centre is a purpose built non-residential centre situated within the 600 acre site of Kingsbury Water Park. We offer diverse programmes designed to enthuse, develop and inspire young people and adults to learn in an adventurous environment.
Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, working in partnership with Lafarge Tarmac, are setting up an exciting new Forest School Project at Panshanger Park.
The Waters Edge Country Park, provides a relaxing and stimulating day out for people of all ages. Situated to the north of Barton-Upon-Humber, on the edge of the Humber estuary, Waters Edge contains a wide diversity of plant and wildlife. Established in 1996 on a site which had previously been a series of clay quarries, Waters Edge has breathed new life into what was once a derelict area.
Brixworth Country Park is a national showpiece for accessible countryside, providing access for all irrespective of physical or mental ability with features like easy access trails, and their wheel chair accessible bird hide.
Discover the story of the last Gnomes left in England on BB's Little Grey Men Trail.
Trail leaflet and audio tour available in the Country Park shop.
Delivering exciting, hands-on environmental education. Opportunities to explore and compare habitats through pond dipping, woodland and grassland mini beast hunt. Look into food chains, life cycles, adaptation. Identify seasonal signs in nature. Forest School sessions available.
All creatures great and small waiting to meet you and be picked up and cuddled! Large play areas, bouncy castle, ride on toys and tractors, plus pond walks and ice cream!
Ponies and piglets, slides and bouncy castle, Hawks, and owls, goats and guinea pigs, ducks and bunnies, ride on toys and tractors, ice creams, tea gardens, flower gardens and pond walks.
Delivering exciting, hands-on environmental education. Opportunities to explore and compare habitats through pond dipping, woodland and grassland mini beast hunt. Look into food chains, life cycles, adaptation. Identify seasonal signs in nature. Forest School sessions available.
Delivering exciting, hands-on environmental education. Opportunities to explore and compare habitats through pond dipping, woodland and grassland mini beast hunt. Look into food chains, life cycles, adaptation. Identify seasonal signs in nature. Forest School sessions available. For early years through to Key Stage 2.
Sywell Country Park offers meadowland and lakeside walks, with a small arboretum of exotic trees and Edwardian buildings still surviving from its past role as a water supply reservoir with a water works heritage trail to guide you round.
Recreation
Extending along a beautiful stretch of Dorset's Jurassic Coast, with splendid views from grassy cliff tops and underwater nature trails for divers & snorkellers, this nationally important reserve is best accessed from Kimmeridge Bay.
Enjoy the Great Outdoors at Conkers! Take it slow and explore the 120 acres of maturing woodlands, lakes, ponds and play areas - or go wild and take the 18 stage Assault course challenge.
Knettishall Heath is a rare Breckland landscape of SSSI heath, grassland and woodland, which dips down into the Little Ouse valley. Archaeological and geological features add to the interest and the range of opportunities for discovery and learning. There are toilets, a play area and picnic area. We can also offer shared days with nearby Redgrave & Lopham Fen.
A museum of education in a unique complex of historic classrooms. Children of all ages can dress up in period costume to explore the classrooms, practice their writing in sand trays and on slates, play with Victorian toys and visit the Headmaster’s House to experience Victorian domestic life.
Hands on interactive exhibits on two floors explaining how things are made. Visitors receive a basket of component parts to make up one of ten kits: it's yours to take home.
A visit to the Secret Hills exhibition will reveal some of the stories hidden in the landscape. You can meet their mammoth and pretend what life was like in the Iron Age.
The exhibition's centre-piece, a panoramic film shot from a hot air balloon, lets you look at this stunning area from a unique perspective.
Visit this Leicestershire favourite with great family activities, high quality exhibitions, interactive fun and a few surprises along the way. From planes and trains, mining and engineering, fashion and toys to colliery tours, train rides and science play, there really is something for everyone.
Catalyst is the first science centre and museum devoted to the chemical industry.
Located at Carsington Water Visitor Centre, the Wildlife Discovery Room and Wildlife Explorer's Outdoor Classroom provide plenty of opportunities for learning.
A series of striking and individual mosaics to act as way-markers on a pleasant 2 mile trail. Keeps kids running about between looking for the next one and giving that pleasure of discovery.
We have used exclusively recycled materials, many of them donated by local people, and hope that the creation of these way-markers will inspire visitors.
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.