Shows & Workshops
Summary Table
Summary Descriptions
Paper Plate Monsters (W)
Pupils talk about air and how to use it to make things move, before making a model monster whose mouth opens when a balloon is inflated.
Discover Materials (W)
Pupils discuss what different objects are made from and use their observations and knowledge to predict what will happen in a ‘drop tube’ test. They help to create a simple table to present their results and then make their own slime to play with.
Watch a short demonstration here.
Floating and Sinking (W)
Pupils work in teams to test different materials. They make predictions, record their observations and discuss their results.
Bright Sparks (W)
Pupils are challenged to find out which everyday objects can be used to complete a circuit and light a bulb. They carry out their own experiments and see if they can use their results to work out ‘the rule’ for predicting which objects will work.
Water Rockets (W)
Pupils design and decorate plastic bottle rockets which are safely launched outside using water and compressed air. The rockets are spectacular and can reach heights of 30m.
Odd One Out Show
This show encourages pupils to ask questions, observe and test properties, make comparisons and identify patterns by considering which experiment or object is the ‘odd one out’. Examples are used from curriculum areas such as the human body, senses, materials, light, electricity and uses of energy.
Crafty Rafts (W)
Pupils are challenged to design and build a raft using paper, tape and straws. They test their designs by seeing how many plastic animals they can fit on it before it sinks!
How to Move It? (W)
Pupils listen to the story of The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch and work in teams to solve a series of related practical challenges.
Science of Magic Show
It’s not magic, it’s science! This show encourages pupils to ask ‘How?’ and ‘Why?’ as they use their observational skills, knowledge and creative thinking to figure out the science behind amazing magic tricks. The tricks demonstrated and explored link to curriculum areas such as magnets, friction, forces, pressure, floating and sinking.
Marble Mazes (W)
Pupils make a route for a marble to travel down as slowly as possible without stopping. They discuss their ideas beforehand, are encouraged to test their design every time they change it and decide what worked best at the end.
Egg Drop Challenge (W)
Pupils explore the forces of gravity and air resistance as they work in teams to see if they can use a range of simple materials to protect a raw egg when dropped from a height of over 3m.
K’Nex Construction (W)
Pupils work in pairs to design, build and test robust working models using K’Nex. Workshop challenges include fairground rides, opening bridges, Mars rovers and rubber band cars.
Watch a short demonstration here.
Light and Shadows (W)
Pupils design and make cardboard puppets and use them to explore and test their own ideas about light and shadows.
Data Logging with Logits (W)
Pupils learn the basics of data logging and how to display and interpret the data they collect. They use their skills to monitor a heat insulation experiment.
Joining Forces Show
This show takes pupils on a whistle-stop tour of forces and motion, allowing them to develop (or refresh) their knowledge and understanding about the topic. Demonstrations used link to magnetism, gravity, air resistance, friction, pushes & pulls, and measuring forces. Build a bridge without any mortar, stand on light bulbs and try to crush Mr Newton!
Watch a short demonstration here.
Cartoon Science Show
This multi-media show enables pupils to understand that science is about thinking creatively to try and explain how things work and that it is important to test ideas using evidence. Specially commissioned cartoons show common types of ‘cartoon science’ and pupils are encouraged, with the help of some lively demonstrations, to explain why and how we know that things are different in the real world.
Flight Show
This show enables pupils to explore forces and motion in the context of flight by answering important questions such as ‘How does a plane stay up in the air?’ and ‘How many helium balloons would it take to lift a child?’
Control Technology & Fairground Engineering (W)
Pupils build a motorised fairground ride using K’Nex and work in teams to write computer programmes to control their rides, lights and buzzers. They use Flow-Go control boxes and Go software.
Circuit Detectives (W)
Pupils are challenged to find the faults in a series of electrical circuits. The activity encourages them to take a systematic approach to problem solving and reinforces the skills required for drawing simple circuits.
Could It Be You? Show
This show enables pupils to develop their numerical skills, mental maths and understanding of fractions and ratios by exploring what the chance is of different things happening. Includes lots of experiments with dice, cards and coins.
