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 [email protected].

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

Venues for this Curriculum

Founded in 1786 this restored cotton mill - now a UNESCO World Heritage Site - was powered by the river Clyde and is situated close to the Falls of Clyde.

Inspiring Future Engineers and Scientists

The EDT is the largest provider of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) enrichment activities for the UK youth.

Our range of work related learning schemes provide opportunities for 11-21 year olds to enhance their technical, personal and employability skills through industry-led projects, industrial placements and specialised courses.

The Denny Tank is located in West Dunbartonshire, in the town of Dumbarton on the River Clyde, close to Dumbarton Castle. It was built by the Denny family, Victorian shipbuilders and designers, famous for their work on the Cutty Sark and inventors of the Denny helicopter and Denny hovercraft.

Situated in gently rolling hills overlooking Kinghorn Loch in Fife, Craigencalt Ecology Centre was established in 1998 to give people a direct experience of the natural environment. 

The Earthship is a demonstration eco house. It is run as a visitor centre and is open throughout the year for both drop in visitors and booked tours. 

Welcome to Kirkcaldy Galleries, the town’s new cultural venue and visitor attraction. Situated in the heart of Kirkcaldy, a £2.5million refurbishment programme has restored many of the original features of the War Memorial building, as well providing a fresh, contemporary space for visitors to enjoy.

After receiving a warm welcome at the new reception area, you can explore

Becketts have been farming in Wythall - just south of Birmingham - for 77 years and our mission is to bring both fresh food and farming closer to the people. 

Our business has evolved over time and now comprises an award-winning Farm Shop, a large family restaurant, conference and meeting facilities, and a cookery school.  

Activities include Tri Golf fun course, adventure playground, the visitor centre where you can pick up trail maps for the circular walk and sculpture trail, plus plenty of open space to ramble and explore.

English Heritage stepped in to rescue J. W. Evans Silver Factory in 2008. With the completion of the repairs programme, the site opened to the public in summer 2011.

Established in 1881, J. W. Evans is one of the most complete surviving historic factories in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. To walk into the factory today is to enter a lost industrial world.

Thinktank is....

Everything you thought you knew about the world - but didn't! Find out about your world and yourself in our ten themed, hands-on galleries. Surprising! Hard to believe! And sometimes downright disgusting!! The perfect day out.

Soho House was the elegant home of industrialist and enterpreneur Matthew Boulton from 1766 to 1809. Carefully restored, this fashionable Georgian house features period room interiors with fine collections of ormolu, silver, furniture and paintings.

Restored to its former Edwardian glory, downstairs there are exhibition rooms explaining the fascinating history of the house's former occupants. An interactive train set, toy box and rooms full of antique artefacts. Outside, 7 acres of Botanic Garden to be explored and enjoyed.

Fifteen acres of safe, secure, clean landscaped gardens with lawns and four glasshouses for children to explore. Indoor and outdoor activities for children and all the family. Picnic areas, outdoor theatre and music during the summer months.

Colourful floral displays from spring to autumn!

Flower-filled park containing a sensory garden, an exotic glasshouse, a lake with ducks and swans, and a boating pond. There is also a nearby ship-themed adventure play area (see full details for information).

Things to enjoy

The Parkridge Centre is in a great location in the heart of Brueton Park, Solihull. It is an ideal location for younger children to explore their local area and experience the wonderful nature and wildlife that our area has to offer.

Saltisford Canal Trust would like to give you a warm welcome to the Saltisford Arm of the Grand Union Canal, in heart of the historic market town of Warwick. 

We are a small canal charity set up 30 years ago to restore the canal arm which dates back to 1799, and is originally the terminus of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal.

Wellesbourne Airfield is a small, fully operational, thriving airfield 5 miles east of Stratfrod-upon-Avon.

Early in 1941 the Government purchased over 200 acres of Warwickshire farmland 6 miles East of Stratford Upon Avon.

Whether you come to unwind or have fun, there's plenty for all at Draycote Water. Activities range from birdwatching and game fishing to walking and water sports. Dogs are only allowed in the Country Park.

Come and explore this partially-reconstructed timber fort . Stand on the ramparts, explore the exhibition in the granary and imagine yourself training horses in the gyrus - a feature not found anywhere else in the Roman Empire.

Thomas Newcomen (1664-1729) designed and installed the first practical and successful steam engine, used initially for pumping water out of coal mines. Over 2,000 Newcomen engines were installed world-wide during the 18th and 19th centuries, over 600 of them before 1775 when James Watt was able to improve their efficiency.

War Memorial Park is Coventry's premier park and attracts around 400,000 visitors from all over the city and further beyond every year. Many come to enjoy a casual visit, while others come to take part in some of the many special events that take place throughout the year.

Crazy golf, children's play area, 18 hole golf course, and plenty of open space and garden walks: all recently refurbished and well maintained.

The refurbished play area has a wide range of play equipment to offer a variety of physical and interactive challenges for all ages.

Garden Organic Ryton is the home of Garden Organic, the UK’s leading organic growing and lifestyle charity which is dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food. We currently have a membership of 32,000 people across the UK and further afield together with two other gardens in Kent and Essex.

A unique aeronautical collection

Midland Air Museum's exhibits range from the magnificent Avro Vulcan bomber through more than 30 other historic aircraft, both civil and military, aero engines and other artefacts, to a wide range of memorabilia.

Woodland containing a great variety of wildlife, plus wonderful carpets of bluebells every spring. Look out for tawny owls, red foxes, and the 250 year old oak. Open all year and free to visit.

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