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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:
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
Situated right on the sea-front next to Brighton's iconic pier, SEA LIFE Brighton is the world's oldest operating aquarium and provides a fascinating insight into life below the waves.
SEA LIFE Manchester offers an interactive, hands-on visit for schools and groups. With an array of amazing creatures and our helpful and knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions and offer amazing facts about the creatures that you'll see, this is an inspiring visit for all.
Our nature reserves: a unique resource for outdoor learning. Woodland, flower-rich meadows, hills, wild heathland and wetlands ringing with bird calls: our nature reserves are found throughout Shropshire and, together, total 750 hectares. They protect rare and threatened habitats but can also be a gateway for children to experience the natural world.
Unwind amongst the wooded foothills of Snowdon
Nant Gwynant is one of the most dramatic and beautiful valleys in Wales. It's northern slopes rise to the summit of our highest mountain, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and to the south lies the relatively undisturbed hills of Moel y Dyniewyd and the Moelwynion range.
Looking for family attractions and things to do in Istanbul? Visit Istanbul SEA LIFE Aquarium, located in Forum Istanbul Shopping Mall and home to an exciting collection of sea creatures.
Large park with adventure playground, offering geocaching, rich woodland walk audio trail and visitor centre.
Coastal and woodland walks with superb views over the estuary and sea
Coastal and woodland walks with superb views over the estuary and sea.
Gauntlet Birds of Prey, Eagle & Vulture Park is the largest zoo of its kind in Cheshire and the North West.
We specialise in education, conservation, protection and we have an excellent Bird of Prey breeding scheme.
Rolling countryside with small fields and woodlands divided by hedges and sunken lanes
Escape to a rural retreat just a few miles south-west of Bristol, where'll you discover fantastic views from the ridge across the Severn estuary to Wales and north back to Bristol. Enjoy peaceful woodlands and babbling brooks.
At the Royal Victoria Park there are a wide range of activities that you can enjoy.
Wildlife and Habitats
Dramatic and stunning chalk escarpment with panoramic views
With views towards Leith Hill, the highest point in south east England, Denbies Hillside is a great spot for wildlife-watching.
Named after John Denby, a 17th-century farmer, the hillside is home to a great variety of plants and animals, including adonis blue and chalkhill blue butterflies.
Stunning coastline and England's only natural World Heritage Site
The great rocky shoulder of Golden Cap offers magnificent views at every compass point. On a clear day you can see across Lyme Bay to Dartmoor - well worth the effort of the walk uphill.
Stonebarrow Hill is a great starting point for 25 miles of footpaths around the Golden Cap estate. An old radar station houses a National Trust information point, shop, toilets and a basecamp.
A legendary beauty spot on the South Downs
Devil’s Dyke, just five miles north of Brighton, offers stunning panoramas, a record breaking valley, a curious history and England’s most colourful habitat.
Extensive coastal area famous for wild birds, sandy beach and Roman Fort
Famous for its mussels, the fishing village of Brancaster Staithe lies on the shores of the beautiful north Norfolk coast. Follow the history of the fishing industry at Brancaster Quay, enjoy one of the many courses available at the flagship Brancaster Activity Centre.
Palladian mansion and world-famous landscape garden
When Stourhead first opened in the 1740s, a magazine described it as ‘a living work of art’. The world-famous landscape garden has at its centrepiece a magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, mystical grottoes, and rare and exotic trees, and offers a day of fresh air and discovery.
18th-century Welsh gentry estate - with house, walled gardens and home farm
This rare example of a self-sufficient 18th-century Welsh minor gentry estate has survived virtually unaltered.
The villa, designed in the 1790s, is the most complete example of the early work of John Nash. It has its own service courtyard with dairy, laundry, brewery and salting house, and walled kitchen gardens (with all its produce for sale when in season).
With an enviable setting in the ancient precinct of the magnificent 12th-century Melrose Abbey, this delightfully rustic walled garden has three distinct areas to explore.
Golders Hill Park’s landscaped grounds contain beautiful plant displays including the peaceful Mediterranean and water gardens, a popular café and a bandstand.
Zoo
Golders Hill Park is home to a free zoo, with a growing collection of rare and exotic birds and mammals such as laughing kookaburras, ring-tailed lemurs and ring-tailed coatis.
This hidden treasure is a walled garden surrounded by woodland, found just outside Balerno, a suburb of Edinburgh.
The garden is a haven for plant lovers thanks to its large variety of colourful and fragrant flowers, plants and trees.
For school visits please phone or email in advance to arrange.
Tavistock Museum is a town museum which has permanent exhibitions relating to its monastic, market, and mining past. It is also a community museum and each year has new exhibitions relating to different community interests and organisations.
Europe's Largest Naval Aviation Collection
The Museum comprises four large halls. Each hall has ground floor and upper levels telling the stories of naval aviation from the first manned kites towed behind naval vessels, to helium filled airships, seaplanes, bi-planes and the carrier borne aircraft of WW2 and modern Sea Harriers and helicopters. We also have an original Concorde 002.
Extraordinary Victorian house, gardens and woodland - the wonder of its age
Enter the world of Lord Armstrong - Victorian inventor, innovator and landscape genius. Cragside house was truly a wonder of its age.
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