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)
Relive the great days of steam trains at the former Maud Railway Station. Sound effects add to the nostalgia of varied displays of railway memorabilia. GNSR memorabilia; photographs of Maud railway heydays; browsing corner with books and photographs.
Maud Railway Museum is housed in the former station buildings at Maud Junction in rural Aberdeenshire.
Situated in the Railway Station building, the volunteer-run museum encompasses both railway and local Insch history, including a scale model of the railway, photographs, artefacts, archive material and everyday stories of how life used to be in Insch.
The Grampian Transport Museum boasts an impressive range of transport exhibits, from travelling chariots of the 1800's, to some of the fastest cars ever made.
The Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust was set-up in 2007 to take over the remaining building of the former Ferryhill locomotive depot, restore it and transform the site into a working railway heritage site for the North East of Scotland. In this endeavor, the Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust has the active support of Aberdeen City Council and the Ferryhill Community Council.
Elgin Museum is owned and managed by The Moray Society and is Scotland’s oldest independent museum. It is housed in a Grade A listed building, designed as a museum by local architect Thomas Mackenzie, and built in the Italianate style in the golden local sandstone. It opened in 1843.
A local museum with material relating to the social and natural history of the town and immediate district. Collections include scientific instruments which belonged to the astronomer James Ferguson and the natural history collection of Thomas Edward.
Discover the wealth of Peterhead's maritime history in one of Aberdeenshire's oldest museums. See models showing the development of Peterhead fishing boats and find out about:
Long famed for high quality Aberdeen-Angus cattle, the North East contains a quarter of Scotland’s arable land and consequently farming is an essential feature of rural life. The award-winning Aberdeenshire Farming Museum at Aden Country Park brings alive the story of this famous farming past in the unique semi-circular Aden Estate home farm.
Bute Museum is an independently run museum where visitors can explore the Natural and Historical Heritage of the Isle of Bute. The History & Archaeology Gallery has displays covering aspects of Bute's History from Mesolithic and Neolithic times through to the closing years of the 20th century. The Natural History Gallery allows visitors to explore the geology, plants, animals and birds
This hidden gem, only 40 minutes from Glasgow and Edinburgh, is located in the historic town of Bo’ness.
Cydebank Museum and Art Gallery is situated beside the now demolished John Brown shipyard where many of the famous liners of the Clyde were built. The Museum and Art Gallery showcases an exciting temporary exhibition programme featuring fine art and touring exhibitions and has small permanent displays relating to the shipbuilding industry and the Singer Sewing Machine Collection.
Summerlee interprets the social and industrial history of Central Scotland, and in particular the Monklands area, formerly the ‘Iron Burgh’. Displays feature historic machinery in daily operation as well as reconstructed domestic environments.
Moorside Mills was built around 1875 as a small worsted spinning Mill by John Moore. Ownership of the mills changed many times, and they developed and grew. In 1970, Bradford Council bought Moorside Mills from Messrs. W & J Whitehead to create an innovative museum.
Bolling Hall offers visitors a fascinating journey through the lives and times of the Bradford families for whom it provided a home over five hundred years.
Situated just a mile from Bradford city centre and situated in a quiet, leafy garden, Bolling Hall was for many years the seat of two important land-owning families, the Bollings and the Tempests.
Set in 26 acres of woodland, on the outskirts of St Austell, the UK's only china clay museum and country park provides a fascinating day out for all the family. The park is set in the grounds of two former working china clay pits and provides visitors with a fascinating insight into china clay.
Wickedly Wonderful is a summer camp in the UK for children, it regularly receives top reviews in the national press, The Sunday Times and Daily Telegraph.
We offer residential summer camps during the summer and Easter holidays and skiing trips during the February half term holiday for children aged 6 to 13 years.
Stuart House is a late medieval town house restored by the Stuart House Trust as an arts and heritage centre.
The garden to the rear of the House has been laid out as a 17th century Gentleman's Garden.
The House is used for arts and crafts exhibitions and sales, refreshments, lectures, music recitals and heritage exhibitions.
Still home to the St Aubyn family as well as a small community, this iconic rocky island is crowned by a medieval church and castle - with the oldest buildings dating from the 12th century.
Immerse yourself in history, wonder at the architecture and discover the legend of Jack the Giant Killer.
The Centre occupies the recently restored Old School building and documents the rich history of its area and of St Hilary Church. This sits in a stunning location which time forgot and has a unique collection of Newlyn-school paintings from the 1920's, formed by the then vicar, Bernard Walke.
An award-winning volunteer-run Museum comprising information, artefacts and curios relating to the Parish of St. Agnes.
'The Royal Cornwall Museum is an essential place to come to if you are fascinated by Cornwall' Kurt Jackson, artist
If you want to see an unwrapped Egyptian mummy, explorers medicine chest and a wide range of Cornish and British art then head to the Royal Cornwall Museum.
Redruth Old Cornwall Society Museum is part of Cornwall Gold and is located on New Portreath Rd, between Redruth and Portreath.
The Mining Section
The mining section contains a number of mine lamps including some carbide lamps which produce and burn acetylene (C2H2). These were used in the tin mining industry from about 1900.
The Mineral Collection
The multi-award winning National Maritime Museum Cornwall has 15 galleries, over five floors beautifully illustrating the past, present and future of this island nation. Silver winner of UK Heritage Attraction of the Year at the 2013 British Travel Awards, the Museum features a number of stunning exhibitions dedicated to the sea, boats and Cornwall.
The Caradon mining area is a magnet for industrial heritage enthusiasts. The remains of engine houses on the south eastern edge of Bodmin Moor tell of 19th century mines producing copper, tin and other minerals. The mines circle the dramatic Cheesewring quarry which eats into the dark grey granite of Stowes Hill.
Founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada, the Leach Pottery is probably the most famous and certainly the most influential studio pottery in the world. Today the Leach Pottery is a living tribute to Bernard Leach and his legacy. Visitors to the Pottery can see the original workshops and kiln shed, including the three-chambered Japanese climbing kiln, built in 1923.
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.