January is nearly over, and that means it’s time to start thinking about something really exciting - British Science Week! This national science week runs every March - this year it’s from the 11th to the 20th with the theme ‘Growth’. So how can you get involved? We know it can be overwhelming with so much on offer, so we’ve picked a few of our favourite science week activities, ideas and resources, to make your science week 2022 go with a bang. And even better - these easy science activities won’t take much of your time to plan!
1. Use the British Science Week activity packs
Cost: £ Effort: +++++
Every year, the team at the British Science Association put together activity packs for 3 age groups- early years (EYFS, under age 5), primary (KS1 & KS2) and secondary (KS3). These are crammed full of science activity ideas you can run with your students, tied to their theme. In this year’s packs, we particularly like the activities by friends of Braintastic! Science, Dreamachine, titled ‘Seeing with our brain’. And keep your eyes peeled over the next couple of months for an exciting collaboration we’ve been working on with them! We also love the antibody & virus origami activity in the primary pack. As well as teaching about our body’s response to invaders it’s a great chance to introduce your students to the links between science and creativity - something we are passionate about here at Braintastic! Science.
2. Book a school science show or workshop
Cost: ££-£££ Effort: +
Another option is to bring in an external provider to inspire and engage your students with science, while you take a well-earned break. There are loads of great options out there, and we may be a bit biased, but we think that Braintastic! Science shows are perfect for this! Watch the video below to get a glimpse of one of our most popular KS2 school science shows, That’s Non-Sense, or check out our full range of science shows for schools from KS1 to KS5. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like to book us for your school science week, either in person or virtually - we do still have some space left at the moment, but it’s bound to book up quickly!
3. Enter the British Science Week poster competition
Cost: £ Effort: +++
Stimulate your students’ creative thinking and encourage them to explore their own interests by creating a poster related to the theme of Growth. There are some great prizes to be won, with judges looking for creative approaches, clear STEM content and effective communication. For secondary schools, we love the idea of a poster on how neurons grow and change, which is the basis for learning. For a starting point, why not watch our video on neurogenesis (how our brains make new neurons) or check out our blog on how memories stored in the brain through a process called neuroplasticity.
4. Explore real-life scientists with the ‘A Scientist Just Like Me’ resource
Cost: Free Effort: ++++
A Scientist Just Like Me is a resource created by the Primary Science Teaching Trust to show the diversity of people in scientific careers. As well as telling you about their jobs, you can filter the profiles to see, for example, LGBTQ+ scientists, or scientists with disabilities. This can be great for supporting relationships education (PSHE), helping students see that anyone can succeed in a STEM job, whatever their background. And to get you started check out some of the wonderful women in STEM we profiled for Ada Lovelace day - showcasing careers in psychology and neuroscience.
5. Book a virtual visitor
Cost: Free - ££ Effort: ++++
Virtual visitors can be a another great option - they can talk about their work or lead an online science workshop. STEM Ambassadors are volunteers who do just this, for free. Many of them offer virtual school visits as well as in person ones, and as they are practicing STEM professionals they can be great at giving students an insight into career options open to them.
Alternatively, Virtual School Visits offers affordable sessions from professional communicators covering a wide range of science areas. And many of our Braintastic! science workshops and shows for schools are available online with prices starting from just £195 for as many kids as you can fit in the hall! Booking soon is recommended as our expert science presenters tend to book up quickly for science week activities! Or if you'd like some more pointers, check out our step-by-step guide to planning science week at your school.
