British Science Week: Monday 10 March – Friday 14 March
This week, schools across the Trust have been celebrating British Science Week with a range of exciting activities, events, and expert speakers designed to inspire students of all ages and encourage them to engage with science in its many forms.
At Richard Taylor Church of England Primary School, the week kicked off with a thought-provoking STEM quiz that got everyone thinking about science. The theme for this year’s British Science Week was “Change and Adapt,” and students had a wealth of engaging activities to explore.
On Monday, the whole school participated in an investigation day, collaborating with other schools across the North, led by the Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT). Students explored a variety of experiments, including investigating shadows, experimenting with waterproof fabrics, testing how to make water bottles roll the shortest distance, and designing marble mazes. They also learned how to adapt their marble mazes to slow the marbles down. The day ended with pupils sharing their findings with other schools, fostering a sense of collaboration and learning from one another.
Throughout the week, each class focused on an aspect of the "Change and Adapt" theme. Students researched topics such as transport, tawny owls, giraffes, homes, hedgehogs, chameleons, photography, and buildings. The week also included an insightful exploration of how farmers are adapting to climate change, with a live lesson from the National Farming Union (NFU). On Wednesday, Coverdale Class participated in the "Road to RIAT STEM Glider Challenge" with The Smallpiece Trust, where they designed and tested their own gliders under expert guidance. On Thursday, Year 5 students visited The Long Lands Common to plant trees, helping to enhance the biodiversity of the local area.
At Oatlands Infant School, the STEM Club students learned about the life cycles of butterflies. Additionally, Dr. Wakefield, a parent and respiratory doctor, delivered an engaging talk about his career and the importance of lung health. A visit from the planetarium further enhanced the students’ scientific experience.
At North Rigton Church of England Primary School, alongside the learning in the classroom, Head gardeners have been busy changing the compost heaps and making a wormery to help compost the fruit and vegetable scraps in school. All the classes have observed their potatoes seeds changing this week and growing chits - ready to be planted for the whole school 'Grow your own Potato' competition.
St. Aidan’s School was equally busy with a variety of activities for all students. The week began with the arrival of five duck eggs, and by Tuesday, the first egg had hatched. The ducklings were carefully looked after in the Main Prep Room, and students were invited to visit and track their progress. On Monday and Friday, the Science Fair featured exciting experiments for Year 7 and 8 students, guided by the school’s expert science department. Throughout the week, a series of guest speakers delivered talks on a wide range of topics, including Modern Technology in Laboratory Diagnostics, Science in the Antarctic, Neurophysiology, Biopharmaceutical Science, and the use of “Splunk” in pharmaceuticals.
British Science Week has provided students across the Trust with the opportunity to explore the wonders of science, from hands-on experiments to engaging talks with experts. The week has been a wonderful celebration of curiosity, creativity, and innovation, fostering a love for science in every student.
