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Contact us at spherescience@yahoo.co.uk or click here to complete our online form.


Available Workshops


Our workshops are practical, exciting and inspiring.

Click a link to find out more about a specific workshop or scroll down the page to browse the entire list:

 


Pricing

A full day of workshops will cost £400 (+ VAT). We usually deliver the same workshop in each session.

 


We specialise in practical primary workshops with activities available for Foundation Years and KS3/4; some Upper Primary workshops can be adapted for KS3/4.

All workshops develop investigative science skills. All workshops are designed to support both the National Curriculum for England and Wales and the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland.

All our Workshop Leaders have successfully passed an enhanced CRB check.

If a school cancels a booking at less than two weeks' notice, Sphere Science Ltd reserves the right to invoice the school for the full cost of the work commissioned.

As we work in schools, there might be a few days' delay in replying to your enquiry.




Workshop Details

Our workshop programme is extremely popular so the more lead-time (and choice of dates) you can offer, the better. Some workshops are available in all areas - these are indicated by an asterisk below.

Three workshop sessios will usually fit into a school day. Workshops are designed for a class of about 30 children with their class teacher. These workshops are designed specifically to develop pupil skills.

Notes are provided as support for the teacher to follow up the workshop. We hope that teachers will use the workshop ideas in their own teaching.

Some of the workshops need extra support - either adults or pupil helpers. Pupil helpers will have an opportunity to develop science communication skills so the pupils selected to help need to be alert, fairly competent and likely to benefit from taking part in the session.


Air


A pupil testing his kite... Investigations (into kites, gyrocopters, hoopsters and rockets) that highlight how to create a fair test and different ways of observing results. The focus is not the theory of flight.


Upper Primary

Room: hall

  Time: about 90 minutes

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Buggies

The children build a small car each (which they keep). They develop their own fair tests to investigate the impact of different variables on how well the buggy works.

 




Middle & Upper Primary

Room: hall or classroom

Time: about 90 Minutes
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Carousel*


A balancing clown! Fivel simple investigations into forces, balancing, magnetism, and the effect of gravity.

Five responsible older pupils or adults are needed to help supervise the activities.

Lower Primary & Reception



Room: hall or classroom

Time: about 90 minutes

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Chromatography

 

Investigatig the separation of different pigments using a variety of paper chromatographic techniques and TLC, and using different solvents.

KS3

 

Room: laboratory

Time: about 90 minutes

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Circuits




Six investigations into conductivity, circuit components, and making functional circuits. Five responsible older pupils or adults are needed to help supervise the activities

 

Lower Primary

 

Room: hall

  Time: about 75 minutes

Citrus*


Testing for vitamin C using DCPIP solution Pupils design a fair test (with guidance) to investigate the amount of Vitamin C in a variety of fruits.

Upper Primary



  Room: classroom with at least one sink

  Time: about 90 minutes

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Fire*


Pupils observe a candle burning and, with guidance, deduce the chemistry involved. Everyone makes their own multi-coloured candle.

Reception to Upper Primary

Room: classroom or hall with electrical points


Time: about 75 minutes

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Play



Pupils investigate a variety of toys to consider and understand the energy and forces involved in making them work. They also have chance to design simple fair tests.

Six responsible older pupils or adults are needed to help supervise the activities.

Lower Primary

 

Room: hall or large classroom

  Time: about 75 minutes

Recycling


A recycled sheet of paper half way through production A general discussion about the three Rs (reducing, re-using, recycling) followed by a practical activity where pupils recycle old sugar paper to produce small sheets of new paper.



Middle & Upper Primary

Room: classroom with sink


Time: about 90 minutes

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Rollers*


Children preparing for a bandroller race Pupils make simple wind-up toys (called Bandrollers) and then investigate the variables affecting how these toys work.


Click on the picture to see a video of Bandrollers in action!


     Middle & Upper Primary

    Room: hall or classroom

    Time: about 75 minutes

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Solar Circuits*


Two children investigating solar panels Pupils investigate electrical circuits including the use of photovoltaic cells.


Middle & Upper Primary

Room: classroom and outdoors (weather permitting). Lamps will be used in bad weather.


Time: about 90 minutes

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Sorting Substances [coming soon]

 

Pupils investigate different methods of separating mixtures.

Middle & Upper Primary

 

Room: classroom with at least one sink

Time: about 90 minutes

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Space


Pupils use scientific models to study Earth and Space.

Five adults are needed to help supervise the activities.

 

Upper Primary

Room: hall

Time: about 90 minutes

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Story [NEW for 2011]

 

Six investigations linked with a chosen storybook.

Responsible older pupils or adults are required to help supervise the activities.

 

Foundation Years

 

Room: classroom or hall

Time: about 60 minutes

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Studying Substances

 

Ten experiments (involving physical and chemical changes) designed to test pupils' abilities in following instructions, careful observation, and accurate recording.

Upper Primary

 

Room: classroom with at least one sink

Time: about 90 minutes

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Water


Which of these will make the best boat shape? Four investigations into forces using water.

Four adults are needed to help supervise the activities



Reception to Upper Primary

Room: outdoor area, with access to a tap/hose


Time: about 90 minutes

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Wind


Experimentation is the key to success...! Pupils design a wind turbine and investigate one variable to make it more efficient. The wind turbines will be tested using electric fans.

Upper Primary





Room: hall or very large classroom (with electrical points)


Time: about 90 minutes

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Teacher comments

Air

“Good progression of investigative skills/ideas. Good discussion of variable/constant. Reinforced good practice in fair testing.”


Buggies

“An excellent example of active learning. The class had a brilliant afternoon, and looking forward to conducting more testing next week.”

Carousel

“Excellent range of fun activities that children could understand, enjoyed, stayed on task throughout. Promoted team work and thinking.”

Circuits

“Brilliant! Perfectly pitched and so well set out and prepared. Given me confidence to try out something similar as part of a topic.”

Citrus

“The children have never been so enthusiastic about science as they were during this investigation. Very well taught, organised, resourced and differentiated. A most impressive experience.”

Fire

“Covered hundreds of learning objectives! I couldn't possibly ask the children what they had learnt because there was so much! Brilliant! Thanks!”

Play

“The children were buzzing afterwards. The session acted as a real “eye opener” for me – seeing how science can be delivered so easily with everyday objects.”

Recycling

“The kids loved this and want to do it again – we will!”

Rollers

“Very good. Practical, hands on, requiring skills such as measuring, decision making, precision, safe use of equipment etc.”

Solar Circuits

“Highly organised, well resourced and children were expected to ‘discover' rather than being spoon fed. Children kept interested with a wide range of activities.”

Space

“There was a fun element to the workshop and I am particularly looking forward to using the umbragraph next time the topic is being taught.”

Story

"The activities were well suited to the children's age and ability and very engaging.  The children liked the story and made some of the paper helicopters in their play afterwards!"

Wind

“The children really enjoyed making wind turbines. The content was first class and fitted in well with the science topic on electricity.”

 


Equipment and Materials


The provision of each workshop includes all equipment and materials.

Many of our resources are supplied by the Technology Shop at Ivydale Science & Technology Service who are also happy to supply directly to schools.

Ivydale School

Ivydale Road

Nunhead

London

SE15 3BU

Tel: 0207 639 3316

Fax: 0207 635 8218

www.slstc.southwarklea.org.uk

Email: techshop@ivydale.southwark.sch.uk

 



Safety


Safety in the workshops has been discussed with CLEAPSS. The materials and equipment are quite safe when used as instructed. Risk assessments are available for all activities. The class teacher should always be present and is ultimately responsible for discipline. Workshops are offered on the understanding that the school accepts full liability for the safety of pupils and staff, and any other help arranged by the school.



Social Inclusion

Sphere Science operates a policy of social inclusion; please tell us of any specific needs before the workshops take place.



Contact us at spherescience@yahoo.co.uk or click here to complete our online form.


   
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