Primary Workshops

All eighteen of our workshops are practical, exciting and inspiring.

"Many thanks for coming in to our school and making the day so enjoyable for everyone – your workshops really were the talk of the school (amongst the children and staff) and would definitely recommend your workshops to others in the future and hopefully ask you back in the future too."
Vikki Freezer, Mora Primary School, London

Booking information can be found below the workshop details.

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

Air

A set of contrasting movement investigations about air resistance including making gyrocopters, hoopsters and kites. 

*  Age: Y5/Y6  *  Time: 90 minutes  *  Space: hall

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

Boats 

A sequence of short investigations about water resistance using different materials to make and test boats and rafts.

*  Age: Y3/Y4, Y5/Y6  *  Time: 90 minutes  *  Space: classroom with sink

Buggies

How does the energy from a balloon power a model car? 

Pupils make and keep their own buggies, investigating the variables affecting how they work. 

*  Age: Y5/Y6  *  Time: 90 minutes  *  Space: hall

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

Candles

“There is no more open door by which you can enter the study of science than by considering the physical phenomena of a candle”
Michael Faraday

An exciting interactive discussion about the origins and properties of waxes, changes of state and non-reversible changes. Time and content vary with age group. 

*  Age: N, R, Y1/Y2, Y3/Y4, Y5/Y6  *  Time: 75 minutes  
*  Space: classroom or hall with electrical point

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

Carousel

Five investigations into materials and forces, themed around a circus.    

*  Age: Y1/Y2  *  Time: 75 minutes  *  Space: hall

"Excellent range of fun activities that children could understand and enjoy, staying on task throughout. Promoted team work and thinking."

Citrus

Can pupils test accurately, fairly and process results? An investigation into how much Vitamin C (relatively) is found in different fruits. 

*  Age: Y5/Y6  *  Time: 75 minutes  *  Space: classroom with sink

"The children have never been so enthusiastic about science. Very well taught, organised, resourced and differentiated."

Electricity

A sequence of engaging electrical investigations to discover more about circuits and their components. This is easily differentiated for different ages and experiences. Solar cells are used with older children.

*  Age: Y3/Y4, Y5/Y6  *  Time: 90 minutes  *  Space: classroom + outside

"Highly organised, well-resourced and, with a wide range of activities, children were expected to discover rather than being spoon-fed." 

Fizz!

Pupils use litmus to identify acids, and design a fair test to investigate how temperature affects an acid/carbonate reaction.

*  Age: Y5/Y6  *  Time: 90 minutes  *  Space: classroom with sink

Paper-making 

Pupils discuss recycling in general and use old sugar paper to produce new paper.

*  Age: Y3/Y4, Y5/Y6  *  Time: 90 minutes  *  Space: classroom with sink

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

Rollers

How does the energy from an elastic band power a small toy? How does friction impede it? 

Pupils make and keep their own rollers, investigating the variables affecting how far and fast they go. 

*  Age: Y3/Y4, Y5/Y6  *  Time: 75 minutes  *  Space: hall or large classroom

"Practical, hands on, requiring skills such as measuring, decision making, precision and safe use of equipment." 

Separating

This is about combining and separating mixtures of solids, liquids and gases. The workshop ends with an explosive finalé.

*  Age: Y5/Y6  *  Time: 60 minutes  *  Space: classroom with sink

Space

A set of activities about phases of the moon, the solar system, stars and shadows. Pupils also use and evaluate scientific models.

*  Age: Y5/Y6  *  Time: 90 minutes  *  Space: hall

"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

A series of accessible investigations, linked to a picture book, including making trucks, using scientific snow and sand, and investigating rafts. Parents and carers can be invited to take part.

*  Age: N/R/Y1 and Y5/Y6  *  Time: 60 minutes  *  Space: hall

"Excellent workshop. The activities engaged all the children and were quick and easy to do. The activities stimulated lots of good discussions among the children. They enjoyed working with the Year 5 pupils and are keen to take all their things home."  

Studying Substances

A set of ten varied physical and chemical experiments, testing ability to follow instructions, observe carefully and record accurately.

*  Age: Y5/Y6  *  Time: 90 minutes  *  Space: large classroom with sink

Wind

Pupils designing a model wind turbine and investigating variables to improve its efficiency.

*  Age: Y5/Y6  *  Time: 90 minutes  *  Space: hall

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

Practical Science Clubs

Science clubs

Are you looking for ideas for easy-to-organise practical science clubs?

Using video-conferencing, we can talk you through a variety of possibilities to provide exciting and inspiring sessions. Give a buzz to the science in your school!

We can provide basic materials for the sessions and lead/support by video-conferencing.

Projects are costed individually.

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

Free downloadable resources

Activate 1
Activate 2

Bird A template
Bird B template
Bird C template

Gyrocopter 1 template
Gyrocopter 2 template
Gyrocopter result template

Jumping bean template - small
Jumping bean template - large

Rocket mice template

Publications
Add more gin!
Stellar work!
SPLATS
That’s the way to do it!

Student Communicators

There are two versions of this exciting programme:

SPLATS for secondary schools and colleges

Cascade for trainee teachers

SPLATS

SPLATS = Students Presenting Learning And Teaching Science.

This project brings together secondary schools and local primary schools to enjoy an exciting practical science day. Secondary students present a series of science activities to primary pupils. To date we have worked with over 1000 secondary students delivering activities to nearly 8000 primary pupils.

In this project:

• Secondary students develop confidence in presentation, communication, planning and organisational skills

• Primary pupils and their teachers enjoy hands-on science activities which develop science enquiry and investigation skills

• Primary pupils meet secondary staff and students

• Secondary schools develop closer links with primary schools

As a typical format, eighteen sixth-form students present six workshop sessions to six classes of Y5 primary pupils and their teachers, hosted on the secondary school site.
     Day 1 students are trained to present science workshops.
     Day 2 pupils meet the students and enjoy an action-packed day of practical sessions.

Variations could be:

• More than one event day

• Students from Y9 or Y10

• A bigger secondary cohort

• Day 2 hosted by local primary schools

The cost of one SPLATS Project - one training day, one event day and all materials for 180 pupils - is £1800 plus VAT. Variations can be costed accordingly.
Please note that there might be a small contribution towards accommodation/travel if the Workshop Leader is not local to your area. Please enquire for more details

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

"An excellent project that both sets of students gained a lot from. The greatest improvement was in the students confidence in their own presentation and communication skills.
"I would recommend it. It achieved all that I had hoped it would do but in a number of areas exceeded my expectations."
                         Head of Science, Bedfordshire

"I really enjoyed the training we received; it was fun, enjoyable and I learnt a lot from the experience. I enjoyed it so much that when our teacher suggested that we could progress our skills further by teaching other year groups I wanted to be involved. In science club myself and a group of friends tried out some experiments and activities that we thought were suitable for year 4s.
"I would really encourage anybody who is thinking about doing SPLATS to try it; the experience was an unforgettable one and I really thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it."
                          Paige from Hall Cross School , Doncaster

"I was chosen to take part in SPLATS by my head of chemistry, having shown a great interest in chemistry and sciences during my GCSE studies.
"Initially we were taught the many activities that we would be teaching … and over the course of 2 days gave lessons to classes of year 5 pupils from surrounding schools in the local area.
"Through being involved in SPLATS I have been inspired to focus my sixth form education towards becoming a chemistry teacher. I would highly recommend SPLATS as it has both improved my teamwork and confidence skills whilst being a thoroughly enjoyable experience."
                  Alfie from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield

Cascade

Cascade is a two-day practical science course for trainee teachers. It has been run successfully for twenty years with students from many universities including Kings College London, Christ Church Canterbury, Sheffield Hallam and Warwick.

The course provides experience and confidence in teaching practical, investigative science.

The first day is a training day and the second allows the students to work with local primary pupils. It can take place at any point during the teacher training course.

"I’m a first year and when I first went into school I had a casual friendly manner and then it is difficult to keep control. This activity has given me a chance to use lots of techniques to manage the class in practical work and I have found class management surprisingly easier than I thought."
Trainee teacher

"My favourite was the electricity we had chance to explore different circuits and the solar cells worked even though it rained."
Trainee teacher

"My confidence in teaching science has increased significantly, and I have gained some great ideas as to how I can introduce scientific skills within my own teaching.”
Trainee teacher

"The activities chosen demonstrated excellent practice, were highly sound in terms of educational pedagogy and were in line with the most recent OFSTED guidance.   All the children were able to engage with the tasks set, yet there was ample opportunity to extend beyond this.”
Course tutor

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

Businesses

Encourage public interest in your company. Create a buzz!

Our hands-on activities:

• Reflect the science or engineering involved in your business in practical activities for schools

• Link your business with your local community with school workshops and family days

• Promote your company to potential employees

• Stimulate positive media coverage and good public relations

• Support the teaching of science in schools

• Are good fun for people of all ages

We love what we do and we can make it work for you

• We listen to your objectives and suggest a strategy to meet them

• We are friendly, straightforward and easy to work with

• We have exemplary feedback from twenty years’ work

We can design suitable activities for you.
Contact us at email@spherescience.co.uk or click here to complete our online form.

Here are just a few of our successful initiatives

We provide a "Sorting Things" workshop for their local primary schools on behalf of Urenco. This creates a link between their work and the national curriculum, developing practical science skills. Watch this film clip or listen to this short podcast.
‘An outstanding workshop and one which we would like to do again.’

The Salters Company of London asked us to provide an exciting family activity day during the February 2019 half-term. It was so successful we worked in partnership with them to provide a bigger and better version in February 2020.

CLEAPPS provided for Foley’s School in Cyprus to have a day of our “Rollers” workshop as a prize in their 2019 competition.

STEM Learning asked us to train STEM Ambassadors to deliver practical science activities. This proved so successful that the Ambassadors ran the activities at other events, no longer needing our support.

We have recently been involved with NuGen and their Bright Sparks initiative.
           "Sphere Science has provided science workshops for three of NuGen’s Bright Sparks’ events, an education programme which focuses on engagement with teachers and pupils at high schools close to NuGen’s Moorside Site and explores educational and societal issues around the need for new electricity production. Sphere Science created a range of activities to suit the theme, and delivered them with passion and enthusiasm which was passed on to the pupils. Throughout the event and the lead up Sphere Science were very accommodating and helpful, with nothing being too much trouble. Thank you for all your help and we look forward to working with you again."
Charlotte Wong

For more than a decade we delivered over 6000 workshop days and over 120 Family Days (for up to 2000 people at a time) on behalf of Shell UK. All this work was themed around the physical sciences (including renewable energies) and developing investigative, practical skills. 
          "Through your workshops, family days and teacher training programmes the Shell Education Service has inspired hundreds of thousands of students about science. The Sphere Science team has worked hard to deliver a consistently popular programme, for which we have received much positive feedback from participants over the years. You have provided sound advice about how to engage and inspire primary age children, and successfully delivered the programme on time and on budget. As a way of exciting young children about science, we are proud of what you have achieved and grateful for your hard work and commitment."
Anna Haslam, formerly Head of UK Social Investment & Sponsorships at Shell
           "The Family Days run by Sphere Science have always been extremely popular with local children and their families. Everyone that takes part has a fantastic time and the kids always come away learning something new."
John Raine, Upstream Social Investment Manager at Shell

Show

Show

Our exciting show is a series of science tricks with unexpected and surprising outcomes. It challenges the audience to think through, with the help of the presenter, how each trick works.

This show is ideal for Science Festivals, Family Days, assemblies or after-school events. We are very flexible.

Watch clips of shows here.

"This show was not just for the kids, the adults really enjoyed it and learnt a lot as well."

The cost is £435 per day. It is also possible to combine the show with some of our workshops.

Please note that there might be a small contribution towards accommodation if the Presenter is not local to your area. You might consider 'partnering up' with other schools or community groups in your local area to share the cost.

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

CPD/INSET 

 Investigative Science in the Classroom

We run interactive practical courses in Science Learning Centres, universities, teacher centres and schools and we continually review and update our materials.

Courses can be delivered by video-conferencing, especially for individuals or small groups - just ask for details.

We also offer one-to-one sessions to enable a staff member to learn how to deliver our remote workshops.

Our courses are inspiring and bursting with practical ideas.

CPD

We provide

• CPD to increase confidence in teaching science enquiry and investigative skills, for experienced teachers, new teachers, trainee teachers and teaching assistants.

• CPD for experienced primary teachers, including science co-ordinators and subject leaders, to discuss challenging contexts likely to introduce pupil misunderstandings and topics which are difficult to extend. 

• CPD on creating a science buzz in schools through science clubs, family days and events. We have twenty years' experience of running science clubs and managing family days.

 "Hands on task / lots of great ideas for science lessons to take back. Whole table felt that the presentation was very good – wish that we had been inspired by science with explorations like today, when we were at school."

 "Practical ideas / resources / recommended books etc investigative skills, addressed misconceptions. Feel enthused." 

 "Very practical and plenty of ideas across key stages. Excellent."

INSET

We offer exciting practical primary INSET days to support the teaching of science enquiry and investigative skills. These aim to increase staff confidence in structuring investigations and in encouraging pupils to ask questions and look for answers.

We design the day to meet each school's needs, focussing activities on physical processes and materials and their properties. Short courses are negotiable. 

Due to popular demand, we now have a one-day course specifically focussing on materials and their properties. This shows how easy it is to carry out simple yet exciting chemistry experiments safely.

"I'm glad I made the right choice of selecting Sphere Science when looking for someone to share their expertise with us :)"

"I would like to say huge thank you for a lovely inset. Staff were excited and have been asking for some of the resources they used. The inset also encouraged them to think outside the box and as a result they have adapted some of their plans."

Costs

The usual cost of our one-day course is £520 + VAT. Costs include materials and assumes up to thirty participants at an agreed venue. Notes are available but photocopying is not included. 

Please note that there might be a small contribution towards accommodation/travel if the Workshop Leader is not local to your area. You might consider 'partnering up' with other schools in your local area to share the cost. Please enquire for more details

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