Big Science Day- Whole School Primary Science Day

You can construct your own Big Science Day by selecting different science topics/themes for each workshop - and we have workshops covering all strands of the curriculum for all year groups. Or, to create a real “science buzz”, you might go for a structure in which different year groups investigate, in age-appropriate ways, different facets of the same overall theme. Days like this include …

What a Wonderful World: looking at some of the animal and plant life forms adapted to particular habitats – and the dangers posed to them by human activity.

Journeys into Space: exploring the features of some of our neighbours in the solar system – and the story of human space exploration …

Innovation and Beyond: bringing to life “seven innovations that have changed the world” – and the legacies of some scientists/engineers/inventors from diverse backgrounds.

The Regeneration Generation: investigating what climate change “is”, why it is important, what is causing it – and what steps we can all take to combat it.

The Connection: looking at a number of scientists/technologists/inventors/engineers (none of them dead, white men) who have absolutely changed the world – and who should be much better known than they are!

Time for Science: bringing to life the centrality of time in a whole range of science strands – from ageing processes to seasonality, from the fossil record to electricity and from lifespans to the story of humans in space. And featuring a diverse range of scientists from the past!

And, from February 2025, Change and Adapt - Adapt to Change: investigating ways in which the ability to adapt to changing conditions is the key to long term survival – from plants to mammals to civilisations themselves!

“The children had a wonderful day, the content layered upon their current learning and it was very interactive. Staff have had really positive things to say about it; how lovely it was lovely to see children excited about science and how organised everything was!” Columbia Primary

How many pupils can take part?

What a Wonderful World can accommodate up-to 60 pupils per workshop - that's the whole of a two-form entry school in just one day!

What is the format of the day?

We will work with you to plan a timetable for the workshops, to suit the number of classes you would like to include - and around the specific timings of your school day. In a two-form entry primary school (with all year groups apart from Reception taking part in groups of up-to 60), the timetable might look like this:

09.00 – 09.20: (optional) Whole-school assembly, where your visitor will introduce the day…

09.20 – 10.00: Year 1 stay in the hall for their workshop …

10.00 – 10.40: Year 2 come to the hall for their workshop …

10.40 – 11.20: Year 3 come to the hall for their workshop …

11.20 – 11.50: One Reception class have a visit, in their own setting …

LUNCH

1.00 – 1.30: The other Reception class have a visit, in their own setting …

1.30 – 2.10: Year 4 come to the hall for their workshop …

2.10 – 2.50: Year 5 come to the hall for their workshop …

2.50 – 3.30: Year 6 come to the hall for their workshop.

Are there any technical requirements?

Each working space needs to be equipped with laptop/screen/projector, so pupils can view the supporting PowerPoint throughout.