Engage children in the wondrous, wild and wacky world of science this British Science Week! This celebration of science, technology, engineering, arts and maths takes place annually. 2018 sees the Year of Engineering and promotes the theme of Exploration and Discovery to encourage children to “think about everyday discoveries and how they affect their lives”. Spark scientific curiosity and let the little ones unleash their inner Einstein this British Science Week!
Stuck for STEAM activity ideas? There are many different ways that you can get your primary school, nursery or preschool involved in British Science Week. The British Science Association feature a great selection of early years and primary activities on their BSW website, so we have collected together a variety of fantastic resources to help you explore some of these exciting ideas in your primary or early years setting – along with some of our favourite STEAM ideas for British Science Week as well!
Be inspired and introduce children to exciting new science concepts through a range of fascinating scientific investigations and hands-on activities.
Our Top 9 Ideas…
Explore bonkers experiments, try out awesome science-related activities and make mind-blowing discoveries this British Science Week!
1. Watch Seeds Grow
Let children see what is happening beneath the ground when a plant grows! Our exclusive EYR Watch Me Grow Planter is the perfect resource for the investigation and exploration of growth. The wooden planter features a clear viewing window so that kids can observe root systems and minibeast guests beneath the soil.
2. Create Bug Hotels
Get up close and personal! Make a cosy and inviting home for those little minibeasts with our durable Bug hotels. Get the children to search through the garden for natural resources to add to their bug hotel and explore different habitats for bugs.
3. Escape the Ice
Explore the properties of water at different temperatures. Freeze various items in ice – this could be natural resources or small world figures. Then encourage children to think of different ways they could rescue the item and melt the ice!
4. Launch Rockets into the Sky
Blast off! Demonstrate propulsion, air resistance and motion with this fun activity. Children can design and build their own rocket using any materials that they have available to them and then monitor difference in flight when they make slight amendments!
5. Catch Touchable Bubbles
Bubbles that don’t pop as soon as you touch them! Enjoy the sensory experience of Touchable Bubbles. Catch bubbles in your hands and discuss friction, air pressure and factors involved which affect the bubble.
6. Dip Paper Towels
Experiment with water absorption! Fill bowls with water and stir in different coloured Food Dyes. Then dip strips of paper towels and other paper types into the different bowls to explore colour change and water absorption.
7. Build a Maze
Introduce the little ones to programming and coding with our various coding sets. Build mazes from base pieces, walls and tunnels – then programme the bots to take the path needed to reach the goal!
8. Make Rain Clouds
Explore how rain clouds work! Fill a jar with water and use Crazy Foam to create a cloud on top of the water. Then drop Food Colouring into the ‘cloud’ and watch the rain-like effect.
9. Create BSW Posters
Inspire creativity and let the children exhibit their scientific discoveries on giant posters. Then why not enter them into the British Science Association’s annual Poster Competition!
We would love to know what mind-blowing discoveries you make! So don’t forget to share your British Science Week photos with us on social media and tell us which activity was your favourite. Tag us or use the hashtag #ExploreWithEYR!
