A selection of popular Science Days.
Countryside Adventures: Explore the Senses
For reception or Year 1 we provide an opportunity to experience the sights sounds and smells of the countryside, in safety.
- Meet and learn about the Centre’s animals
- Observe farm animals nearby
- Discover animal homes in the countryside
- Explore plants and trees
- Investigate ‘minibeasts’
Life Processes and Living Things
We offer a range of courses to cater for the age and development of your pupils. For KS1 we can offer a combination of observation of the local Castleshaw environment with its plants, animal homes etc., and a wide variety of games to reinforce life cycles, parts of a plant, and simple classification by observable similarities and differences.At KS2 we can offer day courses to focus on any of the following (or combinations thereof).
Green plants
Discovery of the life cycles of plants through activities and observations made through field study. Life processes like photosynthesis and reproduction explored through games and working models as well as identification of trees through detailed study resulting in the production of a tree passport.
Water habitats
Investigations into the watery world through pond and stream dipping. A close look at adaptations in the pond and simple classification and identification through keys. Food chains, webs and micro-organisms are also included in a short classroom session. We can compare two water habitats - a stream and a pond in the Castleshaw Valley and/or provide the chance to study pollution by comparing a small stream in the Castleshaw Valley and the River Tame below Delph. All these can involve children in field study techniques like data recording and use of identification keys.
Land habitats
Exploration of animals through activities explaining migration, hibernation, and population (depending on season).Study of nutrient cycling, energy exchange and micro organisms through food chains and webs.
Children will get a chance to try replicating some of nature’s processes as well as having an opportunity to discover minibeasts and identify them through basic classification and keys.
These activities can be combined with elements of the water habitat programme providing a great opportunity to study two completely different habitats using similar methods of observation.
Materials
An exploration of the variety of natural materials in the Castleshaw Valley, and their uses for building etc.