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Wow to Wonder
Monday 11th August 2025
In this fun, interactive show we ask children lots of questions to get them thinking. Which item is the odd one out and why? What do you think will happen next? Can you see a pattern? Can you spot the difference? Every child will be encouraged to contribute by discussing their ideas, conducting an experiment […]
Science Surprises
Monday 4th August 2025
The Science Surprises show aims to get pupils thinking What, Why and How? We’ll share a series of experiments with them that have an element of surprise and the children have to try and work out what has happened and why. How can you change one liquid into another? Why does the box suddenly fall? […]
Light Fantastic
Monday 28th July 2025
Making use of our fantastic theatre, this show is both spectacular and thought-provoking and gives children a good basis for understanding the requirements for light in the National Curriculum. See light travelling in a straight line, but also how it reflects on different surfaces. Think about shadows and what causes them. Light is an endlessly […]
Planetarium: An Astronaut’s Adventure (Thursday and Friday visits only)
Monday 21st July 2025
Immersed in our inflatable dome, children will have a 180-degree view of the night sky above them. They will then embark on an adventure like no other, travelling into orbit, landing on the Moon, and much more. Afterwards, they will retell their journey through the medium of ‘space yoga’, embedding their learning with movement and […]
Planetarium: Out in Space (Thursday and Friday visits only)
Monday 7th July 2025
Immersed in our inflatable dome, children will have a 180-degree view of the night sky above them. They will learn about the movement of the Earth, Moon and other planets, relative to the sun in our solar system, how and why the sky changes throughout the year and tour some of the other bodies in […]
Woodland Walk
Monday 30th June 2025
Our Woodland Walks for school groups are designed to engage children of all ages with the woodland, ponds, meadows and grassland around the Science Oxford Centre. One of our experienced staff will lead the children and encourage them to use all of their senses to explore this inspirational and varied setting. No two visits are ever the same! Children will be encouraged to use their observations and discoveries to ask questions, share their thoughts and develop their ideas.
Young Explorers
Monday 23rd June 2025
This free-flow workshop allows children to explore a range of activities at their own pace. Activities include developing early computing skills with our ‘BeeBots’, building bridges for the Billy Goats Gruff, and playing with our sensory bottles. Each activity supports the development of specific scientific skills such as sorting, testing, grouping and observing while allowing […]
Water Explorers (April to October only)
Monday 16th June 2025
Discover the wonderful world of water in a workshop that includes a carousel of creative activities and investigations. Children will be able to use our outdoor Water Lab exhibit to create dams, change the flow of water and turn waterwheels. They can build boats, investigate objects that sink and float, and use equipment to measure […]
Topple, Bump and Roll
Monday 9th June 2025
This workshop is designed to develop children’s creative and problem solving skills as they apply their understanding of forces to a Design and Technology challenge. Children will work in pairs to build and test their own chain reaction machine (or Rube Goldberg Machine) using simple materials. Teachers may video their results as evidence of what […]
Circuit Detectives
Monday 2nd June 2025
This workshop is designed to consolidate children’s understanding of electrical concepts, as they work like electricians to identify different faults in a set of circuits and apply their problem solving skills to fix them. The children will work in pairs in a way that suits them and will record their findings as they progress through […]
Changing Materials
Monday 26th May 2025
This workshop is designed to develop children’s understanding of states of matter and changes of state, alongside their ability to make careful observations and use them to answer questions and consider ideas. They will learn how to use simple equipment to safely heat different materials with a small flame and will manage their own experiments […]
Think the Link
Monday 19th May 2025
In this workshop, children will be challenged to spot patterns and similarities between a variety of rocks and materials, and to use some working scientifically skills to design an investigation to find the recipe for the ‘best’ snow. This session uses innovative ways to enable children to discuss, observe and think carefully about a range […]
Pond Dipping Workshop: Ecological Explorers
Monday 12th May 2025
Ecological Explorers will start by examining the pond habitat and collecting samples before returning to the classroom to identify what we’ve found using our scientific keys and equipment. We can work to classify our ecological finds, pick out predators, prey and producers and even explore food chains. Our observations can be used to consider life cycles of the different organisms and look at how different species are adapted to where they live.
Exploring Evolution
Monday 28th April 2025
This workshop is designed to develop children’s understanding of variation, natural selection (‘survival of the fittest’) and the evolution of populations over time. Different interactive games and simulations will allow children to deepen their understanding of these key ideas and how they relate to each other.
Data Logger Discovery
Monday 21st April 2025
This workshop is designed to enable children to design and complete their own investigation, linked to light, using a data logger. Children will work in pairs and use data loggers to record their findings and interpret their results. For schools with no data loggers, there is an opportunity to borrow data loggers post-visit, as part […]