This workshop ordinarily requires a lot of one-on-one interaction with children from the presenter, and plenty of adult supervision! To try to reduce potential risks, we are preparing additional materials to assist in the making of slime; we will require a screen or projector for display, and at least one adult from the school per table of 6-8 children.

In this exciting, hands-on workshop, we start with a discussion about the materials different objects are made from, and why their properties are suitable for different applications. Children will use their observations and prior knowledge to predict which items will bounce and which will break when dropped. We carefully ensure that we use a wide range of everyday materials to allow every child to contribute to the discussion. While most objects are well known to the majority of children, there are still a few that behave in a surprising way! This allows us to question their understanding and to give opportunities for students to think more deeply about what has happened and why it has happened that way.

After working with these familiar materials, each child will then be tasked with making something brand new – their own slime! With adult support, they will measure out different ingredients, combine them together and observe how the properties change as they react to make a new substance.

When their slime is complete, they then have the opportunity to investigate its properties. Does it bounce or break? Does it stretch or rip? Is it hard or soft? Our workshop leader will encourage children to share with each other what they have each discovered, especially focussing on similarities and differences and what could be causing these.

Curriculum links:

• EYFS Framework: Understanding the world: The world
• Key Stage 1 Programme of Study: Working scientifically
• Year 1 Programme of Study: Everyday materials
• Year 2 Programme of Study: Uses of everyday materials

Documents:

• • Risk Assessment for Discover Materials

• Risk Assessment for COVID-19
• Outreach COVID Guidelines

Pricing

Our experienced team will put together a full or part-day programme of shows and workshops that fits into your school timetable and that allows sufficient time to set up, reset or clear away. The programme is tailored to each school and can usually include a mixture of activities for different Key Stages. A small number of activities may require two Science Oxford staff members, who could also run two streams of other activities simultaneously.

For timetables involving one staff member:

£230+VAT for a part day
£320+VAT for a whole day
15% discount for Member Schools

For timetables involving two staff members:

£360+VAT for a part day
£495+VAT for a whole day
15% discount for Member Schools

This is an example of a schedule of a full day with Science Oxford in your school:

Contact our schools team with any questions on [email protected] 

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