From our network
Find out what’s going on in our network, discover some new ideas and fun things to try in school or at home with family, or a good book to inspire big thinking.
Please note we cannot validate external activities or resources but provide these for your awareness and interest.
STEM-related months, weeks and days to celebrate
World Space Week
World Space Week runs from 4th to 10th October each year. The theme for 2026 is ‘Rocket Revolution’. Make your own straw rocket at home with help from Science Oxford Centre Officer Kate Goodenough.
British Science Week
Plan ahead for British Science Week 2027, which takes place from 5th to 14th March, with the theme of ‘Creativity: The Power of Ideas’. They’ve made available great free activity packs for you to download and use in your classroom any time.
National Insect Week
Insect Week runs from 21st to 30th June 2027 and focuses attention on raising awareness and celebrating the importance of insects in our world, including the roles they play in pollination or breaking down organic materials. Join in the activities from home or school, and learn more about these important ‘minibeasts’.
National Coding Week
National Coding Week takes place from the third Monday of September each year. Your class could participate in the Astro Pi Mission Zero.
Seed gathering season
Get involved in Seed Gathering Season, from 23 September to 23 October. You’ll find lots of practical information on how to identify, prepare and grow seeds into trees, shrubs and hedgerows of the future.
World Bee Day
World Bee Day on 20 May is the opportunity to celebrate the wonderful world of bees! It is also a day to raise awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators, which are crucial for our food production, and the health of the planet. Enjoy some learning activities from the British Beekeepers Association.
Puzzle Day
Free puzzle activities from the Science Oxford Centre team and Primary Science Teaching Trust / Science Sparks.
National Nest Box Week
Finding more homes for birds in celebration of National Nest Box Week in February
National Children's Gardening Week
Fun outdoor activities for families at home or children at school over summer
For the bookworm in your family
Am I Made of Stardust?
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock (MBE) is a space scientist, celebrated STEM educator and communicator, and presenter of the long-standing BBC’s The Sky at Night. She is passionate about encouraging young people to pursue their “big, crazy dreams” and to answer big questions. Her latest book Am I Made of Stardust? is full of amazing facts about the Universe to excite you about learning more and exploring Space.
The Truth Detective
Did you know Florence Nightingale was a ‘truth detective’? She looked at the data and used a pie chart to show why good hygiene and sanitation in medicine was so important to saving lives. You can read this interesting story and others in Tim Harford’s new book, The Truth Detective, in which he helps young people “make sense of a world that doesn’t add up”.
The Greatest Show on Earth
Mini Grey is an award-winning author and illustrator, and her book The Greatest Show on Earth will take you on a whistle-stop tour through the story of life on Earth, a story that covers 4.6 billion years!
Kate Pankhurst - Fantastically Great Women
Unlock your inner astronaut with author and illustrator Kate Pankhurst’s Fantastically Great Women series and book ‘We Are All Astronauts’.