Primary Science Conference

A very successful day was had at the NSLC/ASE Primary Science Conference.

The sun shone and everyone was in a happy mood.  A total of 115 teachers, advisors and people interested in primary science attended.

A roaring trade was done at our stand where our publications are being offered at £1 per copy.    

Sue Andrews ran two workshops linked to the publication ‘Is There Anyone Out There?’, funded by the UK Space Agency and developed by ESERO-UK www.esero.org.uk and CIEC Promoting Science.

A quote from Sue  “The workshops were very well received. I worked myself to the bone ensuring that all went smoothly!”

Industry Ambassadors to support science in the classroom.

Ambassadors from Lucite and FUJI met with the science department  at Northfield School Billingham to begin the development process for a STEM project to take place in school this summer.  The new ambassadors will join Johnson Matthey employees who introduced this initiative at St Michael’s last year.

To extend Children Challenging Industry into secondary schools, CIEC Promoting Science provide support and training for this programme where volunteers from local industry take part in practical science lessons to enhance the context of the lessons and show pupils how science is applied in manufacturing and research.

John Burgess, head of science at Northfield, thanked the ambassadors who attended and said ‘Last night was an excellent start to the process and we look forward to taking the next steps.’

CIEC are looking forward to delivery of this project in the classroom as it more than doubles the number of ambassadors that were involved in last year’s very successful pilot.

Fantastic event at the House of Commons

As you can see from the photograph above, the event hosted by Esther McVey on behalf of CIEC Promoting Science was a great success.

After introductions from Esther McVey and Joy Parvin the industrialists and MPs attending the event were able to ask the children (from St Michael’s secondary School, Billingham) all about their experience of being involved in CIEC Promoting Science activities. George was particularly enthusiastic and even had a job offer from one of the industrialists present!

We are delighted that so many members from both Houses and so may influential industrialists were able to attend and look forward to keeping them up to date with future projects at CIEC Promoting Science.

Another Exciting New Resource from CIEC Promoting science

During February-April CIEC Promoting science has an exciting new resources for you to trial. Aimed at teachers of 9-11 year olds, this resource focuses on ‘scientists at work’ making sun creams, soaps, bath foams and more. This is achieved via a series of classroom practical activities and investigations, and interactive website. In addition, you could have the opportunity for an industry ambassador to visit your classroom, depending on your geographic location.

The curriculum-linked classroom activities are explained in clear concise teachers’ notes and activity sheets, which can be downloaded from the website.

If you would like to take part in this trial please contact us on ciec@york.ac.uk providing an email address to which you would prefer the electronic resources to be sent. We will send you a questionnaire to complete and return after the trial, and welcome children’s feedback as well as samples of work and photographs of the children/ambassadors in action (subject to permission for use).

CIEC Promoting Science at the House of Commons

After a fantastic ASE meeting where our workshops were well attended and received, we are preparing to visit London later this week.

On Thursday January 19^th Esther McVey MP, Chair of the Chemical Industry All Party Parliamentary Group, is kindly hosting a reception on behalf of CIEC Promoting Science at the House of Commons. The CIEC team will be there with teachers and children from St Michael’s Secondary School, Billingham, to meet other MPs, influential industrialists and bodies such as the Royal Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Royal Academy of Engineering. We will be able to demonstrate (with the children’s help) just how effective getting involved with CIEC is for promoting science in school and introducing a generation of children to the science based industries.

CIEC at the ASE Annual Conference - Liverpool

This year teachers from as far as Australia attended our sessions at this year's ASE conference.  It was lovely to discuss science with teachers from all over the world and find a common understanding and enthusiasm for primary science.

A particular highlight was the AZSTT Primary Science Teacher Awards.  Six awards were presented to teachers from across the UK.  The CIEC team were delighted to see Nina Spilsbury, Malcolm Sargent Primary School, collect her award.  Nina has worked closely with the CIEC team, through the National Science Learning Centre, to promote and develop science in her school.  Prize winners received a cheque for £1,000 for the teacher and a cheque for £1,000 for the school – plus a certificate and ASE Membership for one year for the teacher.

Meet CIEC Promoting Science at the ASE Annual Conference

4 – 7 January 2012 at The University of Liverpool

CIEC Promoting Science are once again in residence at the ASE Annual Conference which is held this year at The University of Liverpool.

You can visit the team on their stand CS10 and chat about CIEC projects and resources.

The team are also delivering several sessions (some booked):

Friday 6^th January 2012 – 14.00

Getting Practical

New horizons: practical ideas for space discovery in the primary classroom

(Gayle Pook, Sue Andrews)

Friday 6^th January 2012 – 11.30-13.00

BC42 Primary science and stories… from industry (repeated Saturday 0930)

Joy Parvin, Gayle Pook, CIEC Promoting Science, University of York

Contextualising science increases children’s enthusiasm for the subject. In addition to using fictional stories and poems, there are great stories from industry that enthuse children and teachers, whilst providing insights into the relevance of school science to the world of work, and STEM career opportunities. But how do you access these stories? This session will introduce you to interactive websites, practical classroom science activities, strategies to work directly with industry, and complimentary teaching materials; thus providing the tools to develop these opportunities for your school.

Discipline: Curriculum development

Target audience: 7-11

Friday 6^th January 2012 – 16.00

Creative primary science – fun,practical, engaging!

(Tanya Shields)