Space, time, nature and weather collide
A Maidenhead school celebrated British Science Week with a series of time-based tasks to fit this year’s theme.
More than 423 students at Oldfield Primary School took part in the annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, and maths last week.
British Science Week marked its 30th anniversary by joining forces with the Royal Observatory in Greenwich for the theme of ‘time’ and Oldfield took inspiration from key environmental challenges to acknowledge this theme.
Science curriculum leader David Toynton said: “Science is a core subject which is sadly sometimes overlooked in the grand scheme of the ever-intensifying national curriculum.
“By observing National Science Week every year, we are promoting a love of the subject among our students.
“During my first week of teacher training in 2008, I was told a simple statement: Science is fun. Science Week every year proves to me that that statement is true.”
On Tuesday, March 12, Early Years and Key Stage 1 watched a show about forces and KS2 students watched a show about space and time, which were both hosted by Jen Turner from Bright Spark Science.
David said one highlight for pupils was being able to place both historic and prehistoric world events on a scaled timeline.
Professional weather forecaster Laura Tobin spoke to the youngest pupils about different types of weather, how climate is changing and what a weather map looks like.
She also gave youngsters the chance to try their hand at weather forecasting and talk about the features on the weather map in a special activity on Wednesday.
During the week, Oldfield teachers and support staff showcased their favourite science experiments or science-related games on the playground during break and lunchtimes.
Oldfield launched a new environmental campaign in collaboration with the staff at Braywick Nature Centre on Thursday.
The project is about raising awareness and considering what should and shouldn’t go down drains.
The campaign, entitled ‘Only rain down the drain’, involves drain covers in the area being painted with yellow fish, to indicate that they lead directly to the river.