Scientists working with Primary Schools

Our files contain many fruitful examples of scientists working with primary schools, many of which have been reported over the years in our Newsletters. Here are three which give a flavour..

Scientist Partnership Extending Primary Pupils

In 2000, Cancer biochemist Dr Claire Stewart undertook to support teacher Marcelo Staricoff in his work with a group of Year 3 pupils at Christ Church Primary School, Bristol. This work formed part of the "Flying High in Bristol Project" which involved a number of Bristol primary and secondary schools and is run by the Centre for Able Pupils at Westminster College, Oxford. Marcelo's contribution was to look at ways of extending the thinking of his pupils in science using higher order thinking skills and questioning techniques, and at its impact on other curriculum areas. After the pupils had done some initial work in the classroom, Claire's input provided pupils with the stimulus of meeting a working scientist, and the opportunity to develop their classwork in a real life context. Read an account of Claire's first meeting with the pupils in her partner school.

Signing Science; a Science Video made by Deaf Children for Deaf Children

Signing Science was the outcome of a partnership between Dr Nathalie Caplet of the University of Bristol School of Medical Science and staff and students at Elmfeld School for Deaf Children, Bristol. As the result of her experience working with staff at Elmfield, Nathalie saw the need for a video introducing deaf children to the excitement of science. She applied for and won a Royal Society and British Association Millennium Award to do just that. The highly professional product which she master-minded stars two young Elmfield pupils, Megan (aged 10) and Alex (aged 9) with Paul Scott, a deaf teaching assistant at the school, and was filmed at Techniquest in Cardiff. Copies of the video and teaching notes were sent free of charge to all deaf schools in the UK.

Medical Doctors into Schools

Clifton Scientific Trust has facilitated a number of visits of young medical doctors into Bristol primary schools. Medicine proves to be a potent point of contact for primary pupils with real life applications of science, and very productive and lively discussions ensue with pupils of all ages, including at infant school.Clifton Scientific Trust has facilitated a number of visits of young medical doctors into Bristol primary schools. Medicine proves to be a potent point of contact for primary pupils with real life applications of science, and very productive and lively discussions ensue with pupils of all ages, including at infant school.