SEARCH for Science sessions

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  Museums for Beginners - Animal Antics - Early Years Group
  An introduction to museums for young children, making an ideal 'first' visit. It gives the opportunity for children to experience the five elements of play; pretend play, games, physical play, constructive play and explorative play. It is linked to the Early Years Foundation Curriculum, covering at least one element from each area of learning. In small groups, the children can explore our real museum collections and specimens using magnifiers and microscopes, dress up to become an animal, taking on its persona; play games; make a small creature from clay or play dough; build an animal home; and make a puppet. Stories, songs and rhymes will be brought to life through a wide range of hands-on activities.

  Animal Antics session plan.

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  Animals and Classification
  Key stage 1 and 2
  This session is a general introduction to animals and how they may be grouped according to visual characteristics. Activities allow children to explore the differences between mammals, birds, insects, reptiles etc with frequent reference to the "real thing". For younger groups, this is done by means of group discussions, a guessing game and observational drawing. For older groups activities involve handling, observation, description and identification of animals (including using and making keys).

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  Animal Adaptations
  Key Stage 2
  Children investigate animals' adaptations to their environment using real specimens, and undertake activities to explore adaptations for feeding, moving and defence. As a finale, children dress up as polar and desert animals!

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  Food Chains
  Key stage 2
  This session explores how ecological relationships may be represented by constructing "food chains". Activities focus on observation of real specimens, group discussions and practical food chain construction (using specimens and arrows). This is a really memorable way to explore the fragile balance in nature between animals, plants and the environment.

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  Skeletons and Movement
  Key stage 1 and 2
  In this session children investigate bones, joints and muscles in activities which involve full-size replica human skeletons, models of joints and real bones from many other animals. The children also think about their own bodies to investigate how humans and other animals move.

  Teeth and Eating: KS2 supports the QCA scheme of work followed by many schools. It uses real specimens, models and hi-tech equipment to look at human and animal teeth, eating equipment, adaptations, food chains, diets and health.

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  Minibeasts
  Key stage 1 and 2
  Children investigate minibeast classification, life cycles and habitats using real specimens and 'high tech' equipment. The different minibeast groups are explored through games and observational drawing, and younger children create 'the SEARCH garden' as a finale!

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  Animal Body Shop
  Reception and Year 1
  This session has been developed for our youngest visitors. It looks at animal classification, with the added excitement of costume to bring the session to life. Children choose appropriate parts of costume to dress up members of their class to "become" a fish, a mammal, a bird, an insect or a reptile. As in our other sessions, children have the chance to investigate our natural history museum collections and use video-microscopes.

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  Animals in Winter
  Key stage 1
  A hands-on workshop to go with topics on weather or seasons, houses and homes or habitats. The session focuses on different adaptations and winter survival strategies such as migration, hibernation and camouflage.

  NB only available November to February

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  Geology in Action: Rocks and Soils
  Key stage 2
  In this session children find out how to tell rocks, minerals and fossils apart, how they are formed, what they are used for and how they shape the world around us. It is a very practical session which includes sieving soils and using keys, all with a wealth of hands-on material.

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  SATS revision
  Key stage 2
  In this session children are encouraged to investigate and revise relevant topics from the KS2 Science curriculum in a practical and exciting way. Teachers can choose from various topics including use of keys, materials, life cycles and human biology.