What do you get if you take a forensic investigator, a deep-sea diver and an astronomer, and bring them back to primary school for a week? In Meldrum Primary’s experience, you get the best Science Week imaginable.
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Following three years of highly successful science mornings for P1-P3 pupils delivered by children further up the school, science has risen up everyone’s agenda at Meldrum Primary, and Science Week was the perfect opportunity to introduce even more engaging learning experiences to the school. Everyone at Meldrum Primary got involved, with parents attending, and even delivering workshops.
As Kim Aplin, Depute Headteacher of Meldrum Primary, explains: 'Science Week is all about giving children hands-on experiences. Children in primary school are naturally curious - it’s important that we build on that curiosity and broaden the pupils' understanding of what science involves in the workplace. There is a lot of science being planned in the classrooms by the teachers, but to widen the experience for the children, we wanted to have people come to the school to share their experiences and expertise.'
A far better insight
For Alastair Beaton, Headteacher of the school, parents have a key role to play in the successful delivery of Curriculum for Excellence. 'Through an initiative like Science Week, we’re saying that a new curriculum means new challenges for teachers and for the school, and we’re asking that the parents come on that journey with us and be part of it. By doing so, I think that they will get a far better insight into how the curriculum in Scotland is developing and improving,' he says.
Inspiring children with science
Diane Wood, a parent with a background in science, took on the role of Science Week Co-ordinator. She took an active role in attracting a wide range of people with a connection with science, many of whom were parents of pupils, to the school and was delighted with the results. 'We wanted to prove that science isn’t just about a man in a white coat. We wanted to show the children that science could be anything from experiments in the home to photography, and to inspire them, so that maybe they will go into science-based careers,' she says.
One parent who is a vet at the local practice, held a popular workshop on treating wounded animals. She appointed a 'vet' from the P2 class, to assist with the bandaging of her extremely biddable dog’s 'wounded' leg. At the end of the day, the poor dog was seen wandering around with his leg still bound up!
Activities with deep-sea divers and geologists
With activities including sessions with a deep-sea diver and learning how to make fossils with a geologist, it’s little wonder that the pupils, staff and parents enjoyed the week so much. It certainly received the seal of approval from P7 pupil Matthew Timmins: 'I think Science Week is a really good idea because it gives us a chance to have a look at different activities within science, and it is really fun.'
Science Week at Meldrum Primary is a prime example of combining the benefits of active learning and of promoting parental involvement. 'I think if you can harness a youngster’s enthusiasm for a subject now when they’re so young, then they’ll be more interested in it when they go further up the school,' says parent Fiona Milne, who led an exciting workshop for nursery pupils about volcanoes.
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