With British Science Week just around the corner (11-20th March 2020), here are some ideas for activities in keeping with this year’s theme of “Growth“.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Instead of focusing on growing plants or animals, a different take on the theme could be to ask the question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”. This opens up the opportunity to introduce children to a range of scientists and engineers. The great thing about this theme is that it can involve an entire school as it doesn’t particularly focus on one area of the curriculum.
Introducing STEM Careers
Reading a science storybook can be a great hook to start any topic. Not All Scientists Wear Lab Coats is an illustrated storybook that explores a diverse range of scientists and engineers including marine biologists, civil engineers and computer scientists.
Free Resources
What Does a Scientist Look Like is a great resource to uncover misconceptions and stereotypes that children hold but it can also easily be adapted to ask “What do you want to be when you grow up?”. The resource includes a body template and clothes and accessories ready to be printed, cut, coloured and stuck!
For more STEM career inspiration, you could also take a look at the free download – Scientists Study Everything! This lists lots of types of scientists and engineers split into different areas of interest and hobbies such as art, sports and nature.
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Inspirational Scientists
In keeping with the theme of “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, you could also read stories of famous scientists and engineers for inspiration.
Mary Anning: The Unstoppable Fossil Hunter tells the story of Mary Anning’s life and work, from a determined young child to a pioneering fossil hunter.
The Little People, Big Dreams series is also a great place to find lots of inspiring stories.
Growth in Plants
Another perhaps more obvious route to explore with the “growth” theme is growth in plants. This is a perfect theme for Key Stage 1 as it aligns nicely with the curriculum topic of plants.
A Story about Plants
Reading Grandma’s Garden as a class or at home can be a great way to start children thinking about what is needed to make plants grow.
The story follows three cousins on a quest to grow sunflowers with the help of their Grandma. They learn that plants need light, water and the right temperature for growth.
