Science

Workshops for KEY STAGE 3 and 4

Portrait of Newton

Observing the Universe
Suitable for 21st Century Science GCSE unit Observing the Universe

• How early astronomers observed the Universe.
• Galileo, Newton and the development of telescopes.
• Handling session with original instruments.

Detail of Planetarium

• Globes and orreries.
• Looking at models in science.
• Conflicting arguments: Ptolemy, Copernicus and Galileo.

Robert Hooke's drawing of a flea

The Making of Microscopy

• Development of microscopy.
• Hooke, Leeuwenhoek and microscopy in the 17th century.
• Handling session with original instruments.

Sundial

Time Tellers: Sundials

• Observing the Sun and the first time tellers.
• Modelling sundials.
• Handling session with original instruments.

Workshops for KEY STAGES 4 and 5:

Marconi radio set

Radio Marconi

• Morse code and the art of telegraphy.
• Radio waves and the first radio transmission.
• Build a crystal set radio.

Astrolabe

What is this thing called an astrolabe?

• Introduction to early astronomy.
• Demonstration of an armillary sphere.
• Make an astrolabe and find out how it works.

Electrical safety demonstration

Creating Sparks

• Early ideas about electricity.
• Popular electrical demonstrations.
• Benjamin Franklin and the lightning conductor.
• See also: Background material on electric here.

Penicillin culture vessels

Penicillin, the Wonder Drug

• The story of penicillin.
• How social and historical factors affect scientific discovery.
• Antibiotics and x-ray crystallography.

Robert Boyle

Boyle and the Air-Pump    (AS/A2 only)

• Robert Boyle and 17th century experimental science.
• Demonstrations with the air-pump.
• Science and the popular imagination.

Study Days

Study days for Key Stage 4 and 5 students are organized around particular themes on an occasional basis. For the date of the next study day and examples of previous events click on study days.