Space for You Key Stage Two
Lead Research Organisation:
Sphere Science Ltd
Department Name: Grants Administration
Abstract
We aim to provide a novel, exciting project to allow primary pupils access to STFC research in fun and exciting and age-appropriate way. This newly developed workshop will be specifically designed for key stage 2 pupils and the two-pronged delivery means that the workshop can be run by experienced science communicators and also university researchers. Support will be given to teachers to expand the reach even further to more pupils, teachers and schools.
The greatest impact will be on primary pupils with low science capital. This project will allow us to bring space research to their doorstep and to see what they recall afterwards. Key stage two pupils learn about magnetism, light and space as part of the National Curriculum. We would like to build on their understanding and broaden their scientific skills to relate these topics to STFC exciting research at the University of Leicester (UoL). Profiling researchers during the project is to improve understanding and the pupils' aspirations.
Why primary pupils?
In our last STFC funded project,' Twinkle twinkle little star', we found that before our workshops 46% of pupils said that they didn't know what space researchers did at work. According to ASPIRE 'Students with low science capital who do not express STEM-related aspirations at age 10 are unlikely to develop STEM aspirations as they get older.' Page 27 www.kcl.ac.uk/ecs/research/aspires/aspires-final-report-december-2013.pdf
Sphere Science has experience of communicating complex science topics in an age-appropriate way. When running our Uranium Enrichment workshops to Year 4 pupils in Ellesmere Port, 80% of the pupils could recall how uranium can be enriched after more than two weeks, and all teachers said that the workshop was well pitched. Recently Jennifer Carter, our partner, from the UoL ran a session on her research. Here are comments from Emma Milton the year 5 teacher, from Tudor Grange Samworth Academy, 'In Year 5, our recent topic was materials and the pupils were able to apply what Jennifer had taught them about plasma to our discussion of solids, liquids and gases.'
'I couldn't believe how many insightful questions the pupils in each class asked. This has really helped us increase our science capital. Even after Jennifer left, the pupils continued to ask questions and have comments about what they had learnt.'
Aspirations are difficult to measure for primary pupils. The first step towards improving STEM aspirations is creating informed and enthusiastic pupils, teachers, and if possible, parents.
Why develop activities for teachers?
After the Sphere Science STFC funded 'Twinkle twinkle little star,' project, 100% of the primary teachers said they would follow-up the workshop and would now feel confident talking about this research in their future lessons. Providing confidence-building resources for teachers increases the impact of the workshop beyond the initial visit and extends access to other pupils, teachers and other schools.
How do the researchers benefit?
Researchers will be trained in the workshop, providing a resource that can be used, in and around the Leicester area. The workshop will provide an efficient and focused activity for researchers to go into primary schools with.
What is the research?
The magnetopause is the interface between the Earth's magnetosphere and the interplanetary magnetic field carried by the solar wind. The magnetopause is highly dynamic, and it moves and changes shape due to the variations in the solar wind orientation and strength. UoL researchers, on a STFC consolidated grant (ST/S000429/1), study the Earth's magnetosphere as it responds to the changes in the solar wind.
The UoL is heavily involved in the SMILE mission, a joint mission of the European Space Agency and Chinese Academy of Sciences. This is timely research, because as our society is increasingly dependent on satellite technologies we become vulnerable to the vagaries of space weath
The greatest impact will be on primary pupils with low science capital. This project will allow us to bring space research to their doorstep and to see what they recall afterwards. Key stage two pupils learn about magnetism, light and space as part of the National Curriculum. We would like to build on their understanding and broaden their scientific skills to relate these topics to STFC exciting research at the University of Leicester (UoL). Profiling researchers during the project is to improve understanding and the pupils' aspirations.
Why primary pupils?
In our last STFC funded project,' Twinkle twinkle little star', we found that before our workshops 46% of pupils said that they didn't know what space researchers did at work. According to ASPIRE 'Students with low science capital who do not express STEM-related aspirations at age 10 are unlikely to develop STEM aspirations as they get older.' Page 27 www.kcl.ac.uk/ecs/research/aspires/aspires-final-report-december-2013.pdf
Sphere Science has experience of communicating complex science topics in an age-appropriate way. When running our Uranium Enrichment workshops to Year 4 pupils in Ellesmere Port, 80% of the pupils could recall how uranium can be enriched after more than two weeks, and all teachers said that the workshop was well pitched. Recently Jennifer Carter, our partner, from the UoL ran a session on her research. Here are comments from Emma Milton the year 5 teacher, from Tudor Grange Samworth Academy, 'In Year 5, our recent topic was materials and the pupils were able to apply what Jennifer had taught them about plasma to our discussion of solids, liquids and gases.'
'I couldn't believe how many insightful questions the pupils in each class asked. This has really helped us increase our science capital. Even after Jennifer left, the pupils continued to ask questions and have comments about what they had learnt.'
Aspirations are difficult to measure for primary pupils. The first step towards improving STEM aspirations is creating informed and enthusiastic pupils, teachers, and if possible, parents.
Why develop activities for teachers?
After the Sphere Science STFC funded 'Twinkle twinkle little star,' project, 100% of the primary teachers said they would follow-up the workshop and would now feel confident talking about this research in their future lessons. Providing confidence-building resources for teachers increases the impact of the workshop beyond the initial visit and extends access to other pupils, teachers and other schools.
How do the researchers benefit?
Researchers will be trained in the workshop, providing a resource that can be used, in and around the Leicester area. The workshop will provide an efficient and focused activity for researchers to go into primary schools with.
What is the research?
The magnetopause is the interface between the Earth's magnetosphere and the interplanetary magnetic field carried by the solar wind. The magnetopause is highly dynamic, and it moves and changes shape due to the variations in the solar wind orientation and strength. UoL researchers, on a STFC consolidated grant (ST/S000429/1), study the Earth's magnetosphere as it responds to the changes in the solar wind.
The UoL is heavily involved in the SMILE mission, a joint mission of the European Space Agency and Chinese Academy of Sciences. This is timely research, because as our society is increasingly dependent on satellite technologies we become vulnerable to the vagaries of space weath
Planned Impact
We would like to invite STFC public engagement and communication teams to visit a Space for you KS2 workshop day and present at STFC network events such as the INTERACT conference as we have in the past.
Our talks at the ASE annual conference and Interact have allowed new teachers and researchers to access our previously STFC funded project activities and materials. Writing an article in Primary Science Review 155 Nov/Dec 2018 p23, has also meant that we have widened the access of the project activities to new primary teachers. We would like to present the activities of Space for you KS2 at future ASE conferences or teachmeets to allow more teachers to access the activities and materials. Craig Early, the Science Lead at The Boston Witham Academy Federation has already indicated that he is part of many school networks across Lincolnshire and would be happy to disseminate the project so that more primary schools can benefit. We hope our future school partners in this project may be able to disseminate to more schools in their own areas.
The University of Leicester will have the workshop to use in its local schools after the project has finished.
Our talks at the ASE annual conference and Interact have allowed new teachers and researchers to access our previously STFC funded project activities and materials. Writing an article in Primary Science Review 155 Nov/Dec 2018 p23, has also meant that we have widened the access of the project activities to new primary teachers. We would like to present the activities of Space for you KS2 at future ASE conferences or teachmeets to allow more teachers to access the activities and materials. Craig Early, the Science Lead at The Boston Witham Academy Federation has already indicated that he is part of many school networks across Lincolnshire and would be happy to disseminate the project so that more primary schools can benefit. We hope our future school partners in this project may be able to disseminate to more schools in their own areas.
The University of Leicester will have the workshop to use in its local schools after the project has finished.
Organisations
| Description | Complex research into the magnetopause can be introduced to primary pupils using practical activities and supporting the pupils so the workshop leader once knowing what they understand can move their thinking on in clear small steps. |
| Exploitation Route | University of Leicester researchers have been trained and have used the workshop with local primary pupils. This could be expanded to other organisations running science workshops in the local area. |
| Sectors | Education,Other |
| Description | Already University of Leicester researchers have used this workshop to describe their research to primary pupils and Sphere Science has run a training session at the Association of Science Education about how to present research to primary pupils using practical activities. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Education |