Malvern St James - Primary Science Sessions
The Physics Department at Malvern St James has partnered with Malvern Parish C of E Primary School to provide a programme of science sessions for Years 2 through to Year 6. The ongoing programme involves a half hour sessions with Years 2, 3, 4 and 5 covering the topics of light, lenses and the eye. Year 6 have received 2 hour sessions on the topics of forces and motion.
Years 2, 3, 4 and 5
Each session started using the neon laser to look at how light travels in straight lines. Then breaking into into small groups the students used 12V ray box sets and Perspex model lenses to observe how lenses can bend and focus light rays. To finish the whole class regrouped to look at a large fluorescene filled globe used to model the human eye. Using a compact light source and corrective lenses they looked at how the eye focusses light onto the retina as well as how lenses can be used to correct short and long sight.
Year 6
The Linear Air Track was used to study forces in a friction free environment; specifically Newton's Laws and discuss how pressure and area were related to force. After a short PowerPoint presentation looking at different sailing ships from a variety of disparate cultures the students broke into small groups to design and test a set of sails made from bamboo, paper and cotton using friction-free air-track gliders. They then re-convened for a competition to find the best sail design by finding the shortest time for their "boat" to sail the length of the linear air track.
Aims
The aims of the programme are to:
- share the MSJ Physics Department’s resources and expertise with the children of Malvern Parish Primary School
- further extend and strengthen MSJ's relationship with the school, with whom we partner in a variety of projects.
Resources
The Physics Department at Malvern St James shared the following resources and equipment with Malvern Parish:
- Neon laser
- 12V ray box sets
- Perspex model lenses
- Fluorescene filled globe
- Compact light source
- Corrective lenses
- Linear Air Track
- Friction-free air-track gliders
Impact
The children of Malvern Parish Primary School are able to experience science taught using facilities and equipment that would otherwise not be available to them. This is helping to enhance their learning by bringing Physics curriculum topics to life without their needing to go on excursions.
Pupil Involvement
Pupils aged 7 to 11.
Frequency
Sessions are planned for each term.