Would you like to find out what teachers and students thought of our First & Young Investigators award schemes? Many teachers who ran science clubs using these activties at their school, have sent in photos and emails to us, expressing their views on how successful the activities have been among students.

Here’s what the teachers had to say…

Rona Gottesmann (Head of Chemistry), Chelmer Valley High School:

“They loved observing snails and also investigating different gases. They also enjoyed finding out which part of their tongues tasted which taste. I have found a lot of the old modular science experiments very useful for this age and they have also provided stimulus material for choosing a project for the silver award. Next year we will try to encourage the keen ones to tackle a CREST Award.”

Jane Walpole, Science co-ordinator at Claremont Primary School:

“In the science club we follow the BA’s planned activities, which I find very straightforward. The children choose at the end of a session which activity they want to conduct the following week. As children have stopped, started, and some have been committed and arrived each week, I have children working on all 3 Bronze awards, and have to prepare and oversee 3 different activities…”
 
Jennie Gill, South Darley School:

“I have been running the Young Investigators club at South Darley for two terms and we've loved it! I found all the activities easy to use, resource and adapt, and we've made a big laminated book with all the suggested investigations. I canvassed opinion among the children about what they'd most enjoyed and these are the things they came up with:”

• ‘The investigations are fun, especially making the foil boats and looking at insects.’
• ‘I learned lots about electricity and magnets.’
• ‘I like getting the certificates.’
• ‘I like being able to work with a partner or in a group.’
• ‘I like drawing and colouring to show what we've done.’

Year 6 Students from Talbot House School describe how they felt about carrying out science investigations during National Science Week 2006…

“I really enjoyed all the investigations that we tried, but there was one investigation that I thought was the best. That was when we had to build a tower out of straws then balance a marble on the top. If my team’s tower had been 10cm taller we would have won – as it was we came second.”

“Doing my bronze Young Investigators award was great! My favourite thing was the straws where we had to make the tallest free-standing tower and it had to hold a marble. I also enjoyed the paper bridge-making. We had to make a bridge to hold the weight of as many pens as it could (ours won). I really enjoyed it!”

“I enjoyed making the building with 20 straws. We made some mistakes and argued but at last we made a tower. We tried with the marble to see if it could stand or not. Finally, our building stood safely.”

“The activity that I enjoyed most was when we had to team up to make a tower out of 20 straws and sellotape. The tower had to be strong enough to hold a marble on the top. Science Week was really fun, especially the Investigator Awards because we got to learn loads and work in a team.”

The Young People's Programme really want to celebrate the work of our members. If you are a teacher/science club leader and would like to have your school featured in our photo gallery, please email ypp@the-ba.net or call 020 7019 4943. If you would like more information on our award schemes or forthcoming events, please visit Young People’s Programme.