Wellacre and the Great Science Share

Posted at 1:00 pm on 19th December, 2023

Students Welcome Primaries for CSI Workshops

Wellacre is an active participant in the Great Science Share 2023/24, a national campaign which inspires students to take the lead in asking, investigating and sharing scientific questions with new audiences. 

The first stage of the Great Science Share for schools is to deliver a science event and invite special guests so that students can share their science knowledge and answer questions.

  

During November, Wellacre invited Year 4 and 5 children from local primary schools, including Acre Hall, St. Michael’s and St. Monica’s, for an exciting Crime Scene Investigation challenge.  

  

Wellacre’s Science Ambassadors from Year 7 to 11 were on hand to use science to ‘work the clues’ and uncover the thief who has stolen Wellacre’s House trophy!  They were extraordinary in engaging the young scientists, delivering the experiments and explaining the science behind them.

    

Well done to Maxwell C, Yr 7, Joshua L, Yr 8, Oliver H, Cale M and Jack A, Yr 9, Jacob B and Elliot J, Yr 10, and Jack H, Yr 11.

Clues on the scene included a muddy footprint, white power remnants  (flour, sherbet dip or wash powder!) fingerprints and a handwritten letter.  Using scientific experiments, pupils extracted DNA, compared the chemical and physical properties of powders, and used chromatography to separate the coloured pigments in pen ink to pinpoint the thief. 

Mrs Siddall, Assistant Leader of Science, said:

“It was fantastic to see our boys showing the younger children how to do the science experiments, giving them the opportunity to use the science equipment and to put their investigation skills to the test.”

    

Feedback from our primary school visitors was very positive.  Teachers commented on how the children loved visiting to do the activities and use the science equipment, and how Wellacre students were very good at demonstrating the science experiments to the children.

The next stage of the Great Science Share will see Wellacre students visiting local primary schools to run the next activity with Year 3 children introducing gravity through literacy and making gliders!

Mrs Sharrock, Principal, said:

“Our partnerships with local primary schools continue to strengthen and we were delighted, once again, to host Year 4 and 5 children and give them the opportunity to develop their skills in scientific investigations!”