VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM
And your solution to those challenges? Dan Sullivan, the founder of Empiribox, came in one day and outlined his idea and vision for improving science provision. The real selling point for me was the provision and organisation of all the practical kit on a rolling programme basis. This would reduce the workload for my teachers and provide exciting hands-on science for the children. All science would now be practical, allowing children and staff alike to address the skills and working scientifically. I liked the fact that there was an entire book of
lessons for each scheme of work and face-to-face training once a term for teachers linked to the topics the children would be studying. This term they have been working on The Senses and next term they are doing Forces. From the very beginning the children were
hooked because of the format of the Empiribox lesson where children watch an initial demonstration by the teacher before doing their own hands-on experiment. Science became exciting. They would see things exploding and their reaction was, 'Wow, that’s amazing! Now what can we do?' Their confidence and skills are improving each week and science has rapidly become their favourite subject, even the parents have got caught up in it and have attended 'learning with your child' sessions. Our pupils in years five and six know how to
write up a science experiment and how to phrase the conclusions. They are learning some key science skills that will stand them in good stead in the secondary phase. The enthusiasm is infectious. One boy has
ADHD and finds it difficult to concentrate in class but not in science. 'You get so much more out of it when you actually do it,' he said. Children now rate science as their favourite subject. They’re always asking questions and Empiribox means that teachers have the background knowledge to give them the answers. Science has become very important to us, so
we were thrilled to be chosen as Empiribox's first Beacon School. Dan Sullivan said, 'We believe that you have fully engaged with Empiribox and achieve outstanding science results. You have independently promoted the service; above all, you LOVE science and go above and beyond the requirements expected!'
Tell us about your role as a Beacon School? As an Empiribox Beacon School we can host special assemblies, science days and demonstrations and be an ambassador for good primary science teaching. We are in a position to show parents and our neighbourhood schools what we are doing and all the exciting possibilities for delivering real science in an ordinary primary school classroom. Recently, as part of Science Week, we invited
our parents and other visitors to come in and see some amazing experiments. Dan Sullivan launched the week by setting fire to some Coffee Mate in assembly! It produced a mini-fireball which shot up towards the ceiling and, as you might imagine, the children loved it and learned how much energy there is in creamy sugary food substances. We revisited some of our most popular lessons and took parents into the playground to show
them that when you add Mentos to Coca Cola it produces a very satisfying explosion. We also borrowed a Van De Graaff static generator from Empiribox that looks like a large metal ball on a pedestal, so the children could demonstrate static electricity which makes their hair stand on and makes physical objects fly.
How have the parents responded? Our parents have become much more involved in science. We set an optional homework during the holidays based on our science topic, and last term children had produced so much work that we ran out of wall space. Many pupils created posters about the senses and some children did experiments seeing how long their parents could stand on one leg with their eyes closed. The Empiribox approach has inspired a love of
science in our pupils so we are delighted to share the experience with other schools. Some have signed up already. The children's enthusiasm is priceless, and we
know that Empiribox is great value for money. We could not now envisage delivering science any other way. The programme is constantly developing and has opened up so many opportunities for our children. We are delighted to be a Beacon School for
Empiribox and take great pride in the standards our pupils have achieved are in science.
uFor further information on Wickhambreaux Primary or Empiribox please visit
https://www.empiribox.org/ or call 020 8226 6130.
May 2018
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