Science Kits
This project originated from an idea thought up by Angus King following a "Teachers International Professional Development" visit to America. Angus, former Head teacher of Western Primary School, visited the "Taylor Science Materials Center" during his stay in Maryland. The Taylor Center lends boxes of scientific equipment to 127 Elementary schools (63,000 pupils) over an area of 500 square miles! Steve Hatcher and Gillian Soper, Deputy Head teachers at St. Aidan's, along with Angus, developed the Maryland idea into the "Science Kits Project".
In 2002 it was included as part of the St. Aidan's Community Bid for Science College Status. The Science Kits are designed for use with KS2 classes in our 6 partner primary schools. Primary schools in the "family" include:-
- Western Primary School
- New Park Community Primary School
- Woodlands Community Junior School
- Richard Taylor C of E Primary School
- Killinghall C of E Primary School
- Felliscliffe Primary School
- Springhill School, Ripon
The programme which has been planned for the first four years of our Science Status will ensure that each of these schools benefits from the scheme. North Yorkshire LEA have shown interest in the science kit project. It is envisaged that each school will borrow a kit for a maximum period of half a term. The kit will then be returned to St. Aidan's for maintenance before going out to another school. Each kit comprises of 2 boxes of equipment that are almost identical. However as some items are only included once, one of the boxes is "a master box". The boxes can be loaned together or separated if 2 schools require a kit at the same time. There are also additional items that can be requested individually, for shorter periods of time, to allow their use in more than one kit. (e.g. Skeleton, accurate balance and data loggers)
This objective is being driven by Mrs M Wilkinson aided by Mrs F East who was appointed as technician for the project in November 2003. The 6 primary schools, in the family, were consulted about what they wanted from the kits and their vision of how they would work. Mrs Wilkinson has worked closely with Ms N Adams from Western Primary School and Ms V Gowland from New Park School who has monitored the effectiveness of the first set of kits.
Completed Kits:
Rocks and soils 3D
Light and shadows 3F
Moving and growing 4A
Friction 4E
Keeping healthy 5A
Life cycles 5B
Gases around us 5C
Changing state 5D
Earth, sun and moon 5E
Changing sounds 5F
Interdependence and adaptation 6A
Micro-organisms 6B
More about dissolving 6C
Reversible and irreversible changes 6D
Forces in action 6E
How we see things 6F
Changing circuits 6G
Other items of equipment are available for:
Helping plants grow well 3B
Teeth and eating 3A
For more information about Science Kits contact Mrs Wilkinson via the main school office
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