Adamsdown Primary School pupils became scientists for the day when they visited Techniquest, the science discovery centre in Cardiff Bay.
More than 100 young learners made the journey to the Techniquest science discovery centre, located in Cardiff, to see interactive science displays and experience the live science show Ocean Explorers that dives into Earth’s coral reefs and investigates the habitats of curious sea creatures.
The visit and show focused mainly on marine biology, conservation and pollution which, according to teacher Lauren Davies, lined up perfectly with the classes’ curriculum this term.
She said: “The show was really engaging, it was nice and visual, and the presenter was fantastic - I think the pupils took a lot from it.
“The whole school year is currently doing a ‘Let’s Investigate Water Pollution’ module, so the topics in the show really worked well with what they’re learning about in school at the moment.
“The demonstrations on ocean acidification and the plastics in the ocean were very interesting. It’s nice that the children were able to learn about similar things in a totally different environment.”
The bus arrived at the school’s entrance for 10.15am and the group were greeted by a staff member who briefed the teachers on what they could expect on their visit. After leaving their coats and bags with the front of house team, the children were split into two groups of 52. While one group went to the Science Theatre to watch the Ocean Explorers show, the other was given free rein of the exhibition floor where the children could decide for themselves which exhibits to interact with.
Facilities on a trip to Techniquest
There are two floors of exhibition space at the Cardiff attraction, with more than 100 interactive exhibits demonstrating a wide range of scientific principles so pupils can have a ‘hands-on’ experience with different STEM subject areas. Schools can add extra activities to their booking, including a visit to the Planetarium, a live show in the Science Theatre, or a workshop in the KLA Lab.
At Ocean Explorers, pupils took part in an oceanography quiz, saw how dry ice reacts when dropped into water, learned more about the effect of plastic pollution and donned their ear protectors for an explosive finale.
After the 30-minute show, the groups swapped over. While some of the children who now headed to the exhibition floor stayed in the retro area (where many of the more traditional ‘hands-on’ equipment is housed) and were captivated by the augmented reality screen, others raced to the more recent additions, such as the hurricane simulator on the first floor.
As well as the retro area, the centre also features five other distinct zones that focus on space, the environment, the human body, chemistry and physics, and world issues.
Andrea Meyrick, head of education at Techniquest, said: “It was great to have Adamsdown visit - the pupils are here for an A* STEM enrichment experience!
“Whether it’s time on the exhibition floor engaging with our exhibits, watching a show in our science theatre or planetarium, or doing hands-on science in the KLA Lab, Techniquest guarantees an experience that enhances their learning. We cover a wide range of topics to support the curriculum.
“The detailed organisation of the entire visit - from the school’s arrival, to lunches and departure - ensures that the teachers can focus solely on the children and the children can focus on learning.”
Once both groups had experienced the live science show, they had some more time to interact with the exhibits before it was time for lunch. Techniquest opens up the Learning Hub for schools to have their packed lunches which can be reserved as part of the visit. This all-purpose space with plenty of seating is a great spot for groups to evaluate their visit.
The children discussed what they had learned on their trip and the results were varied. Seven-year-old Harper couldn’t believe that the title of longest sea animal belongs to the lion’s mane jellyfish, while Roya, 8, said that coral changing its colour in hot water was something fascinating that she will remember from her visit.
“One word I would use to describe today is ‘exciting’. ”
Lolah, 9.
Another option that can be booked is a short visit to the gift shop before the school party leaves, where a variety of science themed books and plenty of pocket-money items can provide a reminder of their visit.
After spending some time in the gift shop, the Adamsdown group made their way back to the bus at 1.30pm, having gained a wealth of knowledge about oceans and marine life, and enjoying hands-on engagement with the science exhibits throughout the centre.
For more information about school visits to Techniquest visit www.techniquest.org.
