The STEM Hub coordinated a science related STEM event at Ark Alexandra Academy on the 5th December 2022 supported by Engineering UK’s Big Bang at School programme.

Students from Years 7 and 8 spent the morning participating in Ian B Dunne’s ‘Science Magic’ show followed by STEM Ambassador Ivor’s ‘Beyond our Moon’ session.  The students were entertained with exciting and captivating scientific and solar system displays which stimulated their curiosity and enthusiasm in science.

Students started the day with demonstrations which included strange, wonderful noises, levitating objects, big sparks and the occasional funny smell, accompanied by Robots, Hugi, Tibbles and Ani. They got to see a musical tesla coil, mysterious fluidical transformations and some real magic tricks! Followed by more practical and pupil focused activities learning about the Solar System, students engaged in group work on picking key words from texts on the planets culminating with space exploration, the whys and opportunities explained by arts, music, performance and writing.

Ark Alexandra Academy’s Co-Head KS3 Science Y7 Tutor said: “We knew that we had something exciting in store when we requested a Big Bang at School event, but we didn’t anticipate the amount of fun, magic and astronomical wonder that came along! It was fantastic to have ready-to-go demonstrators and facilitators that really sparked the curiosity of our Year 7 and 8s, who have since been singing the praises of the sessions.”

One student said: “It did not even feel like I was learning, but I was!” He came away with a thousand new questions about tesla coils, the science of sound and the opportunities to explore outer space.

Ark Alexandra Academy school concluded: “We will definitely be working to organise more events where we can, hopefully for a full day in the future!”.

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