Investigate the properties of materials. Are they hard, soft, bendy or stiff? Do they break? Make and investigate the properties of slime.

 

Investigate the formation of shaddows and their characteristics. Explain how light passes or does not pass through a selection of materials, and finally make shaddow puppets.

 

Can you make your marble last the longest. Predict and test your predictions and then improve your maze.

 

Design and construct simple structures using Brio. Use these skills in a challenge to design and build a vehicle, tower, bridge or playground equipment.

 

Using Intel microscopes, 1 between 2, explore the names and functions of the different parts of the flower.

 

Investigate simple circuits, insulators and conductors

 

Become a Circuit Detective and find out what is wrong with and repair electrical circuits. Draw circuit diagrams and symbols to help your investigation.

 

See how Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) and Manufacture (CAM) works.

- Build a cam operated Turtle from the components provided. The head moves via a mechanical link with a cam on the back wheel. Small hand tools are needed for the final assembly, as well as attention to detail and patience.

- Build Pecking Birds, for the younger students - see how toys are designed using the computer, watch the manufacturing process, then assemble a working toy.

- Time to make a clock, As an introduction to the world of manufacture, designing and making your own clock provides an insight into how CAD/CAM and mechanics can combine. Different design briefs for different stages.

 

Complete the egg drop challenge to explore gravity and air resistance.

 

Using either the pre-marked plane design or a blank sheet of A4, it's your challenge to create a plane that's going to out fly all the others. Planes are launched from the 'Plane Factory Launcher' to ensure fairness! Different design briefs for different stages.

 

Explore forces using pop bottle water rockets.

 

A variety of Challenges can be set using the components in the kits provided.

For example:

1) Design and make a bridge which spans 50 cm and is capable of supporting 1 kg.

2) Design and make a vehicle which travels the fastest and furthest after descending a specified incline.

3) Using only the materials provided build the tallest, stable tower.

 

Programme a barrier using Lego DactaTM and use traffic lights and control sensors to control cars as they enter a car park.

 

FlowGo is a control interface with a memory, which when connected to a computer, works as a standard control interface. It can switch bulbs, buzzers or motors on and off, according to the program, enabling learners to experience the control of real models. The three Flowgo workshops can be completed back to back in a day.  

Part 1: Using the Data Harvest FlowGo equipment and software they will learn to write flow charts that will control lights and buzzers automatically.  

Part 2: Once the basics are mastered they will move on to program computer simulations of real world situations such as traffic lights, rail barriers and street lighting.

Part 3: Linking the components to models. Programming the motor to turn a K’Nex model of a fairground ride they can control the direction and speed of the model.

 

Students investigate the properties of ‘normal’ kitchen ingredients e.g. yeast, flour, sugar, salt, citric acid and bicarbonate of soda and make a ball using custard powder.

 

Data capture & data logging workshops can be tailored to specific curricular objectives and adapted for all keystages.

Using 20 sets of data capture equipment our “Data Harvest? sensors can measure current, voltage, temperature, sound intensity, pressure, force, time, distance, speed, acceleration, reaction times, heart rate, light intensity, infrared and relative position and more….

 - Introduction to Data Logging.  Download the information onto a computer,

plot graphs and interpret the results.

- Scientific Enquiry using Data Logging. Question, predict, collect evidence and discuss your findings. Draw your own conclusions and evaluate your results.

 - Dynamics Systems Measurement. Investigate dynamic systems using the sensors and our special tracks. Key ideas: velocity; acceleration; momentum; the effects of collisions.

 - Data Logging at INTECH. Use the data capture points in the INTECH exhibition to take measurements and perform experiments using the exhibits.

 

Composite materials are all around us whether in our car windscreen or the soles of our shoes. Using basic household materials to test for strength, durability and elasticity, this exciting workshop will show which material or composition of materials is good at absorbing energy.

  

Why are bullet-proof vests and armour plated vehicles manufactured in the way they are? Composite materials are all around us whether in our car windscreen or the soles of our shoes. Using basic household materials to test for strength, durability and elasticity, this exciting workshop will show which material or combinations of materials is good at absorbing energy.

 

Use a set of table top exhibits designed to explore forces and energy and investigate how and why science works. The interactive exhibits demonstrate the Bernoulli principal, hydroelectric power, electro-magnetic forces and pneumatics.

 

Choose from a series of Radio Workshops starting with the basic construction of an AM radio. Additional opportunities are to design and make a cover and, working with radio amateurs, to listen in on world radio.

 

Build three very simple and elegant machines to demonstrate electromagnetic forces - an electromagnet, a generator and a motor.

Alien worlds Workshop

A KS3 & 4 cross curricular workshop which complements the new presenter-led planetarium show. Students investigate real planets that orbit other stars, and find out about their likely environments and then design appropriate aliens. Using primary data, students calculate temperatures and other parameters. They find out how starlight contains a huge amount of information and how this is interpreted. Their findings, including a map of where to find their planet in the sky, are recorded on an A3 poster to take back to school.

 

Choose from a series of Radio Workshops starting with the basic construction of an AM radio. Additional opportunities are to design and make a cover and working with radio amateurs to listen in on world radio. Specialist Radio workshops are also possible.

 

A series of interactive mathematical puzzles covering a broad range of mathematical ideas. The Roadshow was developed by Liverpool University Mathematics Department and provides activities aimed at specific year groups to provide a range of enjoyable mixed ability challenges.