Playground Science

Playground Science

Set of fun and informal, self-directed activities to support Science learning and add purpose and enjoyment to playtimes.

• Using simple instructions, encourage children to explore the world around them and develop their own scientific skills.

• Developed by the Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) the resource includes 5 cards featuring an activity, initial ideas and questions and 5 drawstring bags which can be used to include scientific equipment to support the activities. A guide for the teacher is also included.

• Each activity uses a small amount of equipment and are deliberately semi-structured so that children can follow the suggestions if they want, but they also have the option to make their own decisions about what to do. The children can do the activities independently or with other children. The five printed cards guide the children through the activity. Each card has a set of initial ideas and questions on one side, with a follow-up activity on the back. The follow-up activities are designed to encourage the children to work more scientifically. There are two sets available, lower primary aimed at children aged between 4-7 years old and upper primary aimed at children aged between 7-11 years old.

• For lower primary, the investigations focus on time and measurement, forces and motion, light and colour, investigating minibeasts and sound.

• For upper primary, the investigations focus on measurement and time, magnetism, magnification, observation and light.

• Encouraging and enabling children to work independently has many benefits. Independent learners are more like to take ownership of their learning and to seek help when needed. When children work independently, they have the opportunity to explore their own ideas and find solutions to their own problems, leading to increased creativity and problem solving skills as well as increased confidence in their abilities.

• The Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) is a charitable organisation helping to improve the teaching and learning of primary science across the UK.