COMMUNITY ACTIVITY PACK - 11-20 March 2022 britishscienceweek.org A set of activities that can be delivered as part of a community group setting ...
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COMMUNITY
ACTIVITY
PACK
11-20 March 2022
britishscienceweek.org
A set of activities that can be delivered as
part of a community group setting,
with young people or adults
Delivered by Principal Partners
This activity pack is a one-stop shop to
support you with creating activities to run
during British Science Week, but you can use
it all year round! Feel free to adapt or extend
any of the activities to suit your audience’s
needs – we’ve chosen a selection of ideas to
suit various age groups, abilities and settings.
poster competi
W r
e’ve looked for activities
which promote learning
and discovery that breaks
u tion
ro
down the stereotypes surrounding
Ente
science, technology, engineering and
If you’re working with young people as part
maths (STEM). We encourage you
of your British Science Week celebrations,
to use British Science Week as an
why not challenge them to design a poster
opportunity to link science to other
based on the activities in this pack and
topics relevant to your audience,
enter it into our poster competition? Simply
including their own backgrounds,
look out for the activities marked with the
lives and interests.
paintbrush symbol shown opposite! The
theme for this year’s poster competition is
Find an activity near you: ‘Growth’, and you can find more information
on how to enter on page 20 and at
British Science Week is a nationwide
britishscienceweek.org/plan-your-
event – there are events and
activities/poster-competition .
activities taking place all around
the UK! You can create your own
activity and see what activities are
happening near you.
Visit sciencelive.net to find out
about all sorts of science-related
events in your area.
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 2
2022 CONTENTS CONTENTS 4 Introducing the theme 5 Making the most of volunteers 6 British Science Week at home 7 Gathering resources in advance of the Week 8 Unlocking skills 9 WeCount to get about 11 Growing spaghetti towers 12 Aviation creation 13 Engineer an ecosystem 14 Ingenious gentoos 17 Wake me up before you grow-grow 18 Making microscopic machines 20 Poster competition BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 3
2022
INTRODUCING
THE THEME
T
he theme this year for British We recommend that you introduce Invite a special guest or someone
Science Week is ‘Growth’! A the theme to your audience in a fun, from the community to share
fitting theme for what has been imaginative way at the start of your with your audience their own
a turbulent time for all of us, ‘Growth’ activity, to get them excited about experience of growth (for example,
links with multiple areas across science, the week ahead! Check out some how they started their career and
technology, engineering and maths. ideas below: gained their expertise), showing
Whether you decide to explore plant how great things can start from
Share your brilliant activities,
growth in your window box or discuss small beginnings. See page 5
vlogs or images on social
the impacts of economic growth on for information on how to get
media! Join the conversation
our society, or even consider your own volunteers.
or see what’s happening during
personal growth over the last 12
the Week by tagging the British Here are some other ideas to include to
months, ‘Growth’ offers a huge range
Science Association start the week:
of topics to delve into as part of your
(@ScienceWeekUK ) and
British Science Week 2022 activities. Tell your audience about the
using the hashtag #BSW22.
plan for the Week and give
Population growth and urban
Try a game, give an audio-visual them a challenge related to the
development could be a fantastic topic
presentation, explore a mystery theme. If you are sending home
to explore in our poster competition. Or
or special object, or create a pop- an experiment, maybe you could
how about the evolution of construction
up display which communicates introduce or demo it at your setting
and engineering – have you seen how
the theme of ‘Growth’. These are first.
quickly a skyscraper can grow with
great to use as fun warm-up
modern building methods? Growth is all around us. Where
activities and are a fantastic way
has the topic of growth been in the
Human growth is another area to start British Science Week.
news or your local area? In which
that offers endless opportunities
Encourage your audience to case can growth be good or bad? Is
for investigation. Why not use the
come up with an acrostic poem there any way you can encourage
human lifecycle as a topic for a group
for GROWTH by asking them what conversations about this with your
discussion, or create a poster which
comes to mind when they hear it. audience?
explores the building blocks of life?
You can even turn their acrostic
If you’re working with young
We can find examples of growth within poem into a jingle which you can
people, then encourage them to
all subjects and all around us, making sing with them throughout the
get involved in the annual poster
it an excellent starting point for a Week to help them remember
competition. See page 20 of this
celebration of science! The theme is to their ideas.
pack for more details.
give you inspiration, you can also use
Engage your audience by
your own ideas to create your event.
discussing how growth is part of
We’d love to find out what ‘Growth’ people, plants, animals, materials,
means to you and how you’d like to countries and other things in their
see that reflected in our events and everyday lives. What are good
activities, so please do get in touch and examples of growth?
let us know what you think!
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 4
2022
MAKING THE MOST
OF VOLUNTEERS
While face-to-face activities and
events are now possible, don’t forget
that there are still opportunities to get
volunteers and presenters to engage
with your audience online.
S
TEM Ambassadors are volunteers your audience. The volunteer could audience might have about
who offer their time and highlight how they grew to be science or scientists in order to
enthusiasm to help bring science an expert in their field, or what promote a more positive attitude
and technology subjects to life, and significant contributions they have towards the subject. Let the
to demonstrate their value to young made to bring about that growth. volunteers/ambassadors share
people. It is now possible to request what inspires them and how their
Schedule two or three different
both in-person and remote STEM job is making a difference in the
guests for open conversations
Ambassador support, meaning that world, or an anecdote of a science
and discussions during the Week,
Ambassadors from across the UK can activity they really enjoy.
if possible, to get your audience
inspire young people wherever they are.
anticipating who the next guest Book your visitors early (as many
will be and what they do. Consider speakers get booked up during
Find out more and make a request
your audience and how to make British Science Week). Have a
for STEM Ambassador support here:
it engaging, fun, accessible and clear idea of what you want them
stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors/
include an element of audience to do and communicate this with
find-a-stem-ambassador .
participation. These sorts of them ahead of time.
experiences can be intimidating
You can also look for presenters Volunteers come from a range
if your audience isn’t comfortable
and volunteers via Science Live of careers and experiences, from
grilling an expert on a particular
(sciencelive.net ), or why not ask engineers, designers and architects
subject – so giving them a bit of
members of your community group to scientists and technicians, so get
advance warning can help. It’s
if they work in STEM-related jobs to your audience looking forward to
also worth briefing your speakers
describe what they do in more detail, inspirational talks which broaden their
in advance too – to make sure
or know anyone who does. horizons and make them question their
they know what to expect and to
own preconceptions about science!
encourage them to be as inspiring,
You could also try some of the
open, honest and inclusive as they
following things: Visit the Inspiring the Future website
can be.
(inspiringthefuture.org ) for some
Kick off British Science Week Where available, choose helpful ideas for using volunteers,
with a career talk or demo from volunteers/ambassadors who some of which may be transferable
an inspiring volunteer to engage challenge stereotypes your when using remote engagement.
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 52022
BRITISH SCIENCE
WEEK AT HOME
Do you want to help your audience carry on
participating in British Science Week at home,
but are not sure how? Here are our top tips for
engaging them with the Week.
Make the most of chat group Encourage exploring outdoors, in Send an experiment idea home
and text messaging services if the community or in local cultural during the Week to perhaps
you have them. Let your audience spots. This could be anything from spark mealtime discussions
know at least a month in advance going on a nature walk around around science. Try to make it
of the Week what you have local parks to spotting STEM in as low-resource as possible. It
planned, and how you’d like them action in the neighbourhood. can help if it’s something your
to be involved. They might be able audience have tried or seen first
If you’re working with young
to collect or donate materials for so that they feel like the ‘experts’
people, many of the BSA’s CREST
use during the Week, and if you when they do it at home with
activities are quick and easy to
want them to get involved in any family, allowing them to lead the
do as fun outdoor activities. Find
experiments at home they may learning.
them here:
need time to plan and collect
collectionslibrary.crestawards.org . In addition to this pack, there are lots
materials themselves.
of other useful ideas for take-home
activities from series such as this
one from the Royal Institution:
rigb.org/families/experimental .
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 62022
GATHERING
RESOURCES IN
ADVANCE OF THE WEEK
Running activities as part of British Science
Week needn’t be expensive. In fact, there’s
lots of ways to gather resources, which are
low-cost and sustainable – although you
might need to do a bit of prep in advance!
I
f you can, try to collect materials cars, or spaceships! Look at
all year round that can be cleaned childrensscrapstore.co.uk to find
for use during British Science a UK directory of scrap stores.
Week. We have designed our
Take photographs when out
activities to be easy to run at home,
and about and share these with
so they don’t need lots of fancy
your audience to encourage
equipment! You could also check to
conversation and raise their level
see whether there is a scrap shop/
of understanding about growth –
store/club open in your local area.
plants, building structures, etc.
These shops are often membership
based and are a brilliant, inexpensive Collect reference books, fiction
or free resource for card, plastic, books and other resources leading
bits of material – all sorts. These to the theme ‘Growth’ and put on
things can be turned into rockets, display to create a themed library.
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 7Imaginative
2022 Observant
UNLOCKING
SKILLS
Curious
A fantastic way to encourage your audience
to take an interest in STEM is to introduce
them to the transferable skills used by those
working in STEM-related jobs.
B
y highlighting that lots of these See the table below for the complete Encourage your audience to run
skills are shared amongst list of skills developed by NUSTEM their own activities during British
your audience, it will hopefully to use as a talking point or to share Science Week. They could either
strengthen positive attitudes and with other groups. Or, as a little bit of run activities for other members
reduce the stereotypes often applied to motivation, why not award each of of the group or run some activities
those working in the field. your audience with a certificate for a with their family, taking photos to
STEM skill which they demonstrate present back to your group.
You could, for example, engage your very well during the Week?
Ask your audience to research
audience in this STEM Person of the
how growth has influenced the
Week (nustem.uk/stem-person-of-
Get your audience way we live our lives today and
the-week ) activity from NUSTEM
leading the way then write a report for the group’s
at Northumbria University. Ask your
newsletter or website.
audience to identify what attributes A great way to encourage your
people working in STEM need. These audience’s interest in STEM is by Encourage your audience to
might include being observant, letting them lead the way. Here’s how design and create their own
creative, patient, good communicator, you can help them along: display, such as a display of
or curious. Look out for the skills set scientists through time. This could
tags for each activity in this pack. be a photo exhibit that emphasises
the diversity of scientists, and
which helps to overcome the
‘scientist in a white lab coat’
stereotype.
Observant Open-minded Committed Tenacious
Creative Imaginative Patient Collaborative
Resilient Communicator Passionate Organised
Curious Self-motivated Hard-working Logical
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 82022
What changes do you think need to be
WeCount made on this street to make them more
people-,bike-, and scooter-friendly?
TO GET ABOUT 6 Brainstorm solutions per group and write
on a poster: “How can we help people
walk or cycle more locally?” Share your
This activity allows members of your group to understand
solutions with the wider group.
what climate change is and the impact of road transport
on emissions. Members of your group will zoom in on how
their journeys can impact emissions. Will there be growth in
Get everyone involved
the number of people who walk, cycle and scoot their way
around their towns and cities in the near future? Younger ones: Make a poster of your idea on
how to make your street more people-, bike-,
1 hour
and scooter-friendly. You could submit this as
Skill set: Committed, imaginative, observant an entry to the British Science Week poster
competition, or stick them on your front
window to inspire others.
Kit list Instructions Older children: Choose a few people you
1 Start by reflecting on what climate change could interview and ask: Would you like fewer
Printed Google maps is, and what activities you are aware of that cars on the road, and why? For example,
of your community contribute to it? How might we reduce the you could ask your parents, grandparents,
centre and emissions we produce? Read and share the teachers or local shopkeepers: What solutions
surrounding roads on fact sheet on the next page to find out more. could you come up with to reduce cars on
an A4 piece of paper. the road based on the results? Write up your
2 Using your maps, draw your own route
Allow space around answers, ready to share the following week.
to your location, including any obstacles
the map for a key and that made your journey longer or more
beneath the map to Adults: By completing this activity, your group
dangerous. Include a key and write any
write your challenges. could be working towards Modeshift STARS
challenges you faced on the route. Discuss
accreditation. Find out more and sign up at:
with the rest of the group the different
modeshiftstars.org/education .
A tally chart ways you travelled to your location.
on a flipchart/
3 Watch this video bsa.sc/YouTube-
whiteboard with
separate columns
traffic-survey . Count the number Next steps
of pedestrians, cyclists, cars and heavy
for cars, pedestrians, WeCount is a Horizon2020 funded citizen
vehicles. Nominate one member to tally the
cyclists and heavy science project under grant agreement
answers, as the rest of the group calls out
vehicles. 872743. Find out more at: we-count.net .
the transport mode.
The initiative for Digital Engineering
4 Head to: telraam.net/en . Zoom out Technology and Innovation (DETI) aims to
to Europe to show the number of active show how digital technology can be used
sensors. Zoom in to a particular location to engineer a better world. Find out more
(an active street near your town/city if at: digitaltrailblazers.co.uk/about .
possible) and click ‘more data’.
Which type of transport is the highest
Career options
for this street?
Engineers find solutions to problems. We now
How might the street design affect this?
understand that we need to reduce car travel,
5 Scroll down to ‘overview per day’. but some street designs do not help people
feel safe to walk or cycle. Maybe you would
What day(s) have the most amounts
like to be a traffic engineer who monitors our
of traffic?
journeys to see how they can improve the
What times of day are busiest? design of our streets, to make it easier for us
Why might that be? to get about safely?
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 9WE COUNT TO GET ABOUT
CLIMATE CHANGE: THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ACTIONS
These activities produce
greenhouse gases,
creating a layer around
the planet that traps the
sun’s rays to heat up the
atmosphere.
Electricity and heating
Using more than we need Our current actions Food Consequence of action
This leads to an increase
Many of our daily actions in global temperatures,
result in burning fossil causing climate chaos.
fuels. When we drive our
cars, fire up a gas boiler, Temperatures are
or use electricity from a continuing to rise and we
Transport need to act now to reduce
coal-fired power station.
the impacts.
Industry
We have the solutions! What will you do?
Above: Climate change is caused by greenhouse homes and to our schools – and solutions to
Image adapted from gases trapping heat in the world. The reducing emissions.
original by ClairCity Project greenhouse gases are released when fossil
fuels are burnt and produce emissions. For Technology can help us better collect traffic
claircity.eu/wp-content/ more resources, visit: data – this is digital engineering. Speed
uploads/2020/05/CC- together-for-our-planet.ukcop26.org/ cameras for example, measure vehicle
infographic.png . schools-pack-resources . speeds. Some sensors measure air pollution
particles in the air, while others count the
About a quarter (27%) of the UK’s carbon number of different types of transport, like
emissions come from transport, as well as pedestrians, cars and bikes. People across
being the main source of toxic air pollution. Europe are currently counting traffic from
And our car use has doubled since the their homes so they can use this evidence to
1980s. To reduce the impact of climate reduce the number of cars and increase the
change, we need to reduce our emissions. number of cyclists, scooters and pedestrians.
So we need to shrink our car use, and grow
how much we walk and cycle about. Think How can we help people walk or cycle
about transport – how we get about from our more locally?
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 102022
GROWING Older children: Work together and discuss
your designs. Investigate the best way you
SPAGHETTI TOWERS can make the tower stand for more than
30 seconds.
There is an increase in the construction of skyscrapers Adults: Supervise the activity and give
and high-rise buildings to accommodate the growing everyone time to share ideas about building
population and rapid urbanisation in most cities. This the tower.
activity will introduce the basic design and engineering
principles mainly used in constructing buildings. How
Watch out
tall can you build your building?
The marshmallows can get sticky. Wash
15 -20 minutes
your hands after construction.
Skill set Collaborative, creative, tenacious
Spaghetti can be sharp. Be careful when
using it to avoid any injuries e.g. eye
injury.
Do not eat the marshmallows in this
Instructions activity.
Kit list
1 Work in pairs or small groups to design
A packet of dried and build the tallest tower out of dried Next steps
spaghetti spaghetti and marshmallows. Think about
We would love to see your spaghetti towers.
the ‘building materials’ you have been
A packet of mini Please take a photo of your tower and email
given. What are the properties of the
marshmallows for the image to spaghetti@petroc.ac.uk ,
spaghetti and the marshmallows? What
each pair/group then log onto our website petroc.ac.uk to
could they be used for?
see the towers built by others during British
Paper 2 Roughly sketch a design for your tower – Science Week 2022. Or you could share it on
how will you ensure the tower is strong Twitter at #BSW22.
Pencils for sketching enough to grow tall? Think about strong
designs shapes such as triangles, how will you
reinforce your structure? At home
Optional tower
decoration 3 Once you have agreed on your design, Think about the buildings you pass on your
start building! Did you need to make any way to/from school, work or when going to
modifications to your design once you the shops.
started construction?
How are the buildings reinforced?
4 If you have time, you may like to add
What makes them strong?
paper decoration to your tower. Once
complete, the tower will need to stand How are they designed? How are they built?
for at least 30 seconds. You can break
How are tall buildings able to stay upright?
the spaghetti and/or marshmallows into
smaller pieces if that helps your design.
5 Take a deep breath and admire your Career options
spaghetti tower construction!
You can take a number of qualifications or
higher-level apprenticeships if you wish to
pursue a career in this area, for example an
Get everyone involved Higher National Certificate in construction.
Younger ones: Make paper decorations for There are a huge number of jobs available
the tower. Share your ideas to help build the such as architectural technologist, building
final design. surveyor or structural engineer.
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 112022
AVIATION CREATION
Design and build your very own aeroplane while
discovering the huge growth in technology and
innovation from early aeroplanes to modern jets.
This activity will encourage you to be curious about flight
and get creative working on a project with family and
friends. If you’re working with a group of people, then
why not create your own fleet of aircraft?
1 Hour
Get everyone involved
Skill set Creative, curious, imaginative
Younger ones: Help with the aeroplane
decoration! Tell everyone why you chose that
decoration. Why not also design a special
logo, like an RAF roundel to put on your
aircraft and share your idea?
Kit list Instructions
Pencils or pens 1 Research the changes in aeroplane design Older children: When the group has come up
using the RAF Museum activity pack with the design, list down all the features of
Paper (rafmuseum.org.uk/london/schools/ your aeroplane and what they are used for.
Computer (optional) family-resources ). You can make a table of the features, or a
poster of your aircraft labelling the parts and
Scissors 2 Choose a task or job that you would like
what they are used for.
an aeroplane to do for you. Think about
Glue the different features of the planes you’ve
Adults: While the children are completing
researched and which would be most
Tape their aviation creations, see if you can find a
suitable for your task.
box that can be used as the backdrop for the
Junk modelling 3 Draw up a design for your aeroplane. plane/s. Cut out the front panel so that the
material – You can sketch it out or use a computer. box becomes a stage, with the sides forming
cardboard, paper,
Don’t forget to think about the task the sky, and the base of the box the airfield.
plastic, whatever
you can find! you’ve selected.
4 Make your aeroplane! Use materials from
Natural materials around the house, or head out and find Watch out
– sticks, leaves, materials in your local area. Get some
stones etc. Be careful if using scissors to create your
friends or family to help you.
aeroplane, and wear an apron to protect
5 When you have collected your materials, clothing if using glue.
it’s time to assemble your plane. You will
Be careful when gathering your materials
need to help each other out.
and make sure young people and children
6 When you have finished, think and are not left unattended when looking for
talk about: materials in your local area.
Which jobs/tasks are aeroplanes
used for?
Next steps
Why are aeroplanes different shapes
When you’ve made your aircraft, share
and sizes?
your designs! Make a backdrop to
Do you think more modern aeroplanes display your aeroplane against, including
are always better? information about what it will be used for.
How can we reduce the emissions of Share it with friends, family and with the RAF
aeroplanes or improve their impact on Museum on social media, they would love to
the environment? see your creations! @RAFMUSEUM
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 122022
stay healthy inside your terrarium. Is this
ENGINEER AN
the same for all plants? Consider what light,
heat and water they might need. Why not
ECOSYSTEM
watch this video from RHS on creating your
first terrarium: bsa.sc/YouTube-Your-first-
terrarium-Houseplant-101-RHS .
A terrarium is like a miniature greenhouse
Adults: Give everyone the chance to talk about
providing the plants inside with everything they
their plans to keep the plants healthy inside
need to grow. The soil in the bottom provides
the terrarium. Check out the Houseplant 101
nutrients and the plants produce water that
(bsa.sc/YouTube-Your-first-terrarium-
condenses on the walls of the terrarium where it
Houseplant-101-RHS) with the RHS for
flows back into the soil to be used again.
some guidance before you start your activity.
30 minutes Get everyone to help tidy up and clean after the
activity as this can be messy.
Skill set Creative, logical, organised
Watch out
Kit list Instructions The soil should be sterilised to reduce
the growth of bacteria and other
1 Look up the type of plants you want to
Three or four plants microorganisms that might harm the plants,
suited to the same grow and check what type of environment
so make sure you buy compost and don’t
environment they need gardenersworld.com/search/
use garden soil, or home-made compost.
plants , Make sure you choose ones
Clean glass jar, that like the same conditions. Succulents Avoid leaving the terrarium in direct
medium size are an easy option as they don’t need sunlight, and don’t over water it!
much water.
Small rocks Don’t forget to trim the plants if they
2 Add a layer of small stones about three grow too tall, and carefully remove any
Compost (use shop- stones deep to the bottom of the glass jar. brown or yellow leaves.
bought compost This allows water to drain from the soil.
that is heat treated/ This activity can be messy, make sure
sterilised - don’t 3 If you’re using activated charcoal, add that you cover the areas that you will be
use garden soil or this layer now. This reduces the growth of making your terrarium on so that you
homemade compost) bacteria and absorbs excess moisture. You don’t get soil everywhere!
need just enough to cover the stones.
Watering can or
sprayer 4 Add a layer of soil so the jar is about
Next steps
half full.
Activated charcoal Salters’ Institute Experiment of the Month,
(optional) 5 Finally, add your little plants so they fit
created in collaboration with Science Sparks,
neatly and spray with water.
brings chemistry and science to life for the
Small decorations 6 If your plants prefer a humid environment, whole family. See the whole collection at
(optional) place a lid on the terrarium to retain saltersinstitute.co.uk , From Erupting
moisture. Your terrarium will mostly look Lemons to Brilliant Bubbles, we have
after itself, but may need a little extra something for every scientist!
water if the soil looks or feels dry.
Career options
Get everyone involved Keeping plants healthy is not easy. Different
Younger ones: Decorate your terrarium plants need different amounts of water, light
by adding small decorations such as toy and humidity. Agriculture and Horticultural
toadstools, pine cones or decorated rocks. scientists specialise in growing plants and
crops, solving problems relating to the
Older children: Discuss what conditions you environment, including dealing with pests and
need to maintain to make sure your plants conservation and even developing new plants!
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 132022
INGENIOUS
GENTOOS
Can you build your own nest like a gentoo
penguin, and test the strength and stability of the
nest under windy and rainy conditions?
30 minutes
Skill set: Collaborative, committed, patient
Located on a tiny island just off the Antarctic 5 Once all the nests are built, test how they
Kit list Peninsula is a small museum and post office, would hold together in different weathers.
and many years ago they were the birthplace
What will happen to your nest on a
An outside of climate science as we know it today.
windy day?
environment e.g.
playground, school Antarctica is warming, and this has
What will happen to your nest in
field, shrubby area implications for many species.
rainy weather?
The island is home to a particularly loud
Nest building material What works well and what could be
colony of gentoo penguins, and for the
e.g. pebbles, feathers, improved?
species to survive and thrive in this changing
stones, twigs environment, they have adjusted their habitat Can you think of any other threats to
Pretend beaks and food choices, adapting to the impacts of the nests? e.g. stone poaching, skua
chopsticks, pegs, or climate change. dive bombing, heavy snowfall, sneaky
folded card sheathbills, careless trampling by seals
Instructions or people?
A watering can 1 Share or read the fact sheet about 6 Make a record of your results. You could
gentoos. See the penguins in action at take photographs or make drawings.
A strong fan
penguinwatch.org . Can you build a nest
7 Present your findings. Be as creative in
like a gentoo?
your presentation as you want!
2 Get into pairs and gather your equipment.
You will be using the equipment to build
a nest and then test it in the ‘rain’ and
Get everyone involved
‘wind’. Younger ones: Discuss what you learned about
gentoo penguins. Describe your favourite fact
3 Discuss these ideas:
about them and why. You can even draw a
What materials will you use? penguin colony and their environment and send
them to info@ukaht.org .
How will you fix your nest together?
Older children: Design a postcard to send
How will you record your results?
to a friend to tell them about the gentoo
4 Collect your pretend beak and practice penguins. Draw and colour a picture on one
using it. side and write your favourite interesting fact
about them on the other.
Adults: Try a mix of older and younger
children in pairs. Make it a timed challenge
and supervise the final testing of the nests.
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 14INGENIOUS GENTOOS
Allow time so that everyone can discuss what
was successful and what didn’t work. Older
members can also take turns in reading aloud
each section from the fact sheet to the group.
Make a quiz before or after building the nests
to keep the members of the group engaged.
Watch out
Listen to an adult about doing outdoor
work safely.
Check that the area is free of unsuitable
materials e.g. animal faeces, broken glass
or tin cans, and hazardous plants such as
stinging nettles.
Do not put the beaks in your mouths.
Wash hands after working outdoors and
handling nest building materials.
Next steps
Research how you think gentoo penguins
adapt to climate change compared to other
penguin species.
Career options
The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT)
delivers public programmes to engage and
inspire people of all ages with 250 years of
British human endeavour in Antarctica.
They work with artefact experts, climate
scientists, explorers, data scientists to name
a few that contributed to what we know of
Antarctica today. Learn more about them at
ukaht.org .
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 15INGENIOUS GENTOOS
FACT SHEET
Species: Pygoscelis papua
Height: 30in (76cm)
Did you know?
Breeding season: November to March
Gentoos have streamlined bodies and strong
Total breeding population: 314,000 pairs flippers. They can propel themselves underwater
Favourite food: Krill, fish, shrimp, crustaceans at up to 22 miles an hour, faster than any other
penguin.
Penguins have excellent eyesight both on land and
at sea.
We’re seeing gentoo penguins increasing their
Appearance & behaviour range/spreading southward towards the pole as
their environment changes in recent decades. They
Gentoo penguins are black with a white tummy, a can be an inspiration on how we respond to our
distinctive white patch above each eye and a bright orange warming planet.
bill. They have pink webbed feet and prominent ‘brush’ tails.
They are quite shy and laid back, and spend most of their UKAHT’s base in Port Lockroy has other visitors!
day hunting and venture to far off places in search of food. Adelie and Chinstrap penguins often come to Port
Lockroy, they sometimes see King and Emperor
penguins too.
Breeding Habitat
Gentoos often return to the same spot each year to Gentoos are found in the Southern Hemisphere and
breed. Their nests are made from pebbles, bones and their favourite place to live is the Antarctic Peninsula
feathers and can contain as many as 1,700 individual and sub-Antarctic Islands. Whilst they spend lots of
stones! Gentoos normally lay two eggs which are incubated time in water, they like to nest in rocky areas free of
by both parents for around 35 days. Once hatched, chicks snow and ice, which is why Goudier Island (where the
are guarded before they leave the nest and form crèches post office in Port Lockroy is located) is the perfect
- a protective group of baby penguins. They continue to location.
be fed by both parents until they fledge on their own at
almost three months.
Predators & threats Moulting
Gentoos have a number of predators including skuas, After breeding, the parents moult for around 15-20
sheathbills and leopard seals. The leopard seals can be days. The old feathers are replaced by new ones.
found in the waters around Port Lockroy and are seen more Penguins remain ashore during the entire moult
regularly at the end of the season as the chicks begin to period and therefore cannot feed (waterproofing effect
move into the water. In 2007 the gentoo species received of feathers is lost until new feathers have fully grown).
a near-threatened status by the International Union for Consequently, all penguins undergo an intense, pre-
Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Following a reappraisal moult food foraging period in which they increase
of population trends, the gentoo penguin is currently their body weight by up to 70%!
designated as “Least Concern” the IUCN.
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 162022
WAKE ME UP BEFORE
YOU GROW-GROW
Studies have shown that playing music to plants can
promote faster growth. In this activity, you will compare
the growth of at least two different bean plants, with one
being played music and one without music. If you use
more plants, try different music genres to see if this also
has an effect on growth.
30 minutes a day
Skill set Observant, organised, patient
Kit list Instructions Older children: Design a table to record the
heights over time. Will you choose to measure
Music source 1 Place your bean plants in separate rooms
the height every day or once a week?
ideally with similar conditions e.g. same
Two bean plant pots amount of daylight.
(this can be more Adults: Ensure the conditions of the rooms that
if you want to 2 Measure your plants and record their each plant are in remain as similar as possible.
explore different heights before you start playing music.
genres of music) 3 Play music to one of your bean plants for Watch out
at least 30 minutes a day. Make sure the
Make sure the bean plants are placed
genre of music remains the same.
somewhere that they can’t be easily
4 Water and look after each plant in the knocked over.
same way – the only variable is the music
Wash your hands after handling the soil
being played to one of the plants with one
or the plants.
plant having no music at all.
5 After a length of time of your choice (two
weeks, a month) measure the heights of Next steps
your plants.
Read about some of the research and
experiments that have explored how music
has an effect on plant growth: dengarden.
Get everyone involved com/gardening/the-effect-of-music-on-
Younger ones: Water the plants with care plant-growth .
and choose the music. As an extension of
this experiment, you can use this activity to
develop observational skills and appreciation
Career options
of the natural world. As well as thinking
about what sounds help plants to grow. Think There are many diverse career options if you
about what sounds plants make? Draw your are passionate about plants. You can specialise
own sound map of the sounds you can hear in lots of different areas depending on your
outside using this guide: schoolgardening. interests. For example, botanical science,
rhs.org.uk/Resources/Activity/Draw-a- horticulture, plant videographer, ecologist,
Sound-Map . forestry work or soil science.
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 172022
Get everyone involved
MAKING MICROSCOPIC Younger ones: You can take turns in binding
one protein at a time to the molecule. Discuss
MACHINES why you chose that protein and how it fits
the molecule.
Your body contains thousands of tiny machines, called proteins. Older children: You can work by yourself or, if
Proteins are made of smaller building blocks, called amino acids there are larger numbers you can make teams
that form long chains. Their order and shape makes them and mixed groups. Record different sequences
‘bind’ with other molecules and this determines how they you can make in one minute – the one with
work. In this activity, you will build your own tiny machines most sequences written in a minute wins.
and think about how their sequence and shape matters.
Adults: You can cut the amino acid shapes
30 minutes
ahead of time and keep the answers away.
Skill set: Logical, organised, patient Be encouraging as it can take time to get
the answers right. Adults can help out with
the tricky bits. They can be time-keepers if
the group decides to adapt the activity as a
game where the one with the most different
Kit list Instructions sequences written in one minute wins.
1 Cut out the amino acid shapes and two
Scissors molecules provided on page 19 . There
Watch out
are 20 different amino acids that have
Pen different properties and shapes. We Be careful when cutting out the amino acid
have five amino acids here. What are the and molecule shapes.
Paper differences between these amino acids?
Printed cut out sheet 2 Amino acids join to form a ribbon, and
Next steps
their order makes the ribbon bend into
a shape (called a protein). The different
A DNA mutation may change an amino acid
shaped ribbons are different proteins.
in a protein. Does the ‘ABBDE’ protein fit
Some proteins, called enzymes, carry out
molecule 1 as well as ABCDE? How about
chemical reactions on molecules.
ACCDE? Do you think the protein still works?
3 Make a protein with the sequence Look up common causes for DNA mutations.
“ABCDE”. Proteins bind molecules like
a jigsaw. Does this protein fit with
either molecule? Go further
4 Look at figure 1 on page 19 , can you Enzymes can help digest food. A potato
work out the letters of each amino acid crisp will start tasting sweet when chewed.
from only looking at the shapes? Research which enzyme is responsible. For
more information about how enzymes work
5 Which sequence of amino acids fits
visit: bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zf339j6/
molecule 2?
articles/zs9dkty .
6 Make a random four amino acid sequence.
Compare your sequence to others. Does
Career options
anyone have the same? How many different
sequences do you think you can make? There are lots of jobs studying proteins and
changing how they work. Proteins are also
used in new and better medicines, washing
powders, food production, genetic research
and chemical industries. Lateral flow tests
use protein antibodies to detect COVID-19
spike protein, and new vaccines are simply
instructions to make protein sequences.
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 18MAKING MICROSCOPIC MACHINES
CUT OUT SHEET
Printed
What is the sequence?
MOLECULE 1 End
A A
B E Start
D C
MOLECULE 2
D C B
Answers
BACDADCEBAE
End
Start
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 192022
POSTER
COMPETITION
If you’re working with young people, why not
challenge them to get creative and enter the British
Science Association’s annual, UK-wide poster
competition! Make a poster about any version of
‘Growth’ that you like and be in with the chance of
winning an array of prizes. The activities found in this
pack, marked with a paintbrush symbol, could all be
used as a source of inspiration to get you started.
Kit list Instructions Making the poster
Paper (A4 or A3) Encourage children to think about different Once they’ve done the thinking, it’s time for
areas of growth so they can come up with children to get creative! Posters must be A4
ideas to include in their poster. Here are some or A3 in size and you’ll need to be able to
Creative materials, points and questions to get you going. take a photograph of each one so it can be
such as: sent to us online for judging. Children can
pens Get children to think about their use pop-up pictures, pull out tabs or use
pencils personal experience of growth – from materials such as pencils, paints, crayons and
scissors growing their own cress plants to paper to create their posters.
glue overcoming a challenge that they thought
watercolours they could not do! How has it helped
paints Submitting the poster
them to become stronger, braver, kinder,
crayons or more accomplished? Posters will be judged on creativity, how well
felt they fit the theme and how well they have
thread How do children think the world has
been made or drawn. Once a child’s poster is
wool grown? You could help them to consider
complete, take a photo of it and complete the
foil population growth, plant growth,
online form to submit it as an entry.
clay economic growth or even the growth of
string cities and society. What is an example of
beads good growth? Next steps
stamps Can children think of people who have Celebrate! For more details, along with the full
foam helped or inspired them to grow? set of poster competition rules and tips, check
pompoms Perhaps they could create a portrait of out our website: britishscienceweek.org/
them to show this? plan-your-activities/poster-competition .
From the learning of new skills to the
development of places and ideas that enable
us to do things more efficiently in our
everyday lives, growth is everywhere!
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 COMMUNITY 20You can also read
