Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Bringing the science all back home
With socially distanced explosions, quantum chocolate and hands-on experiments at home, The Cheltenham Science Festival is back in (nearly) all its glory from Tuesday 2 June. It promises a week of extraordinary online activities for children aged 7 and over.
Marieke Navin had already printed the programme for Cheltenham Science Festival when she had to cancel all its live events as coronavirus put the country under a cloud. Head of programming for the festival, she had already lined up high-profile scientists, experts, entertainers and broadcasters to appear, and now, with her colleagues, faced some difficult decisions.
But she knew immediately that, if any event could survive the lockdown, it was this one. After all, if the past two months have taught us anything, it is that communication and teaching can be highly effective when carried out via a computer screen and what could be a more appropriate subject to enjoy through such high tech methods than science itself?
While children won’t be able to get up on stage with scientists and presenters such as ‘The Sky at Night’s Maggie Aderin-Pocock, “food and farts” science broadcaster Stefan Gates, Brian Cox or Andrea Seller (who promises an explosive, do-not-try-this-at-home chemistry experience), they can at least explore safe hands-on science in their kitchens and living rooms, under adult supervision, of course, and enjoy the more spectacular explosions onscreen.
“We didn’t want to just cancel,” says Marieke. “We’re a science festival and felt strongly that we had to show that science can rise to challenge of the pandemic and put something on at home. I was able to keep to the same dates, although we have pared back the number of events from a few hundred to about 60.
“Our family events are all about having fun with children, parents, grandparents or whoever you’re on lockdown with. It’s all about being curious. We cover physics, chemistry and biology in a broad spread of events, breaking down barriers so children can try demonstrations around science at home.”
Events are broadcast on the Cheltenham Festivals YouTube channel (a quick Google search will take you there) and feature interactive chat with the presenter via the channel’s comments section.
Children can enjoy delights such as: The Quantum Mechanical Chocolate Factory, a Willy Wonka-like tour of chocolate, food and snacks, with experiments you can try at home; Dr Maggie’s Grand Tour of the Solar System, in which Maggie Aderin-Pocock answers your questions about our immediate planetary neighbourhood; and Nate Adams’ Sound of Science, a “gorgeous” show promising breathtaking visuals interwoven with music played by Adams and his band.
The main family events start at 10am most days, while some other lectures and events will appeal to older primary school children. See our Family Guide for full listings.
While all events are free, Cheltenham Science Festival is inviting participants to donate whatever they feel able to via https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/cheltscifestathome.