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!
Back to the future!
Cheltenham Science Festival returns with a mixture of socially-distanced live events, online talks and demos, including a packed Schools and Family programme, with its free, digital Discover Zone.
As lockdown eases, Cheltenham Science Festival leads the way in resuming live events, staging an inspiring programme of socially-distanced talks and workshops this June. Gloucestershire families lucky enough to snap up tickets will find its venues at Cheltenham Town Hall and the Apollo Stage in Imperial Gardens a hive of covid-secure, in-person discovery.
Television presenter Stefan Gates explores the weird, wacky and wonderfully gross world of science in ‘Weirdology’, while the BBC One Show’s Marty Jopson goes ‘Zap, Crackle and Pop’.
Find out about the scientific principles behind magic spells and even games like Quidditch, as educational entertainer Jon Chase takes you on a bewitching journey through the ‘Science of Harry Potter’.
Get arty with Hana Ayoob as she draws the ‘Ridiculous Diversity of Life on Earth’; and join TV presenter and scientist Shini Somara as she unlocks a love of science, observation and problem-solving in her latest book, ‘A Scientist Like Me’. Meanwhile, Katie Steckles sharpens up the family’s gaming skills in ‘Spectacular Strategy. Maths and Games’.
There’s plenty to inspire young environmentalists including ‘Bella meets Dara: Diary of a Young Naturalist’. Young conservationist Bella Lack talks to Dara McAnulty about his book on juggling homework, exams and friendships alongside his life as an autistic teenager, conservationist and environmental activist. Recommended for ages 9+ and all the family.
For younger children, Rohini Chintha tells beguiling tales of the five senses, colours, butterflies and the weather in Science Storytime to instil a love of science to last a lifetime. Then Fun Science Cheltenham bring Diatom Dave who needs help creating the world’s biggest slime as well as air-powered rockets, lemonade cannons and bubble fires.
Some events at the Apollo Stage are free but a ticket is required. Book tickets at www.cheltenhamfestivals/science
If you’ve missed out on being there in person, you can catch up on some of the live events in the festival for both children and adults by subscribing to the CheltSciFest Player. Available to watch until 14 September 2021.
Science for Schools
On the Cheltenham Festivals website there are even more schools’ events and a free downloadable pack with loads of fun ideas to help you create a festival at home or in school. Watch free, online, at any time up to Monday 13 September 2021. The Discover Zone is also opens now, online, with activities at each virtual stopping off point. You don’t need to register to watch and all events for schools are free to view. All activities can be filtered by age suitability and subject:
# A brand-new citizen science project for schools to take part in launched by Everyday Plastic founder Daniel Webb.
# ‘Stella and the Seagull’ based on the book by Georgina Stevens
# ‘Plastic Fantastic?’ with materials scientist Jamie Gallagher
# Russell Arnott and Elizabeth Mills find fun ways to tackle ‘A Sea of Plastic’
# Mathematician Kyle Evans shares his love of maths in a series of fun videos.
# Find the mighty and elusive waterbear with Jules Howard
# Discover Amazing Illusions with Ginny Smith from ‘Braintastic!’
# listen to the sound of science in ‘Making Waves’
# Science and adventure combine in ‘The Great Immune Escape’
# discover the comet show ‘Snowballs in Space’
# Explore nanotech in ‘The Spectacular Science of the Very (Very) Small’
# Take on some design challenges: a water clock in ‘Drip Drop Tick Tock Challenge’; materials for ‘Space Shuttle Re-entry’ and protective headgear for an egg in ‘Saving Humpty Dumpty’
Join in and share how you’ve enjoyed the Science Festival by tagging @cheltfestivals on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #CheltSciFest.
COMING SOON
Free Music Weekend 9-11 July
Cheltenham Music Festival and Cheltenham Jazz Festival have joined forces to present a weekend of free music in Imperial Gardens with some family-friendly activities to keep the kids entertained.