Venues & Resources: Science

Venues with Science resources

Science and engineering are strongly embedded in many South Coast based world-famous organisations. It's no surprise therefore that we offer a wide range of visits and tours with a scientific element, from basic material properties through to cutting edge technical design and development.

Science Trips to the Isle of Wight

Teaching Physics?

Physics of Ships and Boats

The learning begins as soon as you leave the mainland. Travel with Red Funnel Ferries between Southampton and the Isle of Wight and set your KS2 age groups to work on their excellent Water / Air Resistance and Friction study activity as they relate to ferry operations. KS3 groups can look at Balance, Motion, Speed, Distance and Time, Pressure, Floating and Sinking as well as Vessel Motion including Stopping and Turning - a great way to use otherwise dead time during the crossing once the initial excitement subsides. Bringing older students? KS4 are catered for with activities around Acting Forces, Speed and Acceleration to keep them occupied and off their phones.

Physics of Steam Trains

At the Isle of Wight Steam Railway KS2 and KS3 students can learn about Forces and Motion, Friction, Traction, Distance and Time, simply by understanding how the trains themselves work. There's opportunities to get up close to steam engines in the workshops and exhibition halls as well as observing them running trackside before taking a ride. KS4 students can learn about Kinetic and Potential Energy, Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration as well as Energy Transference.

Physics of Slides and Toboggans

At Robin Hill Country Park KS2 students can investigate Motion & Force through interactions with birds of prey, model boats and giant bumpy slides. KS3 ages apply the same topics to some of the park's thrill rides such as The Adrenaline Zone. KS4 students utilise the park's unique hillside toboggan ride to acceleration calculations!

Physics of Theme Park Rides

Across the Island at Blackgang Chine Theme Park, KS2 students of all abilities work scientifically at the Waterforce boat slide ride where they consider how different variables affect performance of the boats.

Physics of Self-Sufficiency

Meanwhile, at Tapnell Farm Park, KS4 students undertake a self-sufficiency investigation at this off-grid attraction, reviewing various facets of its bore holes, biomass boilers, solar panels and anaerobic digester. Students can study these environmentally sustainable features in real life. Younger year groups are able to conduct a force investigation using the park's pedal go-karts!

Physics of Ropes and Pulleys

Want to teach Ropes and Pulleys in an enlightening way? Bring your student cohort along to Goodleaf Tree Climbing for practical examples and expert instruction as the kids make their way up a huge oak tree under their own steam.

Teaching Chemistry?

Chemistry of Dinosaur Fossils

Dinosaur Isle, a purpose-built facility staffed by experienced paleontologists, offers KS2 students an understanding of fossils in their "Clues from the Past" resource with variations for age and ability. KS3 students look at Earth & Atmosphere through the composition of earth and the processes of change, evidenced through the lifecycle of fossils in their extensive collection.

Chemistry of Steam Power

At IW Steam Railway, KS2 students get to investigate the properties and changes of minerals through the coal-powered generation of steam for traction. KS3 students delve a little deeper into States of Matter as the concept of particle kinetics is introduced with this real-world example in front of their own eyes.

Chemistry of Everyday Materials

At Red Funnel Ferries there's a handy KS1 resource to keep youngsters busy on their ferry crossing as they look out for Everyday Materials in use across the ships.

Teaching Biology?

Biology of Animals

Our Island features many attractions suited to learning more about all kinds of animals. At the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary for example, KS1 students can learn about the features of donkeys and how they compare to ponies, whilst KS2 students can learn to condition score donkeys like a professional to determine which might need veterinary attention.

At Amazon World both KS1 and KS2 students can conduct an age-appropriate scientific enquiry using the diverse range of unusual creatures found here.

Over at Tapnell Farm Park KS2 students learn to classify and identify animals from their collections of farm as well as more exotic creatures.

Using their Birds of Prey, KS2 visitors to Robin Hill Country Park learn about body parts and functions of various eagles, hawks and owls. Key Stage 4 students can look at Biodiversity and Classification throughout the park, looking at all living things including animals found here.

On the way over the the Isle of Wight, or on the way home, Red Funnel Ferries offers the opportunity to look out for and identify mammals, birds and fish on the crossing.

Thinking outside the box slightly, head over to Dinosaur Isle with your KS2 group to consider how dinosaurs (they were animals after all!) had different characteristics and why. Then, identify dinosaur body parts used for support, protection and movement.

Biology of Evolution

Offering a glimpse into the past, Dinosaur Isle deals with species extinction at KS4 level, considering both abiotic and biotic factors in the demise of the dinosaurs.

In a slightly more entertaining way, Blackgang Chine's Restricted Area 5 with its impressive animatronic dinosaurs helps KS2 students better understand the specific creatures found on the Isle of Wight in Project Dino Coast!

Biology of Living Things and their Habitats

Dinosaur Expeditions affords KS1 and KS2 students the opportunity to look at Food Chains and Tooth Types through their impressive range of fossil exhibits and experience of teaching middle school age pupils. A KS3 resource is also available looking at Food Chains & Food Webs using some dinosaur types as perfect examples of apex predator.

Tapnell Farm Park helps KS2 ages understand Lifecycles of Animals and Birds including gestation periods.

On your ferry crossing, Red Funnel Ferries users can task their KS2 students with Species Identification, looking out for various marine creatures and bird life in the Solent and Southampton Water areas.

At Robin Hill Country Park choose from two KS2 plant species classification challenges - one for Key Stage 2 Lower and a slightly more in-depth version for Key Stage 2 Upper ages. KS2 students can also learn about parts of a plant by studying the various specimens found throughout the park.

IW Donkey Sanctuary challenges KS2 students to learn about what makes donkeys different from other animals, and what happens when donkeys cross-breed with other animals.

The habitats of dinosaurs are explored at Dinosaur Isle where the variety of habitats are explored, and how these habitats supported fossilisation.

Looking more specifically at trees and shrubs, The Model Village, Godshill invites KS1 and KS2 students to Identify Tree Species around their site, where there are literally hundreds of carefully manicured and bonsaied specimens to study at eye level.

Goodleaf Tree Climbing also offers an interactive activity inviting students to collect and compare leaf samples to identify commonly found tree species in the area.