Children at Chilton Primary in Ramsgate have been challenged to put under the microscope exactly what sort of science learning they want.

They replied that they would love to have ‘more hands-on time’ and ‘more time to play’ during lessons.

So the school’s science lead Carol Isaac presented them with an interesting and thought-provoking theme for their annual science week - Hands On Brain, Get Curious.

As well as presenting a range of fresh ideas and experiments to explore, the initiative supported the school’s drive on learning how to use scientific equipment accurately.

In class the children loved the various tasks they faced from making volcanos explode to creating gas to blow up balloons.

Meanwhile a home learning challenge gave pupils a choice of posers to test their powers of scientific deduction. They were ‘do bigger fruits make bigger splats when you drop them?’; ‘do you run faster with your arms swinging or by your side?’; ‘which tennis ball rolls furthest – a wet one or a dry one?’; and ‘do ants like sweet or salty food best?’

During the week pupils from Year 6 also attended the Pfizer Science Jamboree at Discovery Park in Sandwich where they experienced interactive workshops and hands-on experiments; and the Year 5 group made rock cakes and panned for gold among other activities at a special Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths event at Chatham and Clarendon House Grammar in Ramsgate for local schools.

Deputy Head of School Hannah Cheshire said: “Being curious about the world around them and asking lots of questions really brought a range of interesting and varied answers for our children to consider and evaluate.

“The whole week was well-structured and it energised our young scientists with thought-provoking and fun learning and a greater understanding of the breadth of the subject and its many facets.”

Chilton Primary School is part of the Viking Academy Trust with Upton Junior School in Broadstairs and Ramsgate Arts Primary School.

*For more information contact Deputy Head of School Hannah Cheshire on 01843 597695