CREST Star Investigators

Sarah Hamilton, science co-ordinator at Greatham Primary School, Hampshire, finds the CREST Star Investigators materials invaluable for her science club.

“We have met every week since September and the children have loved the activities”, says Sarah. Up to 10 girls and boys, mainly from years 4 to 6, attend the club. “It makes a great change for me. I am a year one teacher but I enjoy working with older pupils – and they get so much out of our club”.

During a club session, the classroom is typically a hive of activity with children working alone or in groups tearing up and mashing output from the school’s shredder before making their own paper. Sarah finds that the children are often engrossed and talk enthusiastically about what they are doing and why.

“They remember many of the activities with enthusiasm –right back to the beginning of the year – whether it’s racing rockets and crafty rafts or flying planes,” says Sarah. “I remember that one pupil remembered that the sciency bit was all about aerodynamics and that prompted a discussion about how many folds were needed to make the most aerodynamic shape!”

The science club provides an ideal opportunity for Greatham pupils to enjoy learning new things. “What’s more they go home and share what they have done with their families”, say Sarah. “One girl told me, I don’t tell my friends as they might be jealous that we are enjoying science so much! I’ve even heard at least four pupils say that being a scientist would be fun, whether it’s about trying to make the world a better place or just fiddling around with things”.

As a job-share teacher, Sarah has to be very organised getting the resources together, but otherwise she has found the materials easy to use – even though she has no science background.

“And there’s no doubt that the club has really helped change pupils’ perceptions of science,” says Sarah. “They keep telling me that maybe some find science boring until they try it out - and then it’s fun, and for this group, science is certainly not nerdy”.

And here’s what other teachers have said:

“It’s great having a mix between science and engineering…in schools DT and Science are taught separately…with CREST Star Investigators there are so many ways it can lead off.”

“Huge enthusiasm; they’ve carried out investigations at home and enjoyed telling others about their work. Without the need to record results, as in science lesson, children with poor skills or motivation for writing have really blossomed.”