Primary Schools Outreach

TechFest-SetPoint offers a range of outreach shows and workshops suitable for primary schools. These activities provide an excellent opportunity for pupils to engage in enjoyable and challenging activities linked to the curriculum. Each show and workshop is led by an experienced presenter with a teaching or science background and all presenters have Enhanced Disclosure Scotland. Please see below for a list of the shows and workshops offered.

Support materials for each activity are being developed and will be available for download by clicking on the title of each activity.

This support material will include:

Links to A Curriculum for Excellence
Pre-visit advice
Post-visit suggestions for further activities
Risk Assessments

Kickstart K'NEX	Duration: 45 minutes	N-P2
This workshop is designed to introduce children to the fascinating world of engineering design. Special Kid K’NEX allows younger children to develop their construction skills and build up their creative confidence. Pupils are guided and encouraged to let their imaginations run free and produce their own unique models.
Day & Night	Duration: 30 minutes	P1-3
What makes day and night? Where does the sun go at night? Why do we sometimes see half a moon? This show demonstrates the movement of the Sun across the sky during the day in summer and winter. Discover how to find the Plough, the North Star, Orion, Betelgeuse, and Sirius in the night sky and relate them to the Greek constellations.
Electricity	Duration: 45 minutes	P2-3
In this workshop pupils will investigate how electricity is produced and used along with the dangers associated with the use of electricity. The pupils will also have the opportunity to construct a basic circuit and investigate the properties of simple insulators and conductors.
Flight	Duration: 45 minutes	P2-3
This Science of Flight Workshop provides pupils with a number of hands-on activities - making helicopters, spinning blimps and hoopsters, followed by a testing session and a discussion.
Magnetism	Duration: 45 minutes	P2-3
This workshop will take pupils through a series of enjoyable investigations that cover many aspects of magnetism. Pupils will learn about magnetic fields, measure magnetic strength and make practical use of a compass.
K'NEX Bridge Building	Duration: 1 hour	P4-7
Pupils will work in pairs and will be challenged to design and build a bridge to fulfil the following criteria - the bridge must be a) a given length b) strong enough to support a given weight and c) visually appealing. All bridges will be tested and discussed at the end.
K'NEX Vehicle Design	Duration: 1 hour	P4-7
Develop communication, teamwork, design and engineering skills in this fun and challenging K’NEX workshop. Pupils will work in pairs to build a model buggy that meets specified criteria. The buggies will be tested and discussed with the whole class.
Light & Sound	Duration: 45 minutes	P4-7
Can we see in the dark? How does music work? This show explores the principles of light including, reflections, shadows, rainbows and mixing of coloured light and paint. The science of sound is also explored including vibrations, hearing and pitch. Finally, changes in the speed of light and sound are used to answer the question: How far are we from a thunder storm?
Moon & Seasons	Duration: 45 minutes	P4-7
This hands-on workshop provides the opportunity for pupils to learn about moon phases and eclipses using simple equipment. Discover why we never see the far side of the moon and learn how the tilt of the Earth is related to the seasons.
Night Sky	Duration: 45 minutes	P4-7
Learn about the constellations and stars including Orion, Betelgeuse, Sirius, Taurus, the Seven Sisters, Gemini, Leo, the Big Bear, Draco and Pegasus. Discover how they move during the night and with the changing seasons. Hear the amazing story of Perseus and Andromeda. Find out which planets are currently visible and where to find them. Optional 15 minute extension.
Fun Maths RoadShow	Duration: 1 hour	P5-7
Enjoyment and challenge are the key words to this hands-on maths workshop. Pupils work in pairs, tackling a variety of puzzles set out around the room. Help and encouragement is at hand and solutions are checked. A group discussion concludes the session. Experience has shown that everyone succeeds.
Maths Around the World	Duration: 1 hour	P5-7
The pupils start this workshop with a personalized luggage label and visit each of the zones - Africa, Europe, India, China, Egypt - solving hands-on maths puzzles relevant to the region as they go. Upon completing each zone the pupils attach stickers to their luggage label to show the route that they have taken around the world.
Catch the Wind	Duration: 1 hour	P6-7
In this workshop teams of 2 or 3, using materials supplied, will design and construct a windmill that will raise a given weight a fixed height in the quickest time, investigating the conversion of wind energy into mechanical energy.
Harnessing Energy	Duration: 1 hour	P6-7
Combine fun with environmentally friendly engineering! Teams of 3 pupils will compete in an open-ended challenge, using Lego kits, to convert one form of energy into another with a useful outcome. This is an excellent opportunity for pupils to participate in “engineering with a purpose”.
Something Fishy	Duration: 1 hour	P6-7
It's a mystery why fish are dying in a local river. Pollution is suspected but where is it coming from? Pupils will become 'Science Detectives' as they conduct a series of chemical reaction tests to deduce the source of pollution in this absorbing introduction to the fascinating world of chemistry and environmental science.

Astronomy and Finding the Moon information to accompany the Cosmic Dome shows.

The Primary Outreach Programme evaluation form is available here

For booking or further information please contact Primary Outreach Enquiries