GFS lockdown activities – Science Week

This week, we’re giving grown ups a break from creating their own science curriculum. These activities are fun, interactive ways of getting some learning in and are a great break from the books for everyone.

At GFS, we know there is an extra need for us to help girls to feel more confident around science related activities by giving them the chance to learn about science in non-competitive environments is really important.

We’ve made everything as online friendly so there’s no need for any printing, but you will need some blank paper. The activities are based on different parts of the GFS programme that we usually run in our groups and can be done in any order.

Have fun – amazing astronauts

Blast off into deep space with our amazing astronauts training programme. First, learn all about the amazing astronauts who have gone before you. Then you’ll take the test to become a fully fledged astronaut, before being given your final mission – to build a junk model worthy of NASA!

1. Meet the astronauts
2. Build a model helmet or robotic arm out of whatever you have at home.

Have fun – the density tower

Kids a bit young to go to space? Check out our density tower experiment, which is fun for all ages.

Be creative – designing DNA

This craft session helps kids get to grips with the building blocks of life using things you have around the house. Instructions here.

Get active – states of matter

This is a really fun game that involves lots of silliness, but also introduces kids to the idea of atoms and how they behave differently in solids, liquids and gases. Check out the rules here – it works best with more than one child, but we’ve done a solo adaptation too!

Happy to be me – science sheroes

Let girls know that they have a place in the world of science by introducing your kids three rockstar women of science with our sheroes of the week activity.

First, meet all three of our science sheroes below, and then complete the fun worksheet with your child(ren).

1. Roxanne El Hady – teenage science whizz
2. Maria Sybilla Merian – discoverer of how caterpillars become butterflies
3. Cynthia Kenyon – slowing down aging to fight disease

Once you’ve learned about our sheroes, you can complete our shero worksheet to rate the super scientists you’ve met this week and online wordsearch.

Skills for life – GFS recommends

Being comfortable and confident around Science, Tech, Engineering and Maths (STEM) is more important than ever. The UN estimates that 65% of primary school kids will end up in jobs that don’t currently exist, and many of the most prestigious of them will be in STEM.

The best way to increase confidence in these areas is to make them less formal and scary. There are so many great books, shows and films that help do this by showing girls and women getting stuck into science. Here are some of recommendations for igniting your kids’ passion for science (and for when you’re in need of some quiet time).

To watch

• Physics Girl is a YouTube channel created by Dianna Cowern that adventures into the physical sciences with experiments, demonstrations, and cool new discoveries. 
• Goldieblox. The YouTube GoldieSquad has members from all over YouTube, like Karina Garcia, Simone Giertz, MyFroggyStuff, SoCraftastic, Hayley LeBlanc and more! They use creativity and engineering to invent stuff that makes life more fun. 
• From germs and emotions to social media and more, Netflix’s Brainchild explores the science of our world and explains it in a way that’s relatable.
• In Extreme by Design on Amazon Prime, student design teams making exciting products to build a better world.  
• More of a watch and do, but this experiment with Mentos and Coke is a sure fire hit with all kids – just make sure you do it outside!

To listen

• Wow in the World – Mindy takes on serious scientific themes and makes them fun – parents may learn something too! 

• Tumble – A must for any budding scientist! Experts drop in to discuss their own work, uncover phenomenons  and ask curious questions. 

To read

• The Case of the Missing Moonstone by Jordan Stratford – an exciting book where Ada Lovelace and Mary Shelley meet as girls and form a secret detective agency! Lady Ada Byron, age eleven, is a genius. Isolated, awkward and a bit rude—but a genius. Mary Godwin, age fourteen, is a romantic. Adventurous, astute, and kind, Mary is to become Ada’s first true friend. And together, the girls conspire to form the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency—a secret constabulary for the apprehension of clever criminals. 

• The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly – a book the whole family can enjoy about Calpurnia Tate, a girl growing up in Texas in 1899 who develops a huge interest in Charles Darwin but struggles to fit in with how a girl is ‘expected’ to behave.  

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle – after the disappearance of her scientist father, three peculiar beings send Meg, her brother, and her friend to space in order to find him. Also a Disney film so you could watch this if you prefer! 

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