science shows for schools

Science show for schools - Science shows for schools

Science Shows for Primary Schools - Hilarious theatre shows based on the national science curriculum that aim to stimulate children's interest in science.

A Science Show for Schools

Footprints in the Sky is an award winning science show for schools, devised, written and performed by a former research scientist and teacher with over twenty five years professional experience of performing children's theatre - A cross curricular comic performance for primary age schoolchildren, that stimulates curiosity and interest in science, additionally linking to the arts, drama and literacy curriculum. It has now been touring successfully for five years

This story is the quest of one William B Curious (Will B Curious for short) who sets out on a search for knowledge and discovers a Book of Questions.

A flying walking stick, a honking cushion, a crazy kazoo, and a magic hat, accompany our hero on an adventure into absurdity as he attempts to unravel the mystery of the Book of Questions on an improbable but hilarious romp through the National Science Curriculum KS 1&2.

Magic, theatre, poetry and clowning become fused into a performance that takes the audience from curiosity, through laughter, to understanding.

science demonstrations for children

About Footprints in the Sky

The aim was to create a show about science that didn’t look like a science show, and instead to create something hugely enjoyable that gets children interested in science by encouraging children to ask interesting questions:~

Why do birds sing, what makes a rainbow, why don’t fish drown in the sea, and why do dogs sniff each other’s bottoms?

Unlike most science shows for schools which are essentially science demonstrations, Footprints in the Sky is a hilarious interactive theatre show, and the fact that it is about science is not revealed until the very end, so that children are engaged and able to learn without realising it.

Theatre in Education Show - national science curriculum 1
Any science show for kids must be funny and exciting. Footprints in the Sky is a comic theatre show that makes children laugh. It's interactive theatre, so they get involved - Is he really going to soak their favourite teacher? - (no he isn't but it gets them interested in the waster cycle!) Where did that rude noise come from when he sat down - can we find the source of a sound?
Science is about fun and understanding and this science show for schools leaves pupils wanting more and asking questions without realising that they are learning

Reviews for School Science Shows

"The children were utterly engaged in the performance and brilliantly entertained. As a teacher of twenty years I thought it was phenomenal - certainly one of the best things we have ever had in the school. It concluded our science week superbly, highlighting what science is all about - asking questions! Pitched perfectly - you understand what children need.

CG - Science Coordinator, Sedgemoor Manor School

To read more reviews from teachers click - Reviews from Teachers

'I learned to ask lots of questions for science and it made me think because it made science sound good and funny' - Luke Age 10

To read more reviews from pupils click - Reviews from Pupils

Science Show - A Brief Synopsis

The story begins, as all stories should, with our hero setting out on an adventure. He meets an old man who gives him a Book of Questions, and it is through learning how to ask good questions that he is able to acquire knowledge.

The narrative is driven by a large ‘Book of Questions’ that directs Will to experiment and enquire. Written in rhyme it begins by raising questions related to basic science. The theme of the performance is a simple rhyme derived from the first part of the curriculum - Ideas and Evidence.

Finding answers is easy, you don’t need to try - Just ask a good question: How, What, When or Why?

Introduction to Forces

A slapstick piece investigating the nature of different forces and their effects on objects. So how does a walking stick stand up unaided then fly through the air and whack our hapless hero on the bottom just when he bends over to pick up something that fell down due to the force of gravity?

Sound

A honking cushion, a tempestuous trumpet, and a crazy kazoo, conspire against Will to demonstrate some of the properties of sound: It has a source and travels through a medium and it gets quieter as you move away from the source.

Air and Gravity

The Book of Questions now presents a riddle about air leading to a section in which experimentation brings an understanding of the buoyancy and density of the atmosphere. This develops into a colourful and balletic piece ending with a spectacular magic trick that leads into properties of rainbows, then carries us into the next section on investigative skills

William B Curious sets out to look for the source of sound, the poetry of learning, and the Rainbow at the End of the Science Curriculum.

Investigative Skills

An amusing optical illusion demonstrates that although you use your senses to observe, they can deceive you, thus demonstrating the need for objective measurements.

The water Cycle

This section begins with an amusing but apposite look at the reason for the need of living things to have a constant intake (and output) of water. This is followed by a magic trick in which water poured into a hat disappears, then re-appears, leading to the question of where water comes from, where it goes, and where it might have been!

Application of what has been learned

Our hero now uses some of the information he has recently acquired about how gravity can be balanced with the buoyancy of the atmosphere to enable him to perform an entertaining trick. (In which he manages to walk with a large feather balanced on his nose).

And here is Will with the Book of Questions and some willing helpers

Finale

The finale in which the purpose of the show is revealed (to understand that science is about understanding the world) and the audience is encouraged to develop curiosity and ask questions.

Follow-up Work

Teachers are supplied with a pack with classroom activities and experiments, with suggestions for how the show might be linked to topics in the science curriculum, demonstrating that asking good questions is a prerequisite to learning.
It is planned that in the future there may also be workshops linked to the show, and it is usually possible to have a discussion with a small group after the show.

The show has a running time of about 70 minutes, and can be performed for audiences of up to 250 children.

It is primarily aimed at 4 - 9 year olds, although 10 and 11 year olds will enjoy it too.

An after show discussion with a smaller group can usually be included.

Click here for details of prices

There is currently a reduced rate for small schools (under 120 pupils) please ask for details.

science shows for primary school children

Will with the stick and the Book of Questions

A full risk assessment has been carried out and there are no significant risks to anyone. The only incidents to have occurred was a child falling off a PE bench because he was laughing so much, and a few small puddles left behind by small children who literally wet themselves laughing.

Why do children occasionally wet themselves when they laugh?

Now that's an interesting question...............

All Paradox Theatre shows including primary school science shows are suitable for children with special needs - comic theatre that can be enjoyed in its own right, even if the content is not fully understood.

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Footprints in the sky was written by Mike Rawlinson and directed by John Lee

Project Supporters include:

Theatre in Educaton science show 1

Theatre in Educaton science show 5

For more information phone Mike Rawlinson

children's theatre shows - science

The show is available in South and South West England including Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Avon, Wiltshire, Bristol, Bath, Blandford, Dorchester, Exeter, Poole, Salisbury, Taunton, and Everywhere in between

Now Available in parts of Berkshire and Surrey including Bracknell, Camberley, Farnborough, Aldershot and Guildford.

Links to Science News Items

Latest news and comment on Science - Guardian Education

How Science Can Pass the Acid Teaching Test

Brian Cox Interview

Science Show for Schools - More Information

There are plenty of science demonstrations for schools available but this production is quite different from a science demonstration.
Footprints in the Sky is an interactive comic theatre show based on the national science curriculum KS 1&2 that has been performed in infant schools, primary schools and special schools throughout England.

Unlike the many science demonstrations for children available, this is a theatre show performed by a scientist that aims to make children curious about science, and to make children appreciate that science is interesting and fun, and above all, relevant to their lives.

The purpose of this kids science show is not so much to teach children (that’s best left to teachers), but to get pupils interested in science, by teaching that science is simply a way to understand the natural world, so although this is an educational show, it is a theatre performance in its own right that can be enjoyed independently of its educational content, and is as suitable for theatres and other venues.

As the performance engaging and funny (and quite exciting at times), children in the audience are not aware that it is an educational show, and learn without being realising it. This circumvents the barriers that some children put up when presented with education, particularly science education. The show has a storyline, and a journey of discovery, which leads to knowledge and transformation, transcending the limitations of a science demonstration for kids.

Footprints in the Sky is a science show for kids devised, written and performed by a former research scientist who went on to pursue scientific research into novel uses for natural and recyclable materials. In the Seventies he researched new approaches to organic farming and has also taught art and design. He is currently a teacher of the Alexander Technique, and for the last twenty five years has been a professional children’s theatre performer and children’s entertainer. His passion is educational performances for schools.

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