If your child has a fascination with all things scientific, they can be part of a world of discovery at the Science Oxford Centre in Headington.
Science Oxford, part of The Oxford Trust, was established by local entrepreneurs the late Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood to encourage the pursuit of science. Their STEM education and engagement programmes have been created to cultivate a positive attitude to science and lay the foundations of science learning. Young people have the opportunity to learn that science can be cool and can lead to amazing career choices which can transform people’s lives. Annually, Science Oxford works with nearly 40,000 pupils in primary and secondary schools around Oxfordshire, supporting 980 teachers through CPD training and inspires nearly 13,000 people through their engagement programme.
A visit to their Science Oxford Centre, which is the UK’s first indoor/outdoor hands-on science education centre for early years and primary aged children, can offer your child limitless opportunities to learn about science. The Centre is open to schools during the week and on Saturdays for families to enjoy.
“It was one of the best family days out we’ve had. The children were totally absorbed with so much to explore and to learn.” Visitor, Family Day.
Amongst the scientific adventures you and your child can experience is the chance to explore, discover and play in the Exploration Zone, where children and grown-ups alike have fun experimenting with interactive exhibits. Create and test flying designs at the Air Table, build a giant magnetic ball run, and see what’s hot and what’s not with the Curious Camera. Exploration Zone activities are aimed at ages 6+, all the family welcome. Quarterly Sensory-friendly Family Days offer a reduced capacity to better support young people with autism and other additional needs and their families.
With 15 acres of woodland and ponds, there’s plenty to see and do outside too. Pick up an Explorer Backpack and trail map and see what wildlife you can spot or listen to a birdsong audio trail! You can enjoy the outdoor and picnic areas all day and refuel with a cuppa and cake or light lunch at the visitor café. Make a splash at the popular outdoor Water Lab – but remember to bring a change of clothes!
The Family Days run every Saturday and are suitable for ages 3+ (all welcome)
Sessions run from:
10am – 12pm
12.30pm – 2.30pm
3pm – 5pm
There are some exciting activities coming up at the Science Oxford Centre:
Visit the website and see what’s in store with the regular Saturday STEM Clubs for ages 5-12. These fantastic family workshops are designed for you and your child to learn from each other and work together while trying out new things.
Nature Club – Discover the amazing natural world and get outdoors at Nature Club for ages 5-9, where you will be making the most of the beautiful surroundings at the Science Oxford Centre. Feel the love for bugs and go on a Minibeast Hunt (20 June). Grab a bug pot, use shake sheets to see what’s in the trees, and sweep nets to hunt in the meadow! Choose a habitat, then design and build a bug to live there with pipe cleaners and play dough. Take home a minibeast ID guide and get ready for Insect Week later in June! (scienceoxford.com/whats-on/minibeast-hunt/)
Film a summer blockbuster starring LEGO at June’s Science Club: LEGO Movie (1 June, ages 5-9). Emerging Gerwigs and Nolan’s create a story board and build LEGO film sets; film your stop-motion scenes frame by frame using digital tablets to create your own award-winning LEGO Barbenheimer. Whose performance was plastic or fantastic? Download your moving picture to enjoy at home with popcorn! (scienceoxford.com/whats-on/lego-movie/)
The Cyber Treasure Hunt is on at Creative Computing Club, (8 June, for ages 9-12). With BBC micro:bits and MakeCode, intrepid adventurers create a tech-tastic gadget to sweep the scene and find the hidden treasure! Program your micro:bit with clues, then go on a hunt using radio-broadcasting code to signal hot or cold when it’s nearby. For an extra challenge, code riddles, coloured lights or Morse Code to help the quest. So, Dot dot dot dash dash dash cool. (scienceoxford.com/whats-on/cyber-treasure-hunt/)
Book ahead at scienceoxford.com
