Festival2U (Pre-recorded Videos)

We are bringing the festival to you! Enjoy pre-recorded sessions from the comfort of your classroom or home. Access them whenever it is most convenient to you!

To request access to any of the pre-recorded sessions, fill out your details in this form and a member of OISF Team will be in touch.

To download Full School’s Programme, check this link: OISF School Programme 2021

Aberdeen Science Centre Sciencey Storytime: Duck!Rabbit! (Nursery – P1)

Loan out Storybook ‘Duck! Rabbit!’ by Amy Krouse and Tom Lichtenheld from Orkney library and try out Aberdeen Science Centre activities to explore optical illusions and how your brain can play tricks on you.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Aberdeen Science Centre Sciencey Storytime: On the Moon (Nursery- P1)

Loan out Storybook ‘On the Moon’ by Anna Milbourne and Benji Davis from Orkney Library and watch videos activities to discover gravity through a range of downloadable activities.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Dynamic Earth: Nectar Collectors (Nursery – P1)

Get yourself comfortable and listen to the adventure of Beatrice the nectar collecting honey bee. Join her as she meets both friends and foes on her search for Nectar Bay, and join in on the Waggle Dance to help other honey bees find it too! With accompanying worksheet.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Orkney Library: Bookbug Session (Nursery- P1)

Put your wellies on and join Elaine & Sally with a Bookbug session from Happy Valley for some water themed fun, songs and a story.

A range of downloadable Maths activities, provided by TechFest, are also available when you request this session.

Get access to the resource using this form.

Scottish Seabird Centre: ‘What’s for Snack?’ Puppet Show (Nursery – P1)

What’s for Snack? is an interactive puppet show with Craig the Crab. With sing-a-long fun, young visitors will be asked to help Craig who has eaten some marine litter by mistake. He will be joined by some of his seaside friends who will aim to help him get rid of his sore tummy.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Aberdeen Science Centre: Food chains and a dolphin’s belly (P4-P7)

Did you ever think how battery-powered toys work? How many types of battery can you think of? In this video, we can show you how to make a lemon battery and you can enjoy investigating how to use it.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Aberdeen Science Centre: How to make a lemon battery (P2-P4)

Did you ever think what happens to the leftovers and the packaging from your lunch? Watch this video to learn about food chains in the marine environment. Are there any changes that you can do to help the dolphin’s belly be healthy and free from human waste?

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Dynamic Earth: Destination Space: Beyond the Visible Universe (P1-P7)

In October 2021, an exciting new space telescope, James Webb Space Telescope, will begin its four-week journey to a special spot four times further from the Earth than the Moon is. Through these videos and activities, you will find out more about what it is, how it works and what it is searching for.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Foraging Fortnight 2021: A Wealth of Weeds – Remedies from Wild Places (P4-7)

Wild plants – including many we think of as ‘weeds’ – are not only wonderful for wildlife but have been used by humans for thousands of years in a multitude of ways. In this workshop we will explore some common weeds and their medicinal properties – and learn to make some simple, safe, effective home remedies!

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Lin Chau: Paper making workshop (P4 – P7)

An opportunity to learn the basic elements of the art of making paper using recycled material. Materials required for the workshop such as simple meshed frame and a packet of Orkney native wild flower seeds can be loaned out for the activity.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Robert Gordon University: Yeast Balloons – Why does bread have holes in it? (P2-P7)

Have you ever wondered why bread has holes in it? In this exciting activity we will look at what exactly makes our balloons blow up and the chemical reaction in bread with yeast. Using items found around the home you can investigate what happens when you mix yeast and sugar together.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Robert Gordon University: The Science of Cheese (P2-P7)

In this experiment we will look at how to make mozzarella cheese, another fun activity of the science of food. When making cheese, the proteins in milk denature to separate the curds and whey. We will show you how to have a go at this at home – something to think about next time you tuck into a tasty slice of pizza with mozzarella on the top!

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Robert Gordon University: Extraction of DNA from Strawberries (P5-S1)

Are you interested in how DNA is extracted? Strawberries yield more DNA than any other fruit because they have eight copies of each type of chromosome! In this sticky, fun experiment, we will extract the long, thick fibers of DNA which store information for the functioning of the chemistry of life.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Scottish Seabird Centre: Rock Pooling with the Scottish Seabird Centre (P2-P7)

Join the team from the Scottish Seabird Centre on North Berwick’s East Beach for this introductory video to the rocky shore and the species that call it home. Find out about the challenges of life in a rock pool and the wider threats facing marine life. Plus learn how to enjoy the rocky shore safely and how to rock pool considerately.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

STEM Ambassador: Ashleigh Kitchiner: Marine mammals across Orkney (P3-P5)

Ashleigh is a Senior Marine Mammal Consultant and has been fortunate to see wild, healthy marine mammals across the world. She is now an Orkney resident and has already seen six species of marine mammal in these thriving waters. In this activity, Ashleigh talks about food-chains, sound underwater and includes a fun activity to keep active minds engaged.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

STEM Ambassador: Kalina Dimitrova: Science & cooking: heat + chemical reactions = dinner (P4-P7)

Chemical reactions are useful in cooking and help to improve the taste of food. Cooking and chemistry have quite a bit in common. The starting materials in a chemical reaction are called the reactants. These react with each other to form a completely new substance known as the product. Products have very different properties to the reactants. Cakes are firmer and taste better than the individual reactants. The colour is different too. Not all chemical reactions need heat energy to make them happen. Through this workshop we’ll use some simple ingredients to cook a meal and explain how the individual reactants form the product.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

TechFest Wildlife Investigators (P1-P7)

Growing tired of going on the same daily walk? Need to add in more excitement? Well, why not put on your investigators hat and find out how much biodiversity is just outside your door! Plus, take part in some fun DIY projects to make your outdoor area even more wildlife friendly!

To request access, fill out details using this form.

TechFest: Code Breakers (P5-P7)

Put your problem-solving skills to the test and see if you can crack the code! You’ll learn about different types of codes and ciphers as well as creating your own code to send your own secret messages. Will you be able to get a coded message to TechFest’s team of secret agents before it’s too late?!

To request access, fill out details using this form.

TechFest: DNA Detectives (P5-P7)

Dive into the wonderful world of genetics! Learn about DNA, the marvellous molecule that contains the instructions for all life on earth! You can even try your hand at translating some DNA sequences to find the hidden meaning. Find out what your DNA says about you!

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Foraging Fortnight 2021: A Wealth of Weeds – Remedies from Wild Places (S1-3)

Wild plants – including many we think of as ‘weeds’ – are not only wonderful for wildlife but have been used by humans for thousands of years in a multitude of ways. In this workshop we will explore some common weeds and their medicinal properties – and learn to make some simple, safe, effective home remedies!

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Lin Chau: Paper making workshop (S1-S3)

An opportunity to learn the basic elements of the art, as artist Lin Chau leads you through the process of mould and deckle making, preparing plant pulp fibre, pulling a sheet and couching it, then pressing the paper. The schools can loan out some materials such as simple meshed frame and a packet of Orkney native wild flower seeds for the session.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Robert Gordon University: Extraction of DNA from Strawberries (P5-S1)

Are you interested in how DNA is extracted? In this activity we will extract DNA from strawberries. Strawberries yield more DNA than any other fruit because they have eight copies of each type of chromosome! The long, thick fibers of DNA store the information for the functioning of the chemistry of life can be taken out of our strawberry in this sticky, fun experiment for home or school.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Robert Gordon University: Chemical Reaction: Elephant Toothpaste (S1-S3)

Have you ever wondered how to make an enough foam to brush an elephant’s teeth? In this activity we’re going to show you how to do just that! We will show you Chemistry in action and how chemicals can be changed to give impressive results. We will use detergent and chemicals called Potassium Iodide and Hydrogen peroxide. In the activity, oxygen gas gets stuck in soap just watch and see what happens next…

To request access, fill out details using this form.

Robert Gordon University: The chemical nature of the Plasma Membrane (S1-S6)

As proteins are denatured at temperatures greater than 45 degrees Celsius heating plasma membranes above this temperature will disrupt the cell membranes and allow the cell contents to leak out. In this experiment we will look at disrupting pigmented cells to show the chemical nature of the plasma membrane.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

STEM Ambassador: Ashleigh Kitchiner: Careers in Marine Biology, from Orkney and beyond! (S1-S6)

Ashleigh is a Senior Marine Mammal Consultant and has worked with a number of organisations worldwide. She understands the up-and-coming jobs in the sector. If you want to work in the marine realm but are unsure how and what to do, this talk is for you! Ashleigh will guide you through many different STEM careers in the marine sector.

To request access, fill out details using this form.

STEM Ambassador: Dr Kevin Parker: Careers in Science and Beyond: Dealing with Difficult Times (S5/S6)

In this session, Kevin will discuss: a) his career, and discussing both the scientific and interpersonal skills required. b) How he has survived working from home for the last 25 years, and will share some thoughts on how to manage in the current situation. c) the findings of his, and other work, around employability skills desired by companies, NGO’s & think-tanks, government, and by those appointing to senior academic positions.

To request access, fill out details using this form.