Suitable for: All primary schools (P1-P7)

Available to Book: Friday 8^th September and Monday 11^th September

A practical course using a varied range of free online applications, websites and support materials to teach Computer Science and Unplugged Computing. …

Computational thinking can be introduced right at the start of a child’s school life and will be useful to them throughout their school and working life, for example for breaking down tasks and looking for patterns.

Unplugged Computing uses free activities such as puzzles and games to teach computing concepts such as algorithms, logical reasoning, cryptography and binary numbering.

This workshop will introduce fun and very practical ways to learn about Computing Science. Barefoot Computing Resources will be used for some activities. N.B. No Computers needed (literally unplugged!!)

Suitable for: All primary schools (P1-P7)

Available to Book: Friday 8^th September and Monday 11^th September

A practical course using a varied range of free online applications, websites and support materials to teach Computer Science and Unplugged Computing. …

Computational thinking can be introduced right at the start of a child’s school life and will be useful to them throughout their school and working life, for example for breaking down tasks and looking for patterns.

Unplugged Computing uses free activities such as puzzles and games to teach computing concepts such as algorithms, logical reasoning, cryptography and binary numbering.

This workshop will introduce fun and very practical ways to learn about Computing Science. Barefoot Computing Resources will be used for some activities. N.B. No Computers needed (literally unplugged!!)

Suitable for: Primary 4 upwards

Available to Book: Friday 8^th September and Monday 11^th September

A practical course learning how to code a BBC Microbit and use it in a variety of ways e.g. as a thermometer.

The Microbit is a compact microcomputer. It can be used to teach programming using its simple block editor. It has 25 LED lights which can flash messages. There are two programmable buttons to control and pause games. The BBC Microbit can detect sound, light, movement and because it knows what direction it is it can become your very own compass!

It is easy to code the BBC Microbit using the free online editor (similar to Scratch) on the BBC Microbit website. There is also a free ipad app which provides access to code editors and can be linked to any microbit via Bluetooth.

In addition the website offers projects from beginner to advanced. There is also a wide variety of other teaching resources including complete, editable computing units of work and resources with cross-curricular links. N.B. A class set of Microbits is available for use in the workshop or use your own.

Suitable for: Primary 5 upwards

Available to Book: Friday 8^th September and Monday 11^th September

To learn text-based programming and use it to make repeating patterns and other creative computer art.

Turtle Academy is a free website which includes a playground for text based programming. The workshop is based on simple 2d shapes. Links with maths -angles and shape.

From this we make repeating patterns using a variety of 2d shapes. This programming leads well into Scratch pattern making. Notes on how to do this are available at the workshop alongside notes on turtle academy coding.

Suitable for: P5 upwards

Available to Book: Friday 8^th September – Tuesday 12^th September

The objective is to present a series of astronomy outreach events that concentrate mainly on the history of astronomy. To achieve this, a replica of the Antikythera mechanism (a historic astronomical device) will be employed. Participants will also engage in activities that involve using the sun to determine direction and time, as well as hands-on experience in creating a sundial.

Suitable for: P5-S2

Available to Book: Thursday 7^th – Wednesday 13^th September

Have you heard of Scratch? It’s a fun program that introduces users to how to code. During our session we will use this tool to create a fun and interactive game and learn about the four building blocks that software engineers use to make their products.

Suitable for: P5 – P7

Available to Book: Monday 4^th – Friday 8^th September

Book workshops with Glasgow Science Centre Powering The Future On Tour in which pupils will get hands on and explore how energy underpins our modern lives and the difficult choices to be made about how we will supply and use energy in the future.

These visits come with amazing free resources, Learning Lab Powering the Future which include teacher CLPL, lesson plans, resources and videos to use in class to help investigation of renewables technologies and the pathway to net zero. Pupils will discover opportunities in the energy sector and explore how their skills could change the world.

Suitable for: P5-S4

Available to Book: Thursday 7^th – Wednesday 13^th September

This screen-printing activity intends to highlight the importance of mycelium. Using a silk screen, squeegee, and ink(fluorescent), to print the images of mycelium on top of the card, which has the image of trees and mushrooms pre-printed. The mycelium image would glow in the dark.

Create a card through this screen printing activity, using silk screen, squeegee, and fluorescent ink to print the images of mycelium and discuss the importance of mycelium in the world around us.

Suitable for: P5-S3

Available to Book: Friday 8^th and Monday 11^th September

The session will include talk by a member of the Quekett microscopy club about the thin section collection of microscope slides.

The Primary school session would be themed on discovering rock colours under the microscope, and the secondary session would be ‘build your own microscope’ and find out about Stromness Museum’s new geology microscope project.

Suitable for: P5-S4

Available to Book: Friday 8^th – Wednesday 13^th September

Taking part in the Circular Economy Challenge allows pupils to: Develop an enterprising mindset and enterprising skills; Develop knowledge and understanding of the concept, benefits and principles of the Circular Economy; Increase resilience and confidence; Understand the different roles and responsibilities involved in running a business; Work collaboratively towards a common goal; Develop understanding of the link between the Circular Economy, Sustainable Development and the UN Global Goals. Interdisciplinary Learning Project – in class delivery over 6-8 weeks with support from YE Scotland to introduce the workshop, on week 3 and judging projects at the end. Hybrid or online support during preview followed by in-person session during OISF.

Suitable for: P1-P7 (Whole School Assemblies preferable)

Available to Book: Thursday 7^th and Friday 8^th September

The Scottish Seabird Centre are excited to announce that our popular Scotland’s Marine Superstars workshop is returning for Orkney Science Festival 2023!

How many species of shark live in the seas around Scotland? How fast can a Gannet can dive? How long does it take for a fluffy seal pup to turn into an adult? What does an underwater meadow look like? Is climate change and pollution affecting our seas, and can anything be done about it?

Discover answers to questions like these and many more with a fun, interactive workshop delivered by experts from the Scottish Seabird Centre.

This curriculum-linked, interactive session will introduce children to some of Scotland’s most iconic, beautiful, and important marine species.

Students will have the opportunity to watch amazing footage of marine life, listen to sounds, marvel at life-sized props and models, and get involved in activities designed to engage children with the marine environment on their doorstep and inspire them to protect it.

Please note: New species will be included if workshop has already been delivered to a class in 2022, however priority will be given to schools/classes that didn’t receive the workshop last year.

Suitable for: P1-S6 (Whole School Assemblies preferable)

Available to Book: Thursday 7^th and Friday 8^th September

A fun interactive presentation of their hobby and the discovery that turned into a BBC documentary. They’ll take you on a time travel adventure from the Ice Age back to the Jurassic and the time of the dinosaurs.

Suitable for: P4-S2

Available to Book: Thursday 7^th – Wednesday 13^th September

The Sun provides warmth and light, but what is light and colour? Discover the science of light and colour, and how this is used in engineering.

Suitable for: P6-P7 (can accommodate composite class)

Available to Book: Thursday 7^th – Wednesday 13^th September

Pupils will be challenged for their maths skills to program LEGO robots to travel around a shape and  explore strategies to calculate the perimeter of two-dimensional shapes.

Suitable for: P4 upwards

Available to Book: Friday 8^th September

Using a computer simulation, join the astronomy group to explore space and how big it is. Followed by an interactive session to illustrate the size of the planets and our solar system if large area is available.

Suitable for: P5 upwards

Available to Book: Thursday 7^th – Wednesday 13^th September

Augmented Fashion: Immersive Interactions For Sustainable Heritage In Fashion And Textiles is a value of £1.3 million project funded by the Arts and Humanity Research Council, UKRI. The project aims to determine how immersive interactions can be used to communicate the experience and value of creative, artisan fashion and textile products, with a focus on culture, provenance, heritage, the human hand and sustainable clothing consumption. The novelty of this research lies in the interdisciplinary approach and UK-China cross-cultural knowledge exchange employed across fashion and textiles and computing science with both industry and academia.

Suitable for: P5-P7

Available to Book: Monday 11^th – Wednesday 13^th September

Dementia through our eyes is an interactive game created by the Scottish Dementia Alumni, a group of individuals with lived experience of dementia, in partnership with Science Ceilidh. The game establishes young people’s understanding of dementia while addressing common misconceptions and embedding knowledge on how to look after our brain health.

The game takes the format of a multiple-choice quiz with the questions and answers delivered through short video clips by the alumni, giving a human connection with real people who live with dementia. For these sessions, some of the Alumni will come along in-person to meet the class, answer some of their questions about dementia and offer encouragement as they complete the quiz.

Back by popular demand is the Dynamic Earth’s mobile planetarium for this year’s Science Festival. The team will be travelling to schools in Orkney with brand-new live shows for 2023, some of which have never been seen outside of Edinburgh! Room requirements for the planetarium includes:

• Step free access
• 7m x 7m floor space and 3.2m room height.
• At least two power sockets.
• 2 trestle tables that we can use for a presence next to the planetarium, including table-top activities
• A briefing area either next to the planetarium or nearby, to provide introduction and H&S briefing and also act as an area where your group can remove their shoes if required

• STARRYTELLING [EY, P1]

Sensory education workshop. This session is in two parts beginning with a story (‘Bringing down the Moon’) which takes place outside the planetarium. Following this we explore day & night, stars, planets and the Moon inside our planetarium.

• YOU ARE HERE [P2-P7, S1]

Come with us on a dramatic journey to the very edge of our solar system and back. In real-time we’ll be seeing the boundaries of human exploration and following in the footsteps of some very special space missions. Our beginner-friendly space-cruise is a chance for some cosmic perspective in this topsy-turvy time and also a handy wee reminder that: You. Are. Here.

There will be time to chat with Dynamic Earth’s astronomers after the show too – we hope you’ll join us for the ride!

• DON’T PANIC [P3-7, S1-S6] – BRAND NEW FOR 2023

In days where it seems like Earth is lurching from one disaster to the next, anxieties around the future of our planet mount and it seems like there isn’t much we can do. We’ll explore in our planetarium how there’s actually a lot of cause for optimism as long as we remember – Don’t Panic!

• UNDER PRESSURE – THE OCEAN SHOW [P3-7, S1-S6]

Come with us as we take a deep dive into the global ocean; we’ll explore dark, hidden ecosystems and see the collective efforts of hundreds of marine scientists and engineers, striving to learn all we can about these enigmatic worlds. We’ll also ponder on our ability to shape the future of this global ocean we all depend on.

• WHAT’S UP? [P3-7, S1-S6]

Dynamic Earth’s What’s Up? is an ever-changing look at the night sky and some of the more exciting astronomy and Earth-science news stories that have caught our eyes in recent weeks. In every seasonal version of the show you’ll have time to gaze out on the stars and planets that are visible for our current skies, dive in to beginner-friendly guides on astronomy topics, and be kept up to date on some of the most interesting events and discoveries happening today.