EVC Spring 2026_magazine_AWdigital - Flipbook - Page 41
Science
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Take it
up a gear
Helen Spring explains how an old flour mill in north
Yorkshire has been transformed into a place where
science lessons really come to life
As an LOtC Quality Badge holder,
Howsham Mill is all about making
learning memorable, hands-on and
linked to the National Curriculum.
Our waterwheel and Archimedes
Screw Turbine don’t just provide
opportunities for exploring STEM
curriculum subjects; they also
generate renewable energy, which
funds our free educational visits.
Our outdoor sessions are matched
to the English National Curriculum,
focusing on science, geography and
maths objectives for primary school
pupils. For example, the Gears,
Levers and Pulleys workshop helps
children to recognise that some
mechanisms allow a smaller force to
have a greater effect.
it really helps
children get to grips
with those tricky
science concepts
Instead of just talking or
writing about mechanisms,
the children get stuck in,
exploring real plastic gears,
working together to act as
gears in small groups,
and making their
own models with clay
and twigs. It’s all about
learning by doing.
Next, we tackle pulleys. Children take
on the challenge of lifting a bucket of
water using one, two or four pulleys.
It’s brilliant watching them realise
just how much easier the job gets as
they add more pulleys, and it really
helps children get to grips with those
tricky science concepts. We then
measure the amount of effort that is
needed to lift the bucket, generating
data that children can use back in
the classroom.
Our levers activity lets children test
out what happens when you make
a lever longer – suddenly, lifting
something heavy doesn’t seem quite
so impossible. They can really feel
the difference, which not only is more
exciting, but also helps children to
understand that the longer the lever
is, the less effort is needed.
We know every school is different,
and teachers use our workshops in
all sorts of ways. Some come to kick
off a new topic, others use the day to
check what’s been learned, or to wrap
up a unit in style. It can be the perfect
way to revisit and cement previous
learning. And sometimes it’s about
bringing to life all that theory from
Powerpoint presentations and
worksheets. It’s much easier to
understand and remember how a
lever or a gear works when you’ve
tried one yourself – that hands-on
experience can’t be beaten.
THE EVC MAGAZINE – SPRING 2026
Top Tips for
hands-on
educational
visits
Tell providers what
your class has already
covered – they can tailor
the session to build on
prior learning.
Share any relevant
life experiences your
children might bring
with them.
Plan a follow-up lesson
back at school – you’ll
be amazed how much
sticks when it’s been
tried out in real life.
Ask about pre-visit or
follow-up tasks.
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