Green turtle at National Marine Aquarium

The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth will celebrate this year’s British Science Week with a jam-packed programme of educational activities.

Held from 9th to 16th March, the week will see pupils exploring life under the sea through different workshops and a virtual reality ride into The Abyss (the deepest part of the ocean). All workshops will be linked to Science subjects from the National Curriculum and are suitable for Key Stage 2 and 3.

The week will focus on exploring marine life deep in the oceans and learning more about how marine biologists explore the depths. Pupils will come face-to-face with giant oceanic predators, build submersible electric vehicles and experience the wonder of life below the waves.

The activities will take the form of three hands-on workshops that target not only key curriculum topics, but will allow students to practice real life applications of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects.

Stu Higgs, schools programme manager at the National Marine Aquarium, commented: “We are looking forward to hosting a week of activities all focussed on the darkest depths of our oceans, The Abyss. Taking place during British Science Week, it provides teachers with a fantastic opportunity to bring their pupils along to learn about the oceans with the benefit of the hands-on out-of-the-classroom approach that we take here at the aquarium.”

The Aquarium’s Discovery and Learning Team will be on hand throughout the week to guide students through each workshop. The week will culminate in a new STEM show, which will involve ‘fun, excitement and science in equal measure’.

David Bradford, CEO of Horizons MAT will be attending the NMA's British Science Week activities with every year 3 class from within the MAT.

He commented: “Finding new and inspiring methods of educating and engaging children with STEM subjects is of vital importance. British Science Week at the National Marine Aquarium provides an ideal opportunity to bring learning to life, and held with the unique setting of the Aquarium, our pupils will benefit from learning much more about the fascinating marine life and our oceans.”

Workshops take place daily throughout the week from 10am until 2.15pm each day.

To find out more and book school tickets, please visit www.national-aquarium.co.uk.