CSI has supported the Centre for Industry Education Collaboration (CIEC) to expand their suite of IndusTRY AT HOME activities. Originally developed to support parents and teachers during the Covid-19 pandemic school closures, these activities remain a fantastic way to foster family engagement and enhance children’s science capital.
The activities, designed for children aged 3 to 11, are free to download, easy to access and resource, and encourage collaborative exploration of scientific concepts through everyday materials.Activities like making oobleck from potato starch or investigating the best bubble mixture make science enjoyable and demonstrate its relevance to our daily lives.
Teachers have praised these activities for being more creative than traditional homework and for not adding to their workload. Children enjoy the opportunity to work with family members, and parents find them manageable and engaging. By linking science learning to real-world contexts and involving families, IndusTRY AT HOME effectively challenges stereotypes and inspires future interest in STEM careers.
CSI funding was used to create the following activities:
With support from the CSI, CIEC York has also produced the “Tees Valley Guide to Developing Primary Children’s Science Capital” for Primary teachers. This guide is available as a free-to-download from the CIEC website. It includes suggestions on how best to make links with companies across the region, how to engage STEM ambassadors in their classrooms, and how to get the best from family, friends and governors who have a STEM background/profession.
