The Scope Partnership Project was a partnership between Pye Bank School and Kelham Island Museum to involve children in the development and design of new exhibits for the museum’s Science Learning Zone. It is the first time this type of project has taken place, not just at Kelham Island, but nationally.
The best of the children’s designs will be developed by an interactive designer in Phase II of the project. The partnership schools will have the exciting role of being exhibit testers in the Autumn.
Pye Bank Y5 Class and their teacher Mrs Briony Avery came to the museum every Monday for five weeks. This diary was written by Sara Deira Y5.
Week One
Lorraine, from Kelham Island museum, met us at the Bessemer Converter and told us to meet there if there was a fire. Then she took us upstairs to look at structures and things that are made out of structures. Then Steve, the science man, gave us tactic poles and spheres, and we made a strong structure that could lift a bag full of beanbags, like a crane. It was the first time we had made a machine like this.
Week Two
First we answered a quiz with TV handsets, and we pretended we were on Who wants to be a millionaire?. Then Steve set us another challenge. Today we took the sellotape, cardboard and mirrors we were given and made a periscope that we used to see things in front or behind us. Then we went to Scope and played around on the science things.
Week Three
Exciting, exciting. Today we went to Eureka! We looked at exhibits and we had lots of fun. Lorraine gave each team a camera. We went to see if things were colourful, interesting and fun and if they were good enough to put in Scope. We took photos of each other too.
Week Four
Today we talked about movement and we made things that change movement. We were asked to make a machine that would make the flag go up and down. I liked everything – except the writing!
Week Five
This is the last week! We had to build a cart that could travel fast with a lever and by string. We went over the bridge into the Long Gallery and raced them. One fell apart at the start, and one travelled two metres. We laughed at the car that fell apart. The girl’s team won and that was good.