How to Bring British Science Week to Life in Your Classroom
Educational and Fun Activities
Written by Ella Wright
1 May 2025
🕓14 min
British Science Week is a golden opportunity for educators to ignite a passion for discovery, experimentation, and wonder in their students. Held annually, this nationwide celebration of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) provides a fantastic platform to highlight the role of science in everyday life and to show students that STEM is for everyone—not just scientists in labs.
But making the week truly memorable requires more than just downloading a poster or watching a science documentary. It takes thoughtful planning, creative activity design, and a sprinkle of showmanship. Whether you're a seasoned science enthusiast or a teacher seeking inspiration, here’s how to transform British Science Week from an awareness campaign into an unforgettable in-class adventure.
1: Start with a Big Idea or Question
Begin your British Science Week plans with a theme or central question that sparks curiosity. Each year, British Science Week announces an official theme, but you can tailor it to suit your pupils' interests. Questions like "What makes things float?", "How do animals communicate?", or "Can you hear colour?" can set the tone for an engaging, inquiry-led experience. Each year, British Science Week offers a different theme, designed to unify activities across schools and engage students with relevant, real-world issues. Choosing to work closely with that theme allows your classroom to connect with the nationwide celebration while anchoring your planning in one big idea.
Themes like "Growth", "Connections", or "Time" open doors to hundreds of possibilities. For example:
- "Connections" might inspire lessons about ecosystems, social networks in tech, or global science collaborations.
- "Growth" could be explored through plant biology, personal development, or even population studies.
Create a sense of anticipation by unveiling the theme with a mystery box, teaser video, or dramatic demonstration. Children love surprises, and a powerful opening can turn passive learners into active investigators. Pose a riddle or show an unusual object and ask students to make predictions about what they will be exploring over the coming days.
This initial spark is more than an icebreaker—it's a launchpad for sustained interest. Once students are invested in the "big question," they’ll naturally seek to solve it, discuss it, and ask deeper questions.
2: Make Science Tangible with Hands-On Projects
Hands-on science activities are at the heart of a successful British Science Week. Children learn best when they're physically involved in the process. Whether it's building balloon-powered cars, testing homemade water filters, or growing crystals on a string, these projects allow students to apply scientific principles in a tactile way. No British Science Week is complete without experiments—and they don’t have to be complex or expensive. What matters is that they provoke curiosity, generate questions, and empower students to think critically. Simple investigations can have a huge impact when they’re framed correctly.
Try creating a classroom "lab zone" with clearly labelled materials, safety equipment, and a results display area. Encourage students to document their process using science journals, photos, or even short video clips. Not only does this deepen their understanding, but it also gives them a sense of ownership over the scientific method.
And don’t forget cross-curricular links. Writing up experiments can improve literacy, while data collection and graphing reinforce maths skills. You can even involve art by having students sketch their observations or create science-themed posters to share their findings.
3: Bring in Outside Voices and Real-World Context
One of the most powerful ways to enrich your British Science Week is by connecting students with real scientists and engineers. Invite a local STEM ambassador, university researcher, or industry professional to speak with your class—in person or via video call. There’s something powerful about hearing from someone who uses science in their everyday life. Inviting guest speakers—whether in person or virtually—can help students see the real-world relevance of what they’re learning. This is especially impactful for breaking down stereotypes and showing students that science careers are as diverse as they are.
Hearing from someone working in a STEM field not only demystifies these careers but also shows students the diverse range of people who make up the science community. It humanises the subject and inspires ambition.
You could also take your class on a virtual field trip to a museum, space agency, or nature reserve. Many institutions offer excellent online content specifically tailored to schools. Even a short video from a scientist in a lab can add tremendous value and help children see how what they’re learning connects to the real world.
4: Foster a Spirit of Discovery Through Challenges and Competitions
Inject some excitement into the week with STEM challenges or mini-competitions. These don’t need to be elaborate—think egg-drop challenges, paper bridge building, or creating the tallest spaghetti tower. Working in teams allows students to develop collaboration and problem-solving skills while having fun. Inclusivity also means differentiation. Provide scaffolded instructions for students who need them, extension tasks for those ready to dig deeper, and plenty of opportunity for verbal expression. When students feel the content was made for them—not just delivered to them—they’re far more likely to connect with it.
You can even organise a "Science Fair Showcase" where students present their projects or discoveries. Invite other classes or parents to attend, and turn your classroom into a hub of innovation. These moments build confidence and allow students to celebrate their hard work.
British Science Week also runs national competitions that your class can enter. Whether it’s poster design or citizen science projects, participating gives students a wider audience for their work and boosts their sense of contribution.
5: Leave a Lasting Impact
Don’t let the learning end when British Science Week is over. One of the biggest mistakes schools make is treating the week as a one-off. Instead, use it as a springboard to launch long-term STEM engagement. One of the best ways to bring British Science Week to life is to treat it like a festival. Build excitement in the days leading up to it. Use countdowns, teaser posters, mystery science objects, and announcements. Let students guess what they’ll be doing or submit science-themed questions they’d like answered.
Start a science club, create a "Scientist of the Month" display, or introduce weekly STEM challenges as part of your routine. Keep the conversation going by regularly highlighting how science shapes our lives. Discuss current events, explore environmental issues, or celebrate scientific milestones throughout the year. Consider awarding certificates—not just for the “best” experiment, but for curiosity, resilience, teamwork, and creativity. Science Week is about much more than answers. It’s about questions, risk-taking, and discovery. Celebrate the process as much as the outcomes.
Make space for student reflection, too. Let children journal about their favourite activities, the new facts they discovered, or the careers they now dream of pursuing. These reflections not only reinforce learning but also deepen personal connections to the subject.
Conclusion
What makes British Science Week so powerful isn’t just what happens during those days, but what continues afterward. The most impactful classrooms use it as a launchpad. Ask students what they’d like to explore next. Create a student science committee or start a termly science challenge. Introduce science-based class books or documentaries during quiet time.
British Science Week is a golden opportunity—not just for engagement, but for transformation. When students are immersed in science through stories, sensory activities, and real-world connections, their learning deepens and their self-belief grows. They begin to see science not as a subject on a timetable, but as a lens through which they can understand the world—and even change it.
By planning creatively, thinking inclusively, and encouraging student ownership, your classroom can become a hub of inspiration. And who knows? The experiment you try or the guest you invite might just spark the next future inventor, doctor, or climate scientist. Get in touch to explore our science workshops for primary schools in Croydon and across South London—designed to inspire, educate, and ignite curiosity in every learner.
