Workshops

The underlying philosophy of all the Workshops is one of investigative skills. They are designed to support the scientific enquiry (Sc1) aspect of the National Curriculum in England & Wales throughout Key Stages 1 and 2, and to support the “Sciences: Principles and practices” aspect of the Curriculum for Excellence throughout P1-P7.

There are 14 workshops in total.

Teachers can enquire about booking a workshop day by using the contact page on this website. There is a small charge to the School of £100 +VAT. This is to cover a quarter of the cost of the workshop, Shell subsidies the rest.

A workshop day comprises of three sessions of the same workshop either delivered to three classes of the same year group or adapted for different age groups.  It may be possible to deliver a different workshop for the afternoon session but this must be discussed and agreed with the relevant workshop leader.

A workshop leader will be assigned to each school.  This allows you to discuss your requirements and the timetable for the day with the workshop leader in advance.

Over the years the Shell Education Service has proved to be successful at delivering workshops, satisfying the most difficult areas of the curricula for primary schools.  But don’t take our word for it here’s what teachers throughout the UK had to say about us:

“The day was really stimulating and well-organised. The activities related very well to the National Curriculum. Some of the children who don’t show an interest in science, suddenly realised that what they learn in class has a practical application and can help them to solve problems in their everyday life”
Key Stage 1 teacher, Great Yarmouth

“The purpose of science week and the workshop was to encourage the children to learn about different aspects of the subject.  The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and I have seen an improvement in their understanding in class and more questions being asked.”
Science teacher at Primary School, Greenwich

“The workshop was first class.  The children’s interest was stimulated and maintained.  The practical aspect provided the best possible learning environment.  Very enjoyable.”
Y6 teacher, Essex

“Did exactly what we wanted by reinforcing previous knowledge and developing it.”
P1-3 teacher, Aberdeenshire

“What a fantastic range of activities!  All children including visually impaired were very engaged and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon.”
Y1 teacher, Essex

“The whole workshop had a ‘What Next?’ atmosphere.”
Y6 teacher, Norfolk

“Exactly right to support our programmes of study in electricity.  The children were motivated and enthusiastic.  The session was pitched just right and the children had to solve problems for themselves instead of just watching a demonstration.  They all learned something new.”
Y2 teacher, Sheffield

“A really worthwhile session expertly led.”
Y3/4 teacher, West Sussex

“The information/data will be used the following week.”
Y6 teacher, Caerphilly

If you are interested in booking a workshop please contact us.  Your details will be passed to one of our workshop leaders.  They will be in touch with you to discuss dates, times and other requirements. Please note the workshops are on a first come first served basis.

Due to high demand for these workshops, schools book many months in advance which means our timetable books up very quickly for the calendar year. Whilst we will do our best to fit you into the calendar year, it is not always possible due to the number of enquiries we receive on a monthly basis.  It is not uncommon for us to become fully-booked a whole term in advance. The more lead-time (and choice of dates) you can offer, the better.

There is a small cost involved.  The workshop day is subsidised by Shell by three quarters, leaving a payment of £100+VAT to the school.

For this, you will get the time of one of our expert workshop leaders at your school for the day, all the equipment needed to deliver the workshop and post workshop follow up sheets for the teacher.

The teacher needs to be present throughout the workshop.

Workshop Programme

All workshops focus on scientific enquiry and investigation.

A “Shell Workshop Day” normally comprises three sessions of the same workshop either delivered to three classes of the same year group or adapted for different age groups. It might be possible to do a different workshop for the afternoon session.

Please discuss the day's timetable with your Workshop Leader as each workshop is carefully structured and will normally require an unbroken length of time.

Although we are as flexible as possible, it might be necessary to organise your school day to accommodate three complete workshop sessions. It is not normally possible to relocate the workshop mid-morning.

The cost to schools taking part in the Shell Education Service Workshop Programme is £100 +VAT.

To book workshops, please contact us.

Key Stage 1

Circus

A set of five investigations based around the theme of a circus.  Concepts covered include: force in the context of pushing, pulling and twisting; balancing forces; magnetism; and the effect of gravity. Five adults or responsible Y5/6 pupils are needed to help supervise the investigations.
Space required: hall
Time: 75-90 minutes

Electricity
A series of six investigations that cover aspects of electrical circuits and conductivity. Six adults or seven responsible Y5/6 pupils are needed to help supervise the six investigations.
Space required: hall
Time: 90 minutes

Splash
An outdoor workshop where children get the opportunity to investigate how things move in/on water. Four adults are needed to help supervise the investigations.
Space required: usually outdoor area, with access to a tap
Time: 60-75 minutes

Toys
This workshop introduces children to the concepts of changing factors and fair testing by investigating a variety of toys.  Concepts covered include pushing, pulling and twisting. Six adults are needed to help supervise the investigations.
Space required: hall
Time: 75 minutes

Wax
An interactive discussion (appropriate to the age and experience of the class) on the changes occurring when a candle burns. Everyone makes a multi-coloured candle. Concepts covered can include: reversible and irreversible changes; transparency; opaqueness; translucency; and colour-mixing. This workshop cannot be relocated during the day.
Space required: classroom or hall with electrical point
Time: 60-75 minutes

Key Stage 2

Balloon Buggies
This workshop (especially good for Y5/6) gives children the opportunity to develop fair testing. Working in small groups, the children select which variable to investigate when building small balloon-powered cars (buggies). Pupils can retain their buggies for further testing.
Space required: hall
Time: 90 minutes

Band Rollers
This workshop gives children the opportunity to develop fair testing. The activity begins with a discussion of the energy powering a clockwork radio. The children use junior hacksaws to make band rollers and investigate the factors affecting their working.
Space required: hall
Time: 75 minutes

Extra Electricity
This workshop gives children an opportunity to investigate different electrical circuits (including the use of different components) using solar cells in lieu of batteries.
Space: classroom and outdoors (weather permitting).  Lamps will be used in bad weather.
Time: 60-90 minutes

Flight
This workshop (especially good for Y5/6) comprises three simple investigations into kites, gyrocopters and pneumatics. The investigations are not concerned with the theory of flight but with contrasting styles of investigation and recording.
Space required: hall
Time: 90 minutes

NOVA
This workshop (especially good for Y5/6) comprises six simple investigations into: phases of the moon; the solar system; stars; the night sky. Five adults are needed to help supervise the investigations.
Space required: hall
Time: 90 minutes

Paper Making
The children use old sugar paper to produce small quantities of new paper, and examine different combinations of new fibres. This workshop is very enjoyable but messy; it cannot be relocated during the day. Extra adult help is useful.
Space required: classroom with sink
Time: 90 minutes

Splash
An outdoor workshop where children get the opportunity to investigate how things move in/on water. Four adults are needed to help supervise the investigations.
Space required: usually outdoor area, with access to a tap
Time: 90 minutes

The Separation Game
In this workshop (specifically for Y5/6), thirty children are challenged to produce a small scale version of the oil and gas industry.  They must drill for oil, transport it by pipeline, refine it into fractions, transport it by rail to a terminal and work out a safety system for the railway.
Space required: hall with an electrical point
Time: two hours

Turbine Science
In this workshop (especially good for Y5/6), pupils are asked to design the most efficient wind turbine to go on a stand and then to make it more efficient by changing one variable.  Their wind turbines will be tested using an electric fan.
Space required: hall
Time: 90 minutes

Vitamin C
In this workshop (especially good for Y5/6), pupils are invited to investigate the amount of Vitamin C in fruits and fruit juices using DCPIP solution.  They are particularly encouraged to consider fair testing and different ways of averaging results.
Space required: classroom with at least one accessible sink.
Time: 90 minutes

Wax
An interactive discussion (appropriate to the age and experience of the class) on the changes occurring when a candle burns. Everyone makes a multi-coloured candle. Concepts covered can include: reversible and irreversible changes; transparency; opaqueness; translucency; and colour-mixing. This workshop cannot be relocated during the day.
Space required: classroom or hall with electrical point
Time: 75 minutes

Workshop Programme

All the workshops support “Skills in science – investigating” in the National Guidelines.

A “Shell Workshop Day” normally comprises three sessions of the same workshop either delivered to three classes of the same year group or adapted for different age groups. It might be possible to do a different workshop for the afternoon session.

Please discuss the day's timetable with your Workshop Leader as each workshop is carefully structured and will normally require an unbroken length of time. Although we are as flexible as possible, it might be necessary to organise your school day to accommodate three complete workshop sessions. It is not normally possible to relocate the workshop mid-morning.

The cost to schools taking part in the Shell Education Service Workshop Programme is £100 +VAT.

To book your workshop contact us.

Primary Years 1-3

Circus
A set of five investigations based around the theme of a circus.  Concepts covered include: force in the context of pushing, pulling and twisting; balancing forces; magnetism; and the effect of gravity. Five adults or responsible Y5/6 pupils are needed to help supervise the investigations.
Space required: hall
Time: 75-90 minutes

Electricity
A series of six investigations that cover aspects of electrical circuits and conductivity. Six adults or seven responsible Y5/6 pupils are needed to help supervise the six investigations.
Space required: hall
Time: 90 minutes

Splash
An outdoor workshop where children get the opportunity to investigate how things move in/on water. Four adults are needed to help supervise the investigations.
Space required: usually outdoor area, with access to a tap
Time: 60-75 minutes

Toys
This workshop introduces children to the concepts of changing factors and fair testing by investigating a variety of toys.  Concepts covered include pushing, pulling and twisting. Six adults are needed to help supervise the investigations.
Space required: hall
Time: 75 minutes

Wax
An interactive discussion (appropriate to the age and experience of the class) on the changes occurring when a candle burns. Everyone makes a multi-coloured candle. Concepts covered can include: reversible and irreversible changes; transparency; opaqueness; translucency; and colour-mixing. This workshop cannot be relocated during the day.
Space required: classroom or hall with electrical point
Time: 60-75 minutes

Primary Years 4-7

Balloon Buggies
This workshop (especially good for Y5/6) gives children the opportunity to develop fair testing. Working in small groups, the children select which variable to investigate when building small balloon-powered cars (buggies). Pupils can retain their buggies for further testing.
Space required: hall
Time: 90 minutes

Band Rollers
This workshop gives children the opportunity to develop fair testing. The activity begins with a discussion of the energy powering a clockwork radio. The children use junior hacksaws to make band rollers and investigate the factors affecting their working.
Space required: hall
Time: 75 minutes

Extra Electricity
This workshop gives children an opportunity to investigate different electrical circuits (including the use of different components) using solar cells in lieu of batteries.
Space: classroom and outdoors (weather permitting).  Lamps will be used in bad weather.
Time: 60-90 minutes

Flight
This workshop (especially good for P6/7) comprises three simple investigations into kites, gyrocopters and pneumatics. The investigations are not concerned with the theory of flight but with contrasting styles of investigation and recording.
Space required: hall
Time: 90 minutes

NOVA
This workshop (especially good for P6/7) comprises six simple investigations into: phases of the moon; the solar system; stars; the night sky. Five adults are needed to help supervise the investigations.
Space required: hall
Time: 90 minutes

Paper Making
The children use old sugar paper to produce small quantities of new paper, and examine different combinations of new fibres. This workshop is very enjoyable but messy; it cannot be relocated during the day. Extra adult help is useful.
Space required: classroom with sink
Time: 90 minutes

Splash
An outdoor workshop where children get the opportunity to investigate how things move in/on water. Four adults are needed to help supervise the investigations.
Space required: usually outdoor area, with access to a tap
Time: 90 minutes

The Separation Game
In this workshop (specifically for P6/7), thirty children are challenged to produce a small scale version of the oil and gas industry.  They must drill for oil, transport it by pipeline, refine it into fractions, transport it by rail to a terminal and work out a safety system for the railway.
Space required: hall with an electrical point
Time: two hours

Turbine Science
In this workshop (especially good for P6/7), pupils are asked to design the most efficient wind turbine to go on a stand and then to make it more efficient by changing one variable.  Their wind turbines will be tested using an electric fan.
Space required: hall
Time: 90 minutes

Vitamin C
In this workshop (especially good for P6/7), pupils are invited to investigate the amount of Vitamin C in fruits and fruit juices using DCPIP solution.  They are particularly encouraged to consider fair testing and different ways of averaging results.
Space required: classroom with at least one accessible sink.
Time: 90 minutes

Wax
An interactive discussion (appropriate to the age and experience of the class) on the changes occurring when a candle burns. Everyone makes a multi-coloured candle. Concepts covered can include: reversible and irreversible changes; transparency; opaqueness; translucency; and colour-mixing. This workshop cannot be relocated during the day.
Space required: classroom or hall with electrical point
Time: 75 minutes