Year 5 EXPLORE STEM THROUGH HANDS-ON LEARNING AT WE THE CURIOUS

Year 5 pupils from King Edward’s Pre Prep and Junior School, Bath recently enjoyed an enriching STEM visit to We The Curious in Bristol, bringing classroom learning to life through hands-on exploration.

As part of King Edward’s commitment to a dynamic, future focused primary education, pupils engaged with a wide range of interactive exhibits designed to encourage questioning, experimentation and independent thinking.

The day began on the first floor, where pupils explored the Aardman stop-motion animation techniques. They went on to create giant bubbles, learning about surface tension and explored fascinating optical illusions that encouraged them to question how we see and interpret the world. Pupils interacted with exhibits connected to their curriculum across forces, materials, engineering, computing logic and more. The different activities encouraged pupils to hypothesise, test ideas and think critically, which are key skills in STEM learning at KES.

A major highlight of the visit was the Solar System Expedition in the UK’s only 3D Planetarium. During this immersive experience, pupils developed a deeper understanding of planets, moons, stars and the wider universe. A follow up Q&A session allowed Year 5 to ask thoughtful, scientifically informed questions, extending their learning beyond the show itself.

Later, pupils explored the museum’s “What If?” zones, where interactive challenges prompted them to consider real world scientific possibilities and apply logical, creative and computational thinking. 

The visit to We The Curious was a timely reminder that science is something to be experienced, not just observed. Year 5 returned to school buzzing with excitement, ready to apply their new knowledge and ideas across their STEM learning back in the classroom.

Mrs Cook, ICT Co-Ordinator at the Pre-Prep and Junior School. 

To find out more about our approach to learning in the Pre-Prep and Junior School, click HERE.