New Zealand Science Teacher

Bust holiday boredom with science!

26/09/2016

Science Learning Hub have published a handy guide to scientific activities going on in your area, so you can keep young learners occupied with science these holidays. 

There's no excuse to let kids do (too much) blobbing in front of the gaming console these holidays, when there's so much exciting science-related stuff going on around the country. Science Learning Hub have rounded up lots of the exciting adventures on offer here.

Some holiday science highlights include: 

Making at Mind Lab (Auckland): Every holiday, Unitec's Mind Lab morphs into a haven for young makers, doers, thinkers and tinkerers. Discover the importance of creativity, teamwork and perseverance by experimenting with the very latest digital technologies. Full day camps for 7 to 12 year olds are on offer.

House of Science robotics (Bay of Plenty region): Spend a week building and programming a VEX-IQ robot. For more information, go here. 

Zealandia ecosanctuary holiday programme (Wellington region): The Zealandia school holiday programme is for primary and intermediate school children aged between 5 and 12 years who have a love of nature and making a difference. Each day has a different theme providing an exciting, fun-filled nature adventure. More information here.

Otago Museum Discover Squad (Otago region): With lots of themed activities, Otago Museum's Discovery Squad activates and stimulates young minds. Full and half day sessions. More information here.

School holiday home boredom busters bucket

Science Learning Hub have also put together a boredom busters Pond bucket, a great starting point for stimulating and fun science activities to keep young minds engaged with more than just a screen these holidays. 

Here's some of the fun activities on offer, to whet your appetite for holiday science!

 

• Make a tracking tunnel to work out what kind of wildlife calls your backyard home
• Make a tectonic sandwich!
• Pinhole cameras (and eyes!)
• Nigel Latta blows stuff up (video)
• 10 science experiments that every child should conduct!
• An examination of photographic technology through history. 

 

Once your family is done sleeping in and generally lazing about - deservedly so! - get thinking about building some science into your child's holidays.