Science Zone Bournemouth
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Science Zone UK 21/22 The Royal Arcade, Boscombe, Bournemouth, BH1 4BT
MONTHS OPEN
DAYS OPEN
AGE GROUPS SERVED
Listed under: Art and Design | Geology | Archaeology | Science Discovery Centre | STEM | Special Educational Needs (SEN) | Technology | Day Trip Destinations | Science | Mathematics | ICT | History | Geography | Engineering | Design and Technology | Social Skills
What we offer on a school trip
The Science Zone is an exciting science centre adventure for children. It offers visitors access to science 'zones', where each zone has a variety of activities and features that will both stimulate and inspire children to learn more about the world around them. From life-size dinosaurs, planetarium shows and sensory musical bubble columns to digging for fossils and many different fun science experiments. Every visitor, both large and small, will be entertained as well as educated. We have a new planetarium with real terrain of the Earth and Solar System planets and we also complete our special show schedule including our Dinosaur Show and Under the Sea in the dome.
In our retail shop we sell space rocks, fossils and beautiful minerals together with telescopes and binoculars, ideal for star and planet gazing, as well as marine observing.
Science Zone is perfect if you're looking for something that's educational as well as fun for your child. There's something here for everyone!
What makes us a great choice for education
Our friendly and enthusiastic staff will make your adventure with us truly special. We focus on interactive activities where children can get involved and learn as well as have fun.
Our workshops have been designed to compliment the curriculum, allowing a ‘hands on’ approach to learning.
Any of the workshops can be adapted to encourage those with additional learning needs and for those on the Autism Spectrum.
We invite you to fly around volcanoes and real surfaces of the planets in our new planetarium or examine real terrain of the Earth, all provided through scientific datasets.
The planetarium is open every week for dinosaur shows and space exploration too.
Equally, sessions for adults are also available weekly.
What is typically included on our school trips
Schools visits:
Schools have a range of topics to choose from - Space Exploration, Dinosaurs, States of Matter, Plate Tectonics, Rocks and Fossils and Fractals in the planetarium, backed up by an optional experiment activity on the topic. The additional sensory rooms and dinosaur basement are also popular with school visits. There is adequate room for assembly and teaching downstairs in our special school reception area which fits around 40 children, this allows access straight to the teaching and UV room. Upstairs, the planetarium and experiment room have full disabled access.
Dinosaur Den & Sensory Rooms: Dinosaur models, fossils, interactive panels on the floor and wall, two sensory rooms, Fossil hunting activity. All in our basement area.
Planetarium shows in our 3.2m dome: We have one of the most advanced planetarium systems in the market. We can give our customers a tour around the night's sky, constellations and the planets using real time data and project a star field accurately with 10,000 stars. Different planetarium sessions (including dinosaur shows) for all, with special sessions for adults and family designed sessions are shown every week.
Science experiments area (Hands-on experiments):
Typically, a session will include 3 or 4 experiments, depending on the topic covered.
From making slime, bouncy balls and rainbows till fizzy bubble experiments, or the use of dry ice, chocolate or eggs for the most egg’shilarating experiments you’ve ever experienced. Pupils watch and participate in each experiment under the instruction of one of our ‘professors’.
Workshops area: Dome or Dome + Activities workshops. To name a few topics, Volcanoes, Tim Peake and Rockets, Light/Dark and Space, Weather, Cells and your body, Rocks and Fossils, Dinosaurs, Stars and Stories, Black Holes, etc.
Depending on numbers, one class will visit the dome whilst the other participates in the experiment workshop and they then swap over.
Adult Space sessions, Plus12 workshops, Home Education and Pre School workshops (target aged workshops).
Birthday parties: We do three main types of parties; Dinosaur Parties, Space Parties and Science Parties. Dome + games related for the first two named and just Science experiments in the case of the Science Parties. Time for food, cake and free play included in our two hours birthday party service available to hire.
Access to our Dinosaur Den and Sensory Rooms and as well as help setting out the food and cake and decorating the venue are also included.
Shop: telescopes, binoculars, fossils, rocks, minerals, fossil art, mineral designed jewelry.
Group Sizes Catered For
Schools groups are welcome with 3 or 4 classes during the day for the whole centre hire visiting the planetarium and science experiment zone to complete activities. School can have a range of topics from Space Exploration, Dinosaurs, States of Matter, Plate Tectonics, Rocks and Fossils and Fractals in the planetarium, backed up by an optional experiment activity on the topic.
Scout groups use our planetarium to complete cub or scout badges. We can complete evening sessions for scouts, beavers or brownies or any uniform club.
Clubs or adult societies regularly booked two or three sessions over a month for astronomy sessions. Evening sessions are possible on demand.
From babies using our sensory rooms till adults. Depending on the age we offer experiment and teaching workshops service, such as Preschool Science Workshops or Home Education Workshops during term time, which can be booked by the general public or child minders. During term time we offer group rates for experiment workshops priced per child and this forms a teaching group, from either schools, Home Education groups, Learning or Language Schools, Special Schools (due to full equipment sensory rooms and interactive music equipment) and other SEN groups.
Months-8 years old. Sensory Rooms/ Experiments and planetarium for older kids.
8 -15 years old. We regularly run 12+ age workshops and 12+ planetarium shows weekly.
16 -Senior Citizens. Planetarium shows design for adults.
Materials, Resources & Information Provided
Depending on the age, we offer an experiment and teaching workshop service, such as Space and Rocket Workshops or Experiment Education Workshops during term time for school groups. During School Holidays we offer workshops which the public can book for experiments and this forms a teaching group.
A full range of workshops are posted on our website and the programmes include many aspects of science including dinosaurs as a special module. First page of our website has Google calendar of public events, but schools and other groups can book a whole day at the centre using the downstairs activity room and the planetarium. We have special dark rooms with UV lights to complete Luminous Science workshops and Dry Ice workshops which are popular with schools. Price of workshops is dependent on materials used but the cost is priced for schools at per child (no charge for teachers and teaching assistants). All materials are provided, and the topics are closely planned with the school and the Zone Educator before the event. A free Risk assessment school visit is supplied together with a planning talk with a Zone member of staff for the event.
Please click the link for details of topics and an outline.
Programmes available
- Solar System Tour and Beyond - KS2/3
- Space Exploration (Apollo Moon Landings) - KS1/2
- Dinosaur Show - KS1/2/3
- Rocks, Soils and Fossils - KS2/3
- Earth and Beyond - KS1/2
- Light/Dark and Space - KS1
- Light and Sound - KS1/2
- Ancient Egypt (or Greece) and the Stars - KS1/2
- Under the Sea - KS1/2 or .. Weather - KS1/2
- Pirates and the Sea - KS1
- Fractal Dome (Maths and Natural Symmetry) - KS2/3
- Down to Earth (Volcanoes and Earth's History) - KS1/2
- Nano Cam Show (Biodiversity at Micro-level) - KS2/3
Photography, Filming & Audio Restrictions
Normal school procedures are followed. Teachers are permitted to take photographs and videos during a visit where appropriate. Videoing in the planetarium is not permitted.
Risk Assessment Details
We provide a full support service for a school visit including a Pre-visit assessment of the site centre with a Educator available to plan the visit later. We send via email a risk assessment to the schools we visit and we also use a different risk assessment at work place. (See below)
Teachers are welcome to come and do a pre-visit check to discuss requirements and cover risk assessment needs.
All the staff at the Zone cover the points below on a school visit – before the event basis and ongoing:
- Identify hazards
- Assess the risks
- Control the risks
- Record your findings
- Review the controls
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Internal Science Zone Risk Assessment following: |
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Activity: Open Shop, Sensory Rooms and Planetarium |
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Date: (For general use to cover shop open hours: 10:00 to 17:00 Monday to Saturday) |
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Potential Risks |
Controls in place |
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• Slips, trips and falls |
• Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for the activities they are undertaking • Supervise the activity to ensure suitable play. All children must be accompanied by at least one responsible adult at all times • Area is constantly checked for trip hazards. If any are found, they are removed or marked clearly • Stairs to Sensory Rooms and Dino Den are steep, so staff always tell public to take care. |
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• Stranger Danger |
• Shop is open to public, so risk of exposure of children is applicable • Staff do not allow access to Sensory Rooms or Planetarium if not accompanying a child (so long as children are in the aforementioned areas). If areas are clear, then single adults may proceed. Staff ensure these areas are clear of single adults before children use them. • All staff are DBS checked • At least one staff member is physically in the shop area at all times so can monitor the public element of exposure |
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• Medical issues |
• First aider normally present • Small first aid kit in reception • Nearest defibrillator is less than 250m away: in Dr Who TARDIS replica on Boscombe high-street |
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• Fire |
• Three CO2 extinguishers (two upstairs, one downstairs), a foam extinguisher (upstairs) and a large water extinguisher (downstairs) present at all times. Easily accessed in case of fire. • Fire escapes are clearly planned and all staff are aware of the escape routes. • Fire escapes are clearly labelled and care is taken to ensure they are kept clear. • There are two distinct escapes from the downstairs area (stairs and ladder) • All electrical equipment is PAT tested. The arcade (and zone) is a no-smoking zone. All rooms are alarmed and fitted with a sprinkler system. |
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• Heaters and radiators |
• If heater or radiator is on, risk of scalding is present. Staff are aware to take care of the heater in the reception area. • Heaters in the public spaces are shielded naturally to avoid contact risk. In the Dino Den, radiator is covered by fossil display case. In reception it is behind the main desk. In the Sensory Rooms, radiator is exposed but installed in indent in the wall to avoid accidental contact. |
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• Electrical Equipment |
• All equipment is PAT tested. • Care is taken to ensure water is kept away from plugs and electrical items. Equipment in Sensory Rooms are all connected to fused kill switches which can be used to deactivate equipment if needed. • All ROMPA equipment is properly installed. ROMPA control panel (used by the public) is insulated with minimal risk of exposure. |
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• Fire Extinguishers |
• Upstairs extinguisher is installed above display table with no risk of accidental contact. • Downstairs extinguishers are situated in main hallway but away from natural movement area. Extinguishers are also visibly clear and well-marked. |
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• Planetarium |
• Entrance to Planetarium is raised and narrow. One member of staff always holds door open and instructs public to step over the entrance. • Dark in planetarium and wires on the floor present a trip hazard. One member of staff will enter the Planetarium before the public and guide them round the wires. A light will be on inside and all members of the public will be sitting before it is turned off. • 360o bulb gets hot, so public is instructed not to touch it. |
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Signed: |
Date: |
Position: |
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This risk assessment is a basic cover for the Science Zone UK shop in the Royal Arcade, Boscombe, Bournemouth. Any subsequent risk assessments filed in the zone act as extensions to the above. That is, they assume the above precautions are already in place. Thus, all further activities are covered by both this general and one specific risk assessments.
Pricing Information
We keep our prices as low as possible, school and group bookings are priced per child, with no charge for accompanying adults.
Workshops (an hour): £5 + VAT (1 adult + 1 child). One child can be accompanied by one adult going free.
Dinosaur Den and Sensory Rooms (not limited of time): £2 per person or Family ticket £6 (2 adults+ 2 children).
Planetarium shows (25-30 minutes shows): £2 per person or Family ticket £6 (2 adults+ 2 children).
Hands-On Activity in the shop: £3 per child (20-30 minutes).
Dig your own Fossil Activity (available to do at the shop or to take home): £3.60.
Clothing Requirements
We do provide white professor lab coats during some of our bookable workshops. Most of our school workshops we provide a coat and equipment store for schools and provide white coats for some of the messy chemistry sessions and science goggles for eyes (subject to particular topic workshops).
First Aid Information
We have a first aid station and a qualified first aider on site. Accident book and record of Child Protection issues.
Available Facilities
We have a toilet available for schools to use, with additional public toilets located close by in the Sovereign Centre. Schools are welcome to bring packed lunches to eat either downstairs or upstairs in the Zone.
Our shop has many pocket money items for sale such as sharks teeth, gems, rocks and mineral, if schools wish that to be included.
Accessibility & Disabled Facilities
Our shop and planetarium are fully wheelchair accessible. A disabled toilet is available very nearby in the Sovereign Centre. We can provide wheelchair accessible workshops upstairs – please request when booking.
Opening Hours & Information
Public opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10am-4pm, although we are open all Monday for groups by appointment. We are happy to open on Mondays for School visits and occasionally we open on Mondays when Half Term or Holidays.
We also open in the evenings for Cub and Brownie groups on request.
Testimonials
For your Science Zone UK centre:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/sciencezoneUK/reviews/?ref=page_internal
For our planetarium:
http://sciencedome.byethost6.com/Feedback%20and%20comments.html
Other Information
Public website on Science Zone
Website Page list on all School workshops
Full information on our possible topics for teachers in our planetarium is available on our special dome website. This includes actual scripts and content for the planetarium shows and films used. There is teacher’s resource in PDF format to download and teachers’ packs with after-the-show worksheets and Q&A datasheets.
Direct link to PDF download section
http://sciencedome.byethost6.com/Schools%20Construction%20programme.html
