Workshops

For Secondary Schools, Sixth Forms and Post-16

Download a printable (pdf) version of our Secondary School and Sixth Form leaflet.

Science for Sustainability is offering Secondary Schools and Sixth Forms the opportunity to take part in a range of educational workshops designed to support the National Curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4 and Sixth Form, incorporating many subject areas, including; Geography, Science, Environmental Science, Citizenship, ICT, Maths, D&T and Art.

Workshops are designed to specifically address and contribute to Learning across the curriculum, understanding How Science Works, Every Child Matters, Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) and The National Framework for Sustainable Schools.

All schools are given an introductory session to establish the background context of climate change and sustainable living. Schools can then choose an area on which to focus a programme or single session of work. Workshop themes include:

Climate Change Conundrums
Renewable Energy Technologies
Energy & Water Reduction
Waste Minimisation

Climate Change Conundrums - introduces some of the wider issues and debates surrounding climate change, and understanding the global and local impacts associated with personal values, choices and behaviour

Activities include:

Climate change in the news – using media to investigate current global and local problems and how the emphasis on different climate change‐related issues changes over time
Mindmapping and debates – investigating socio-economic, technological, ethical and environmental issues relating to climate change and sustainable living, and applying different perspectives and view points to debate these issues

Renewable and Clean Energy workshops introduce renewable energy technology applications and their role as part of a sustainable future.

Activities include:

Renewable energy experiments - introducing renewable and clean energy applications, including experiments using hydrogen and methanol fuel cells, and demonstrations of solar panels and biomass energy
Solar Power Scrapheap Challenge - students design, build and race solar-powered cars made from reused materials. (Includes opportunities to explore core science concepts such as current, voltage and power, and efficiency)

Energy, Water & Waste Reduction workshops help students understand links between energy use and climate change and how the school can monitor and reduce the amount of energy and water used. The workshop also highlights ways of addressing waste issues in school

Activities include:

Energy efficiency monitoring - monitoring energy and water use in school. Student are assigned different zones in the school to investigate energy and water wastage by students and staff
Energy/Water/waste action plans – using data to establish an action plan for monitoring and reducing energy and water use to reduce the school’s impact on the environment AND save money. Establish policies and action plans to encourage sustainable consumption and waste minimisation in school

Energy & Water Reduction and Waste Minimisation workshops are designed to help students learn more about their impact on the environment and link the curriculum with practical improvements and positive steps towards achieving amore sustainable environment!

Life cycle analysis Students will have the opportunity to explore an important method for assessing the overall environmental impact of a product or service throughout its lifetime.

Activities include:

Hybrids vs. Hummers- are hybrid cars really that environmentally friendly? Students will take part in researching and debating in various environmental arguments. Subjects include paper towels vs. hand dryer and plastic vs. paper bag. This workshop will really get students thinking and debate about relevant issues and the environment. Includes an interactive lecture and group work.
‘Cradle to grave’ Basic LCA- Produce a basic LCA from a choice of products/services. Learn about the environmental impact from production, transport, retail, use and disposal.