SCIENCE SCHOOL INCURSIONS

If you are after a mix of Entertainment & Education then this is it!  
Solid Edutainment!

We offer fun & exciting Science Shows at your school that will include discrepant events and great science to enforce your curriculum areas. Our focus is on engaging students in Chemistry & Physics in a new and exciting way.

• For students aged 5 to 18
• up to 120 students at a time
• 60 to 75 minute sessions
• Enrich your science curriculum
• Save on traveling and other excursion costs 
• Add a hands-on workshop in slime, polymer worms or expanding snow
• Available in Victoria or other venues on request
  

Primary Schools

• Solids, Liquids & Gases  (and all things jelly-like and slimy in between)
  This is a great interactive show as it contains the smokes, clouds, slimes, baby nappy slush, cup cakes in minutes and air surprises that students love. Students assist the presenter with fun & exciting demonstrations such as the blood-in-the-kitchen, expanding snow, disappearing water, rain machine and many more. And of course we wake-up the bunny in a Nesquik tin just for the fun of it!  May include if time allows our famous outdoor reactions. Great fun!  Engagement guaranteed!
  
  
• Fun Chemical Changes at Home (and especially in the kitchen)
  This interactive presentation focuses on a number of interesting & fun colour and gas producing reactions from the kitchen, laundry and bathroom. Students see & help with instant colour changes in the kitchen & toy shop.  They discover the power of laundry materials when an explosive balloon is produced, see how heat packs work, get into nappy science, bake a cake without an oven and many more.  And, yes the awful power of hair spray is revealed that pushes a possum from a tree . . . Fun, fun, fun and may include a Cola-Mentos eruption (outdoors).
   
  
• The Science of Toys (covering Energy & Forces)
  In this fun presentation we discover the fundamentals of motion: an unbalanced force has to be applied using energy.  We ask what makes toys waddle across the table, find that energy can be stored in batteries, food, muscles, springs, fuel, elastics and we see examples of all. We discover how energy is converted from potential energy to kinetic energy in toys, steam engines, see chemical energy 'explode', find out how forces are balanced when we lift a table using air, float objects with electricity, see Newton's Third law in action and much more.   A great introduction for almost any Physics theme. (This session can also include electricity generation, AC vc DC, sound principles, resonance and be adjusted to any teaching level.) 
  

Middle Schools & Secondary Colleges

• Physics is Phun
  This is a very flexible theme and can easily be adjusted to any of your topics.  We move & float objects with electricity, slow magnets down in tubes, demonstrate the awesome power of air, generate electrical energy from fruit and tubes, demonstrate the functioning of a record player, create smoke rings, evacuate a dome to see the influence of air pressure on mallows and balloons, make metal rods sing, transmit sound from an iPod on a torch beam, split white light with the swing of the wrist, see why blue llght is more energetic than red, hear alternating current and may demonstrate a cheap DIY laser show sytem. And we even have more . . .
  
  
• Cool Chemistry
  This is a fast moving session with controlled explosions, chemical backbone stuff, fun chemical reactions, smokes, gels, snow and more.  We look at the stoichiometry of combustion reactions and explore how this is applied in our everyday lives.  See how reactions can be accelerated by enlarging reaction surface areas (dust explosions), adding or removing reagents, demonstrate heat flow in endothermic reactions, run an engine of hot water(!!), see that Cola Mentos eruptions can be enhanced using Le Chateliers principles, ignite eggs or Pringles cans filled with hydrogen ('eggsothermic reactions') and much more. Included: A demonstration on a sustainable 'green' energy source: geothermal energy.
  
  
• Our best (truly amazing) Science Demonstrations in one hour!
  In this interactive show we take our best and most fun demonstrations and mix and match to your requirements. The aim is to "expose, excite and ignite" the imagination of students and change their perspective on science forever . . .

We will select from the listed activities above to make presentations age-appropriate and compliment the State Curriculum and Standards Framework. We may exclude demonstrations listed if circumstances predict this.

 

What age group ?
Prep to Year 10

How many students can attend ?
Per session: Any number from 10 to 100 (or even more if your venue allows this).
We do however reserve the right to limit the number of students for safety reasons. 

Is there a minimum booking?
Yes - we travel from Geelong so we require at least two bookings per visit (venue).  One could be for Grade 2/3 and the other for Grade 5/6 or whatever. Please discuss with your colleagues.

What is required from the school ?

• A demonstration area in a multi-purpose room / hall  / classroom  / lab
• Students can be seated on a carpet or floor so all have a better view
• Three trestle tables or a laboratory bench & one table
• A waste bin
• Access to power and water (canteen or kitchen)
• Access to the venue beforehand for at least 45 minutes for setting up and 30 minutes afterwards for cleaning up
• Around 15 minutes in between Shows for adjusting equipment & chemicals
• Parking as close as possible to the venue

How safe is the show ?
Safety is of great importance to us. We have extensive experience in bringing these Shows to more than 276 000 people in 18 years without any incident. We do however carry full Public Liability Insurance to a total of 20 Million.  A certificate of currency can be provided. And yes we have a "Working with Children Check".

Who does the presentation ?
All Shows are presented by Carl Ahlers, of Prof Bunsen Science, an enthusiastic scientist, educator & science communicator holding a MSc in Chemistry and Bachelors in Education. He frequently delivers talks at Science Teacher Conferences (13 in 2009) and is a member of STAV.  He has entertained hundreds of thousands at his presentations over the years . . .  

Any feedback from teachers?
We frequently hear "This was the best incursion I have seen at our school . . . "  and we get lots of great feedback and follow-up requests (six from one school!).  Here are some feedback:

“The children are still talking about your Shows and many other teachers have commented on how their children were enthralled with the outside experiments as well. We have recommended you to the rest of the staff for any science topics being covered in the future"
A Seeckts, Carranballac College

"I just wanted to thank you again for an amazing presentation. The kids have not been able to stop talking about it or conducting experiments. One of my girls even said when she grows up she wants to be just like you. Has given them a real taste for Science and how exciting it can be"
J O’Connor, St Francis of Assissi Catholic College

"You teach concepts and principles in such an engaging way - the kids were learning science without even realising it! You obviously put a lot of thought into your sessions and try to include new ideas"   P Wilson, Plenty Valley Christian School

"Not surprised that you are packed to capacity as you run a fantastic program!"  K Gibbons, Westgrove PS

“l felt really excited because l was seeing so many fascinating things that l have never ever seen before! l’ve never seen so many explosions before.”  Cameron, Grade 3

and many more . . . 

Our fees are calculated per presentation.  It is up to you to decide how many students attend a session, but please remember that students at the back may find it hard to see if the group is too large.  The costs below include traveling but exclude GST (which is refunded to schools by the ATO).

Destination	Cost per Show* (excl GST)	Cost per Student**
Bellerine Peninsula & Geelong	$ 290	$ 4.15
Werribee & Point Cook	$ 300	$ 4.29
Melbourne West    (West of Sydney Rd / Hume Hwy)	$ 320	$ 4.58
Melbourne    (Between Sydney Rd & EastLink)	$ 340	$ 4.86
Melbourne East  (East of EastLink up to Ringwood & Dandenong)	$ 360	$ 5.14
Mornington Peninsula & Frankston	$ 380	$ 5.43

*   The minimum fee per visit is for two Shows. 
       Primary schools can extend the experience by adding a Slime or Expanding Snow Workshop.
       Additional costs & conditions apply. Please email us for details.

**    Calculated at 70 students attending per Show

For Bookings go to Our Contact Page, there you will be able to e-mail us
or phone Carl:  Ph: 03 52419756    Mob: 04 0570 5009

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