The Pod in the Quad - A Science Week Investigation

The Pod in the Quad, Imperial Avenue Infant School and The City Gallery

The 'Finding Out' project at Imperial Avenue Infant School focused on the Key Stage 1 Science curriculum and aimed to raise the profile of science within school. Children arrived at school one day to discover that a 'pod' had landed in an outdoor area of their school. On the first day, the children were introduced to the ‘pod’ and asked to share their initial ideas as to what it might be. As the week progressed the children were asked to investigate the pod, they conducted experiments on strange silver material and black goo that oozed from. When the pod started to illuminate and make sound the children explored properties of sound and light and then tried to communicate with the structure using music and rhythm. They were shown film footage of other 'pods' found around the world and wrote news reports about the discovery of the pod. Some children wrote down questions to ask the pod and others wrote down wishes and tied them to a tree in the quad area. Eventually the pod hatched to reveal a shiny silver being, which the children interacted with before homing it with one of the investigators, who supported the children. Throughout the week-long investigation, the children were helped by a bio-medical scientist who visited the school from De Montfort University in Leicester a team and other "investigators".

Although the project focused clearly on key aspects of the science curriculum, there were strong links to other curriculum areas including philosophy, literacy, art and design and geography.

During the investigations, the children worked to identify ‘what had happened’ to bring the pod to school and were encouraged to think in different ways and to come up with new ideas. Children worked in small groups and classes sharing their findings across key stage one. They were asked to try new things, discuss their ideas with others and explore questions that don’t have a right or wrong answer. The children were able to build confidence in their ability to investigate and to use their imaginations to problem solve.

The Wishing Tree & Letters to the Pod

Children wrote down questions they would like to ask the Pod and things they wanted to say to the Pod and put them on a wishing tree in their school garden. Read some examples here (622 KB).

Project Objectives

* To raise the profile of science within school
* To consider how trips and visits and ‘wow’ weeks can help children embed their learning.
* To provide opportunities for children to be immersed in a science project that will link to other areas of the curriculum.
* To develop children’s investigative skills.