SAW projects have proved immensely popular with children and teachers alike. They have spanned varying age ranges and abilities, and have given us valuable insights into helping spark engagement in the classroom. We have worked closely with the staff in each school to tailor each project to specific learning outcomes.
A teacher’s aid book packed with hints and tips on running a science, art and writing event in schools is currently in production. Please leave us your email address if you’d like to be updated when it comes out.
SAW founder Anne Osbourn ran a workshop for teachers, educational advisers and scientists at the National Science Learning Centre in York in March 2007. The primary aims of the course were to:
Participants commented: "We got access to fantastic photos and how to use them", "Very good examples of how to link science to art and literacy" and "Very easy to follow up".
Please get in touch if you would like to attend a similar event in future.
Each SAW project is as individual as the school taking part. Here’s a sample to give you a flavour.
Barford Primary School, Norfolk, June 2007
This project was initiated and co-ordinated by Nick King, a teacher at the school. After discussing the concept with SAW founder Anne Osbourn, he developed a week-long programme of events involving the whole school, based on SAW principles. Children covered topics as diverse as wave forms, the aurora borealis, and micro-beasts. Scientific photographs were used as inspiration for art and writing, culminating in a celebratory assembly.
Slough Grammar School, February 2007
This SAW project was organised by Head of Science Ramon Doon with support from Marguerite Rogers, on the theme of evolution. Children aged 11 to 12 worked with inspirational scientific images to produce themed poetry.
St Peter's School Easton, Costessey Infants, Costessey Junior,
and Costessey High Schools,
Norwich - 2007
A series of projects, all around the theme 'living things', were held in these Norfolk schools in 2007. The children studied different kinds of living things in situ and also worked with startling scientific photographs around the theme to inspire hands-on science, writing and artwork.
See scientific photos used to inspire these projects
Harrogate Grammar, Harrogate, North Yorkshire - April 2007
‘Outer space’ was the theme of this cross-county SAW project set up by the school’s science teacher Catherine Baxter. Classes explored the theme through practical science with Catherine. They then took part in ‘Outer space’ workshops with poets Tom Corbett and Juliet Eve from Norwich and Stuart Pickford from Yorkshire, and with artists Chris Hann from Norwich and Helen Peyton from Yorkshire.
Scuola elementare statale ‘Giovanni XXIII’, Torino, Italia – 2006
Inspirational images of shells and diatoms (single-celled, intricately patterned algae) inspired poetic exploration by ten year-old Italian schoolchildren in this international SAW project.
University of East Anglia, Norfolk - September 2006
As part of the British Association Science Festival week a special SAW project took place at the University of East Anglia. Using inspirational scientific pictures, children from Roydon and Garboldisham Primary Schools each experienced a science workshop, a poetry workshop and an art workshop – all exploring the theme ‘Solids, liquids and gases’.
Taverham High School, Norfolk – June 2006
As Taverham is a sports specialist school, the theme for this project was ‘Science and sport’. Topics included extreme sports like bungee jumping, parkour, kite surfing and others, linked in to scientific images of beta-endorphins, computer monitoring of heart beat, and red blood cells.
Great Hockham Primary School, Norfolk - May 2006
A one day project on ‘Magnetism’, with children age 7-11 exploring the properties of magnets. One experiment involved grinding up cornflakes and extracting iron from them.
Mundesley First School, North Norfolk - March 2006
‘The sea’ was the theme for this three day project involving 135 children aged 4-8. Visual stimuli included seaweed, jellyfish and close-ups of salt crystals. Beach materials were also collected by the younger children to use as a starting point for science and other forms of creative exploration, while the older children made steam boats and investigated the foaming properties of tap and salt water.
Trowse Primary School, Norwich - November 2005
A two day project involving 100 children aged 4-11. Staff chose ‘Water’ as the theme. Images used included a water drop at the moment of impact, dewdrops, and iridescence coloured light patterns on a film of oil on water. As well as art and poetry, dance and movement were used to explore science and creativity.
Rockland St Mary County Primary School and Framingham Earl High School, South Norfolk - March 2005
Stunning scientific images including the earth from space, ammonites and the inside of a leaf were used in creative ways to inspire poetry and artwork. The result was an anthology called ‘See Saw’ which is available from this website or Amazon UK.
Junior and St Peter’s School, Easton
