Last weekend we visited the Wow!How? science fair at the Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. This is the 10th year of the event, which forms part of the Oxfordshire Science Festival. We’ve been a couple of times before but this year it seemed bigger and better than ever!
There were over 30 stalls spread throughout the museums, each offering the opportunity to carry out scientific investigations. Most were aimed at the 8+ age group but many were still suitable for younger children. We spent the afternoon in the museum and still didn’t manage to visit all of them!
One of the most popular stalls was ‘Murder mystery at the museum’. A murder had been committed and 5 suspects identified. Using a variety of techniques and evidence the kids had to solve the case.
The first step was taking fingerprints. The scientist helpers explained the different types of fingerprint, and then the kids had to eliminate some of the suspects whose fingerprints didn’t match. This was followed by matching hair samples and looking at them under the microscope.
The kids were equally revolted and impressed by the next step which was to use maggots (and their life cycle) to determine how long the body had lain for. This helped exclude more suspects. The final step was comparing DNA found at the crime scene and then working out who the killer was.
We moved on to look at several other stalls, before stopping for a while at the bug handling stand. Visitors were able to hold a stick insect, giant cockroaches (not many takers) a tarantula, giant millipede and my favourite, the leaf insect shown above. I learnt that, as part of its camouflage, the leaf insect can mimic being blown around in the wind, in the same way that a leaf on a tree does!
On another stall the kids found out how hearts work, and had their heart rate and blood oxygen levels measured. They then had to do 30 seconds of star jumps to see how much their heart rate increased. At the end they were rewarded with a Skittle sweet, along with the information that this is how much exercise it takes to burn off one Skittle.
At the next stand the kids made snazzy Sellotape. This very simple experiment involved sticking pieces of Sellotape at angles across each other onto a clear plastic film. When viewed under a light source lots of different colours were visible.
Another popular stall was fossil casting. After mixing water and plaster together it was poured into a variety of moulds. My daughter made a cast of a Megalosaurus footprint but there were lots of others to choose from. They were left to dry for around 15 minutes before the helpers extracted them from the moulds. Despite such a short drying time ours still arrived home in one piece.
The kids also learnt about Darwin’s finches and how beaks evolved to be different shapes based on the food that was available. They had to match the various implements available (stand in beaks) to the different foods on offer. I never realised there was such a thing as a blood sucking bird, but I know now there is an aptly named vampire finch!
There were many other stands that we only managed a quick look at. These included building a Lego dinosaur, Crazy Custard, Disaster Zone and Cambrian Explosion. Add to that some stands that we didn’t manage to see at all; we really should have got there when it opened.
The day finished with the Super Cool Show which was all about changes of state. We missed part of this, but did manage to see the end. The kids got to sample instant ice cream made with the help of nitrogen, and to run around outside (I’m guessing) in ‘nitrogen fog’. A great end to the afternoon.
More info
- The event is held yearly in March at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
- Full details are available on the website, look out in due course for information on future events.
- Entrance is free.
This looks brilliant! So much to explore and learn, and it all looks fun! #LetKidsBeKids
Thank you, the kids certainly enjoyed themselves.
You had so much fun! A perfect day to spend with kids..
Thanks Elena, yes it was good. I think they need to do a version just for adults too!
That leaf insect looks exactly like a leaf. I have only seen them in science books from the school. Looks like you all had fun exploring and learning.
#letkidsbekids
Thank you. I’m pretty sure that was the first time I’ve seen a real life leaf insect too.
Everyone looks committed in learning and showing the kids science!
#letkidsbekids
Thanks Merlinda, yes they were!
This looks like so much fun. How exciting and learning new things is always good in the process. Great photos of the day! #letkidsbekids
Thanks Jenny, it was fun. Photos were a little tricky as it was rather crowded at times.
Wow, that looks like an amazing fair! My son would really love this, I hope I remember to check it out in a couple of years time when he’s old enough. So much to see with hands on experimenting is exactly what kids love.
Thanks for sharing #LetKidsBeKids
Thanks Karen. It was good to see both the scientists/students and kids so engaged.
This looks absolutely brilliant! My boys would love it 🙂 #LetKidsBeKids
Thanks Sara, it was very enjoyable, one to put on the list of things to do!
Looks fabulous – an excellent event, too far from us sadly but Cambridge do similar. #Letkidsbekids
Thanks Kate. Yes, I think there are quite a few events to coincide with the National Science and Engineering week.
One of my favourite museums. I should have guessed that a science fair would be worth a visit. #LetKidsBeKids
Great museums. They’ve only just re-opened the Natural History Museum as they’ve been cleaning and repairing the glass tiles on the roof; it seems so light now.
Great fun! We love going to these museums too.
Thanks Alex. Great aren’t they (and free!)
Hands on events like that are great – children have fun and don’t even realise they are learning loads at the same time! French school trip to “boring” museums have rather put the boys off – I need something like this to rekindle their interest!
Hi Rosie, couldn’t agree more!
That looks and sounds like a great day out. I bet my son would love to go to something like that 🙂
Thanks Gina, I’m pretty sure every kid there was enjoying themselves.
this looks like masses of fun x
Hi Jaime, it was 🙂
Looks like you had a wonderful time (you always do!) Really can’t wait to be able to take my children to things like this when they’re a bit older #PoCoLo
Thank you. I think the kids are at a good age right now, I’m trying to squeeze as much in before they become teenagers and don’t want to go out!
What a great day out 🙂 Grace would LOVE this. Thank you for sharing with PoCoLo x
Thank you. It was right up my daughters street too as she wants to be a biologist when she’s older (although I’m sure that might change).
WOW – What a fab day – so interesting, especially, the murder stall! #pocolo
Thanks Lucas, although there were no real murders committed!
Lucas says – COOL!!!! Maggots – AWESOME……….
Grace says – For goodness sake Lucas, it was scientific!!! It looks like a really cool day out #pocolo
Thanks both. My kids thought the maggots were pretty yuk!
That looks like a great event! So much to see and do! It looks fantastic fun x
Thanks Kim, it was!
This looks like a fab day out. Especially love the leaf insect, although he looks a bit fragile for my toddler to be trusted with! #PoCoLo
Thanks, the leaf insect was pretty impressive but you’re right, I’m not sure it would stand up to toddler handling!
What a wonderful day you had!
So nice of them to let you touch the insects & the murder mystery looks like lots of fun!
Thank you, I’d definitely recommend.
It looks like a brilliant day out, so many different things to see and do 🙂
Thank you, yes, lots of variety.
This looks like such great fun for everyone. I’m so glad that there seems to be so many more fun science opportunities around for kids at the moment, #PoCoLo
Hi Katie, couldn’t agree more, my kids loved it!
We’re glad you enjoyed it and hope to see you back again next year! PS It was all delivered by our super volunteers, who were also really chuffed to have such a nice write-up!
Hi Caroline, it was a great science fair, many thanks for organising it! Glad you liked the write up, and yes, we’ll be back next year.