Primary school activities
Over the past four years the University of Bristol has been working with primary schools in the local area to introduce the idea of university to students at a young age. We have been involved in projects with groups from year 4 to year 6 and have put together an exciting three-stage programme that has proved extremely popular with both students and teachers.
Stage 1
The first stage of the programme takes place at school where students meet the student ambassador who will be working with them (all student ambassadors are fully trained and have been vetted by the Criminal Records Bureau). The student ambassador will help the students work towards producing an individual ‘University Big Book’. The first session briefly introduces the concept of university by gathering the students' thoughts on university. There are games and activities exploring some of the words and ideas associated with university as the students work towards completing the first section of their ‘Big Book.’
Stage 2
The second stage of the programme takes place during a day's visit by students to the University. A warm-up activity during which students must decide whether they agree or disagree with a series of statements about university sets the tone of interactive learning and fun for the day. Students continue working on their ‘Big Books’, finding out the answers to questions such as where students live and what they look like.
A special lecture normally concludes the day, with students and staff paying a visit to the Physics Department where they are treated to a lecture exploring the science behind making ice cream. The most popular part of the day is usually the free ice-cream!
Stage 3
The third stage of the programme takes place back in school, where the work done in the earlier sessions is drawn together and students have the opportunity to ask questions and complete their 'Big Book'. The session ends with students being presented with their finished books.