Summer days out that make learning fun – bring STEM to life for your kids
Some days out are purely for entertainment, but there are often opportunities to have fun with the bonus of an educational element. Here are some suggestions to inspire your children and bring science, technology, engineering and maths to life.
Science and Industry
Thintank is Birmingham’s award-winning science museum that offers a huge range of opportunities to explore the world of science and engineering. From outer space to engineering and from the outdoor science garden to the mighty engines of the Industrial Revolution – there is a huge range of exhibits to keep everyone busy all day!
Further afield, Enginuity at Ironbridge Gorge has fun interactive science and engineering activities and experiments that they can explore independently. A sure-fire way to fire their imagination and inspire the trailblazing engineers of tomorrow with an educational day out
Design & Technology
The MAD Museum in Stratford Upon Avon is a quirky attraction displaying interactive pieces of mechanical art, kinetic art and automata. If you’re not quite sure what mechanical art is all about, think of the machines and gizmos used in Wallace and Gromit, Scrapheap Challenge and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Information Technology
Explore the new ‘Makers and Machines’ exhibition at Thinktank and learn about the long history of coding. Look at how local weavers and knitters, mathematicians and scientists, and artists and gamers all use coding in their work. There will be a range of digital and analogue devices on display, plus the chance to see some classic game designs, learn how punched cards worked, and design your own weaving pattern.
Mechanical & Automotive Engineering
As well as housing the largest collections of British road transport in the world, Coventry Transport Museum offers a variety of STEM based activities that help kids (and their adults!) get to grips with the fundamentals of engineering through open ended play & tinkering!
If the thrill and excitement of motor racing is more your thing, take a trip to Silverstone Museum and learn all about the history of the circuit as well as the key technical aspects of racing cars and motorbikes. Silverstone Festival on the August Bank Holiday weekend brings a fun packed weekend of historic track action, live music and non-stop family entertainment.
Head to the British Motor Museum to celebrate the past, present and future of British motoring. Learn about the people behind the cars, the places they were built and hear the stories from their guides – there is plenty to keep everyone entertained.
Life Sciences
Whether you love the butterflies and mini-beasts at Stratford Butterfly Farm, the farm animals at Hatton Adventure World, the safari drive through at West Midlands Safari Park or the loveable rescued horses and donkeys at Redwings – there are lots of opportunities for educational days out to indulge your family’s interest in the animal world around us.
Or take a step back in time and visit Dippy the Diplodicus at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum.
