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Explorer Dome Hands-on Science Workshops for Schools

A range of hands-on science workshops

Explorer Dome provides interactive, hands-on and educational school workshops in our inflatable planetarium, as well as table-top based Chemistry shows.

Format

Each show can be between 40-60 minutes long, to fit in with your school timetable. Ideally, EYFS/KS1 shows are 45 minutes and KS2+ shows are 50 minutes.

Age Groups

All Year Groups

Regions

We are based in Bristol

Available Workshops

Space Show
DOME SHOWAll ages

Space Show

The wonder of space. An inspiring tour of our planet, moon, sun, solar system and beyond; how they move and what we see. Discover the night sky tonight and marvel at the myths from ancient Greece written into the stars.

Light Show
DOME SHOWEYFS to KS3

Light Show

An investigation into light and colour impossible in the classroom. Explore what light is, where it comes from and how it travels. Mirrors and prisms; reflection and refraction, get hands on with light inside the darkened Dome.

Sound Show
DOME SHOWKS2

Sound Show

Explore the world of vibration, sound waves, frequency, pitch and hearing. How fast is sound? Why do astronauts need radios and how do bats see in the dark? Make music with our hands-on guide to the nature of noise!

Forces Show
DOME SHOWKS1 to KS2

Forces Show

Feel the friction, mess with magnets and get to grips with gravity! Action and reaction, equal and opposite forces, and hands-on experiments with rocket power will take you out of this world to see how forces feel different in space!

Environment Show
DOME SHOWEYFS to KS2

Environment Show

Visit some of the great natural habitats of Earth, build food webs and see how animals are adapted to their environments and see the role we play in our changing planet. Enjoy finding out about our amazing planet.

The Earth Show
DOME SHOWKS2 to A-Level

The Earth Show

The dynamic planet Earth; past, present and future. From the formation of our atmosphere, through plate tectonics and the water cycle, this cross-curricular show reveals the role we play in its future.

Human Body Show
DOME SHOWKS1 to KS3

Human Body Show

A hands-on guide to diet and digestion to experience why you really are what you eat. Find out what we eat and where it goes. Our body show is all about disgusting digestion from top to bottom!

Human Body Show
DOME SHOWKS3 to A-Level

Cell Show

Delve deep within to float inside a gigantic cell. From organisms to organelles, discuss the units of life - their diversity in scale, form and function and the marvels of the genetic code.

Water Show
DOME SHOWKS2 to KS3

Water Show

The water molecule and water cycle explained inside clouds and caves - condensation, freezing, evaporation, precipitation, disolving and exploding! Find out more about our most precious natural resource.

Winter Show
DOME SHOWEYFS to KS2

Winter Show

Explore the science behind the seasons and discover more about mid-winter festivals from around the world.

Voyage Inside the Brain Show
DOME SHOWUpper KS2 to A-Level

Voyage Inside the Brain Show

We transform our dome into a giant brain to introduce basic neuroscience, how our brains work, the amazing things they can do and how to keep our brains healthy.

Engineering: We Make Our Future Show
DOME SHOWKS2 & KS3

Engineering: We Make Our Future Show

Celebrate the ingenuity of human engineering, whilst addressing current issues around Climate Change with a positive, locally focused mindset.

Bubble Show
CHEMISTRY SHOWAll ages

Bubble Show

Delight in the unexpected behaviour of bubbles with bubbles that float and sink, grow or shrink, burn and even explode!

States of Matter
CHEMISTRY SHOWKS2 to KS3

States of Matter

Exciting experiments and daring demos explore solids, liquids and gases, evaporating, condensing, melting, sublimation and freezing.

Science Tricks
CHEMISTRY SHOWAll ages

Science Tricks

Observing, predicting and testing. A baffling array of experiments use everyday physics and kitchen chemistry to explain some key concepts.

Cost

Our prices depend on where you are, what sort of shows you would like and how many shows you need. Shows in our Standard and Large Domes, and our Chemistry shows are all priced separately. Please make an enquiry below to obtain a quote.

Booking our Standard Sized Dome

Our Standard Dome accommodates up to 30 (EYFS/KS1/2), 25 (KS3) or 20 (KS4/adult) students per show and requires a smooth clean floor area of 6m x 7m, a clear ceiling height of 3.5m and access to mains power.

Booking our Large Sized Dome

Our Large Dome accommodates up to 40 (EYFS/KS1/2), 30 (KS3) or 25 (KS4/adult) students per show and requires a smooth clean floor area of 8m x 9m, a clear ceiling height of 3.5m and access to mains power.

Booking our Chemistry Shows

The Bubble Show, States of Matter and Science Tricks shows don’t use the Dome and are suitable for up to 70 (EYFS/KS1/2) or 60 (KS3/4+) students per show. High ceilings and the capability to isolate heat/smoke detectors are a big plus as these shows involve freezing fog, fire, flashes and bangs!

Bristol and Bath

All schools in Bristol, BANES (Bath and North East Somerset), South Gloucestershire and North Somerset will be offered a local discount for any Dome or Chemistry shows.  

NB: Schools booking Chemistry shows in Bristol, Bath and some parts of Somerset, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire may receive support from the RSC. The RSC may fund up to 40% of the cost of your chemistry show visit, however, the allocation of these funds is annual and distributed on a first come first served basis so please enquire for more information.  

The South-West of England & South Wales

For schools in the South-West of England and in South Wales (including Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Cardiff, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend & Neath Port Talbot).

An extra charge for travel may be made for schools further from Bristol (Dorset, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Devon, Cornwall, Birmingham and the West Midlands).

NB: Schools booking Chemistry shows in Devon, Cornwall, and parts of South Somerset may receive support from the RSC. The RSC may fund up to 40% of the cost of your chemistry show visit, however, the allocation of these funds is annual and distributed on a first come first served basis so please enquire for more information. Preference will be given to schools with postcodes in the lower deciles of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) for England.  

Greater London & the South-East of England

Space & Body shows - we have a team based in London offering the Space and Body shows with no further travel costs for schools in the boroughs of Greater London (see cost guide for South West above).

Please bear in mind that Explorer Dome’s main base is in Bristol, any other shows will be presented by the Bristol team and that there will be an extra charge for travel.

An extra charge for travel/overnight accommodation may be made for schools further from Bristol (East London, Kent, East Sussex, and the East of England).

Further afield
We enjoy travelling far and wide from the Highlands of Scotland to the Channel Islands and regularly tour internationally. We’d be delighted tto hear from you wherever you are and we can give you a quote for your visit.

Afternoon visits
A reduced rate may be available for afternoon visits (these can usually only accommodate 1 or 2 shows), if we are already at another local school in your area for a morning visit on the same day. 

Large schools/events
For events with large numbers of participants we can bring one or more of our larger Domes, do a combination of our Domes shows and our Chemistry shows, or stay for more than one day. 

Testimonials

The presenters adapted the show to suit the age groups & fully engaged the children, creating an atmosphere of wonder for all the pupils.

Trinity St Stephens Primary School, Windsor, teacher

The visit was and is incredibly successful ...to the point where some students still say it was the best day they ever had at school!

American Academy, Larnaca, Cyprus, teacher

Your engagement, professionalism and interaction with the children was amazing - we will definitely be booking again next year.

St Pius X Catholic Primary, Bristol, teacher

Checklist

* The items in this checklist are self-declared by an external provider. We do not verify or monitor the ongoing validity of insurance, DBS certificates, safeguarding measures, qualifications, accreditations, or other credentials. Responsibility for verifying these details rests with the customer/client.

Delivery Format
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Each show can be between 40-60 minutes long, to fit in with your school timetable. Ideally, EYFS/KS1 shows are 45 minutes and KS2+ shows are 50 minutes.
Event Days
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British Science Week, Christmas, Diwali, Earth Day, Engineers Week, International Astronomy Day, World Environment Day, World Ocean Day, World Space Week, World Wildlife Day
Available Regions
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We are based in Bristol

This service is available internationally

Locations in England
Berkshire, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Greater London, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Isle of Wight, London, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Midlands, West Sussex, Wiltshire

Anywhere in Wales

About This Provider (Explorer Dome) *

Explorer Dome logo, white on black
Head Office: Explorer Dome, Bristol, Bristol City, BS8 2AG

Explorer Dome is an internationally known, vibrant and popular science outreach organisation. Based in Bristol and Stratford, we travel across the UK and beyond with interactive, curiosity-based, science shows and experiences for schools and special community events. Hands-on demonstrations and stunning visuals combine with friendly and professional presenters. Explorer Dome is presenter-led, lively, interactive and fun to help children - young and old - get hands-on with science! Explorer Dome specialises in travelling to all areas of the UK - no island or area is too rural or remote! And as we come to you, it keeps costs and logisitcs low while providing a fully immersive science experience for your group. Find out how it works here and please don't hesitate to get in touch directly with any queries. Explorer Dome brings science alive to over 80 000 children and adults every year - since 1998 we've visited nearly 8000 venues, met over 1 million children and loved every minute!

* The content of this listing has been supplied by the provider. VSTEAM Education does not independently verify the accuracy of this listing, the provider's identity, or any other information provided. Responsibility for verifying these details rests with the customer or client.

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