Dr Helen Mason OBE introduces the SunSpaceArt project
Abraham Moss Primary School, Manchester Credit: Comino Foundation
The SSA project comprises a team of scientists and artists who have been running STEAM workshops at schools, museums and science festivals. Since the start of the project in 2016, the team has worked with over 150 schools (primary and secondary), 9000 children and 1,000 teachers throughout the UK. They have targeted those schools most in need of science support, for example in socio-economically deprived regions; ranging from small rural schools to large inner-city schools. The project is funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
The Great Science Share for Schools, GSSfS, is a wonderful opportunity for schools, teachers and students, to celebrate science. I love the focus on science enquiries led by children’s questions. Igniting curiosity is the path to enhancing their interest in science learning. I have been involved in different ways with the GSS for many years, participating in the GSSfS day in Manchester, London, Wales and on-line.
“I fervently believe that now, more than ever, we need to encourage cross-curriculum activities, not just to reinforce the science learning, not just to develop creativity, but also to support the healing process. This has been a very difficult two years for everyone, but especially for parents, teachers and children.”
The SunSpaceArt (SunSpaceArt.org) project offers a novel cross-curriculum approach (science, literacy and arts) to reinforcing science learning and developing creativity by allowing the children to express themselves individually with hands-on artmaking and literacy (poetry and prose) activities. The SSA project does not aim to replicate the many excellent educational science work schemes already available to teachers (ASE, PSTT, ESERO, GSS, Ogden Trust, STEM Learning etc..), but rather to enhance this learning with an added creative dimension. Through such creative activities, the children are able to freely express their feelings, helping the healing process. According to teachers' feedback, SEND and EAL children seem to respond well to these creative activities.
The SSA team in collaboration with the GSSfS have created some ‘Create-Along’ worksheets about the Sun and space (Mars). These link to science and art-making videos, together with downloadable art-making worksheets.
Explore the resources here:
“As teachers, we saw some of our pupils shine and express themselves in a way that was very different.
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“The arts and creative thinking often flourish in a time of crises and deprivation, and during the last two years of Covid restrictions, this has proved to be true. Now that restrictions have been lifted, creativity combined with science learning has initiated a healing process, which reminds us that there is a bright future ahead and it’s helping us to recover from this experience.”
We believe that creative STEAM hands-on activities can help children recover from the trauma of the COVID pandemic.
If you complete any of the creative activities, please share what you do with us!
To find out more:
Dr Helen Mason OBE, University of Cambridge
Website: SunSpaceArt.org
Email Contact: info@sunspaceart.org
Twitter: @helen_hm11
YouTube channel: SunSpaceArt