ALL PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Emphasis is 'hands on' & very engaging.

Encourages discussion and thinking with time for

questions.

Many activities, experiments and demonstrations.

Workshops generally aimed at the Upper Primary

age groups (Pr 4-7 Scotland and Yr 3-6 England

and Wales).

Younger groups are catered for too.

Science and Geography Curriculum Support.

Full list of all Topics covered is lower down on this page.

The following is a general overview of what workshops involve:
 

PRIMARY SCHOOLS WORKSHOPS

 

Steven introduces all workshops with a brief account of his own experiences from collecting his first rock  (included for handling) to his rock collecting from mountain hiking and climbing to his involvement in the energy industry and his excursions and climbs of active volcanoes.

Steven explains the structure of the earth with a 'hands on' for all the class demonstration and the formation of rocks with fun practical activities using his own Amazing Rocks collection which are of many kinds of all three main types. Volcanic rocks from active volcanoes are included with some freshly collected during eruptions! These all have an exciting story to tell.THIS INCLUDES a lava bomb from the Active Volcano on Heimaey Iceland, Stevens 1st active volcano explored and also knows the town, with 3 visits over 2002, 2013 and 2017!

 
There will also be some Minerals and Fossils. Rocks known as 'impact rocks' formed from meteorite impacts are included for especially 'Space' Topic.

The children participate very much in handling the Rocks, doing scientific activities and experiments.



VOLCANO MODELS


Class involved in assisting Volcanic Eruptions!


ONE OF MY VOLCANO MODELS IN EXPLOSIVE MOOD!


Volcano models are very realistic, they represent the types of volcanoes and types of eruptions. Homemade by Steven, now 5 models that erupt!
The children are involved in setting up these amazing 'homemade' Volcano models to erupt, learning 'hands on' the science involved in real eruptions. Very realistic different eruption types with famous volcanic eruptions are 'brought to life' including re-enacting ones from volcanoes that Steven has climbed/hiked on/experienced eruptions of.
Volcanology with predicting eruptions is briefly covered for oldest children.

Class will also assist with following-

PLATE TECTONIC MODEL

Demonstrating plate movement, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity and mountain building.


LANDFORM MODEL

Shows mainly Mountain landforms and glaciated landforms, also demonstrates glaciation with an interactive activity.

GLACIER MODELS

Demonstrates flow of glaciers & shows how they erode and deposit. Climate Change Global Crisis included by showing my own evidence of rapid glacial retreat.
 

An activities sheet as follow up is available on request.
 

MY FILM/PHOTO SHOWS

Volcano shows use volcanic rocks as props.

Schools, you must provide a laptop set up that

accepts my memory stick/pen drive

Include- Stevens own film clips and photo shows of his Volcano experiences, mountaineering and glacier climb adventures, latest is Iceland 2017. Steven includes his visits and climbs of active volcanoes with climb to summit in 2015 of highest volcano & glacier in Iceland. Also included is the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland with a very close up exciting experience of lava erupting from craters and the lava flows. This was followed by a climb to summit crater in 2013. In Italy, Stromboli's eruptions in April 2007, Vulcano and Etna Sicily. Also depending on topic are included photos & film clips of some Mountains and Glaciers Steven has visited & climbed in the Swiss Alps, Norway, Sweden, Icelands Ice Caps & Glaciers and certainly throughout many parts of Britain.
 

TOPICS COVERED FOR SCHOOLS:

Using my resources of rocks, film/photos and working models of Volcanoes, Plate Tectonics model, Glacier model and other models. Simple experiments included for the Science linked topics. Relevant photo and my own film clips are shown for every workshop. Workshop content is pitched to age of class.
NOTE: Some of the following workshops are usually included with at least another in a single workshop class session.

• ROCKS- all types and formation- emphasis on identification activities looking at their properties and fun experiments. Volcanic eruptions with the volcano models are usually included.

• VOLCANOES- Volcanic rocks from active volcanoes, dormant & extinct ones handled. Also spectacular interactive 'erupting' Volcano models of different types of volcanoes and different eruption types, class assist with this.  Volcanoes that are well known with some not as well known and their eruptions are included. Volcanology with eruption prediction introduced for older classes.

• ICELAND SPECIAL-EYJAFJALLAJÖKULL VOLCANO Both 2010 eruptions. Also other Volcanoes and Glaciers that Steven has explored/climbed on.

• FOSSILS and Dinosaurs- handling fossils, how they are made, identifying rocks that are fossiliferous, trace fossils like dinosaur footprints. Extinction of dinosaurs-Volcanic eruptions and the meteorite strike.

• EARTHS STRUCTURE- Structure of Earth demonstration, Plate Tectonics-class operate a plate tectonics model. Volcanoes and Mountains usually included.
  
  EARTHQUAKES- Linked directly with Earths Structure Plate Tectonics. Handling rocks that show what happens to rocks with earthquakes. The Plate Tectonic model demonstrates what causes earthquakes and micro simulates them. includes an experiment that shows what happens to earths surface during an earthquake. My own presentation on Moroccos and the September 2023 Earthquake area from my 1990's University field trip there.

• MOUNTAINS with rocks- Handling all kinds of rocks, concentrating on rocks that show the forces that occur during mountain building, types of mountains and class operating a plate tectonic model showing how fold mountains & block mountains are made. Landform model and volcano models are included.

• LOCAL LANDFORMS- Emphasising local area, relating to Rock types, Mountains, Rivers and Glaciers/Glaciation- Emphasis on handling rocks found locally, also using tectonic model, volcano models, landform model and a 'flowing' glacier model.

• GLACIERS & GLACIATION- Operating a 'flowing' glacier model that shows the mechanics of a glacier and handling rocks that show evidence of glaciation. Glacial erosion & deposition with a landform model that includes activity and ice covered volcanoes.

• NATURAL DISASTERS- Volcanic eruptions, Earthquakes, Tsunamis, also Floods, Landslides, Hurricanes/Typhoons/Storms- Volcano models with the class helping reenact famous disastrous eruptions, operating plate tectonic model to demonstrate earthquakes & tsunamis. Mountain model demonstrates landslides and a demonstration to show hurricanes etc.

• SPACE & SPACE ROCKS- Handling rare meteorite impact rocks including from Scotlands Meteorite, meteorite impact demonstration, volcanoes of Solar System. Space phenomena seen from earth, eclipses, auroras & moon changes. 

• MINERALS AND MINING also QUARRYING- Handling minerals and rocks that are commonly quarried. Plate tectonics and Volcanoes included.
  
  FOSSIL FUELS ONLY FOR HISTORIC REFERENCE NOT PROMOTION .
  
  FORCES & ENERGY- Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Mountains, Magnetism & Magnetic Rocks, Metamorphic rock formation.

• MATERIALS & CHANGING MATERIALS also links to 'Chocolate' topic- Handling rocks with various properties, Volcanoes, eruptions with demonstrations of ash & lava flows, rock cycle emphasis.

• BRITISH ISLES- GEOLOGY & LANDFORMS- Rock handling with rocks from all over Britain, Volcanoes, Mountains, Glaciation and Rivers.

• OTHER COUNTRY STUDIES- The Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Mountains & other Landforms.
  Countries include Iceland, Norway, Sweden, France, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Caribbean Islands, Japan, USA, Canada, African Countries and Australia

• CLIMATE CHANGE- Emphasis on evidence from Glaciers, a specific case study of a glacier in Iceland I have observed retreating over several years. Glacier models included. Also Volcanic eruptions & climate effects with several case studies.
   

• GEOTHERMAL ENERGY- Includes Geothermal & Hot Spring areas, Geothermal power generation and other uses of Geothermal. Some rocks handled with relevant activities and Volcanoes are also included.

• Farming in relation to Rocks & Soils and Landuse- Handling some rocks and relating to soils. Also volcanic ash & farming, one well known example from Iceland.
• Vikings- Iceland, Norway, Sweden & Denmark- Looking at the land of each country, viking tales, folklore, exploration & settlement linked to volcanoes, mountains & rocks.

• Romans- Pompeii & Vesuvius, volcanic explosive eruption included. Rocks & Minerals the romans used.

• Stone Age to Iron Age- Rocks and Minerals of Importance at the time. For oldest classes also volcanic eruptions that had a big impact on climate and the people.

All excursions to date: May 2015 - Raasay, Elgol and Arisaig (2 field excursions) and earlier Ulva Primary Mull, Ballantrae & Colmonell South Ayrshire and the Isle of Eigg.
 

LATEST TO ADD TO WORKSHOPS:

Summer 2023- New Volcano Model

Summer 2023- Visit to Britains most ancient Volcano 100 miles from London
New rocks and several film clips.

2017- Mountain Landform Model

July-August 2017 ICELAND. Stevens 8th Visit

Hveragerdi Hot Springs and the Geothermal Town.

Laki Craters and the huge Lava Flows.

Revisit to glaciers of Vatnajokull.

Return to Volcanoes that formed during 2010 lava eruptions and to Eldfell on Heimaey, changes observed.

August 2016: New Volcanic fissure model & new materials.

August 2015 ICELAND. Stevens 7th visit

Film clips, photos and several volcanic rocks (includes new 2015 Lava)

Oraefajokull part of Vatnajokull Europe's largest glacier, Hvannadalshnuker-Icelands highest peak also glaciated volcano. Climb to summit.

New Lava field from eruption August 2014 to end of February 2015 and the hot glacial river.

Askja craters in Europe's largest desert, area famous for astronauts training there in 1960's.

Myvatn volcanic area, Lava fields, craters and hot springs.

East fjords rugged mountains once Volcanoes.

July-August 2014: Climb to summit of glaciated Snæfellsjökull Volcano, famous for the entrance to Jules Vernes 'Journey to centre of the earth'.

Vertical descent of 400 feet to 'Inside the Volcano'.

Colourful volcanic mountains, ice caves and geothermal area of Landmannalaugar.

VERY ANCIENT ROCKS from Western Isles/Nan Eilean Siar

METEORITE IMPACT ROCK from edge of meteorite crater near Lochinver Sutherland. Collected May 2017.
Also ones from Sweden, Norway, Arctic Canada and Southern England.