Making a science club in your school

Why a club

A science club gives students what the timetable seldom can: unhurried time to build, test and talk. It helps curious students stay curious, draws in quieter students through hands-on work, and gives the school a pool of confident presenters for the exhibition. It does not need a laboratory or a big budget. A classroom, a table and a box of simple materials will do.

Get permission and set the shape

Talk to the principal and the other science and maths teachers. Agree a day and time, such as one period a week after school or in a free slot, an upper limit on members (twenty to thirty is manageable) and a rough budget. Ask whether a second teacher can share the load, since two teachers are better for safety and for continuity if one is away. Check the school's rules on after-school activities, parental consent and transport, and send a short note home.

Who can join

Keep the club open to anyone interested, not only the high scorers. A joint club for classes 6 to 8, or separate clubs for juniors and seniors, both work. If the numbers are large, hold a short sign-up form with one question, "what would you like to find out?", which also tells you what to plan. Aim for a mix of boys and girls, and invite students who seem bored in class but love making things.

A simple term plan

1. Weeks 1 to 2: introductions, safety rules and a simple quick activity such as a balloon car or a bristlebot.
2. Weeks 3 to 6: a project from the free guides, one per group, with a build and a test.
3. Weeks 7 to 8: a mini investigation where members choose a question and design a fair test.
4. Weeks 9 to 10: a guest session, such as a local engineer, a doctor, a farmer or a former student.
5. Weeks 11 to 12: prepare a display and show the work to the school, the parents or at the exhibition.

Roles and routines

Give members roles that rotate each month: a coordinator who calls the roll and opens the cupboard, a safety officer who reminds the group of the rules, a recorder who photographs and writes the log, and a materials manager who keeps the box in order. Use a club notebook where each meeting is logged with the date, activity, what happened and what to improve. A routine of five minutes of tidying at the end of each meeting keeps the cupboard from becoming a heap.

The materials box

Most things are free or cost very little. Ask parents for donations of clean waste, and consider a small box for voluntary contributions. Keep a list so that nothing disappears.

• Cardboard, plastic bottles, straws, balloons, rubber bands, string and paper cups, collected from home.
• Scissors, tape, glue, a ruler, markers, a safety pin and a measuring tape.
• Torch cells, small bulbs and holders, wires, a few switches and a small motor.
• A magnifying glass, a magnet, a thermometer and a balance if the school has one.
• A first aid box, paper towels and a bucket of water.

Activities that work

Use the project idea finder and the free guides for starting points. Short builds such as the balloon car, the bristlebot, the lemon battery and the rain gauge keep energy up. Longer projects such as a hydraulic arm or a wind turbine suit committed members. Add occasional non-building sessions: a science quiz, a film followed by a discussion, a nature walk, a "myth or fact" debate or a talk using the questions kids ask page. Encourage members to bring their own questions.

Safety first

Set out the rules at the first meeting and repeat them. Keep a register of who is present. Teachers handle cutting, hot glue and heat; students use cells only, never mains. Keep chemicals to mild household items under supervision. Use our article on safety for home science projects as a checklist, and make sure at least one adult trained in first aid is present.

Show the work

A club thrives when it has an audience. Hold a short open session each term where members show models to other classes. Put photographs on the notice board, send a note to parents and send a team to the school exhibition. Keep a record of the year's activities, which also helps if you want to apply for school or local recognition. Most importantly, let members take pride in what they made themselves.

Keeping it going

Clubs fade when the teacher is overloaded or when activities repeat. Share the load with a second teacher and with senior student leaders, rotate topics each term and ask members for feedback. Keep the plan light, and do not be discouraged if numbers dip in exam months; a club that restarts every year is still a good club.