In my experience, “hands-on†educational visits to intriguing places are the best way to teach and inspire young minds. This is particularly true when it comes to geology and science when students can see firsthand what they learning about. If you are looking to treat your class to a valuable educational experience, I recommend Edinburgh’s Dynamic Earth – a highly interactive and brilliantly designed educational centre that teaches pupils all about the forces of nature which have shaped our planet.
Dynamic Earth offers intriguing tours, workshops, films and activities which are incredibly effective in educating students. Pupils can experience travelling through space, witness-ing the Big Bang, watching volcanoes erupt, standing beneath the Northern Lights and plunging into the ocean depths here.
This is what educational visits to Dynamic Earth can involve:
Tours
Dynamic Earth has a range of stunning galleries that portray the creation of Earth and its evolution from an inhospitable toxic globe through to a beautiful planet teaming with life. These galleries have interactive exhibits, 3D film experiences and educational guides for a fun-filled and unforgettable educational experience.
Show Dome
The spectacular Show Dome is a 360Ëš, state-of-the-art, high-definition cinema with thun-derous surround sound that shows immersive films on a wide range of topics. This in-cludes films on asteroids, super volcanoes, stars, aliens and other mind-boggling topics. The incredible technology captivates the viewer; this level of engagement makes these movies powerful learning experiences.
Workshops
Workshops are excellent teaching tools because they develop a wide range of important skills. The workshops here meet Curriculum of Excellence criteria and cover science, social studies, health and other subjects. There are workshops for different age groups, all of which are led by a friendly team of highly-qualified science communication profes-sionals. The workshops can include a range of activities, cooperative learning, critical thinking, problem-solving and group discussions.
Outdoor Learning
Dynamic Earth is perfectly situated overlooking Arthur’s Seat – Edinburgh’s legendary extinct volcano. It is a wonderful place to explore with crags, rare flora and other intri-guing natural features to uncover. Dynamic Earth arranges fun and engaging activities that are closely linked with the curriculum which allow the students to experience Envi-ronmental Sciences first hand and with epic views over Edinburgh.
Dynamic Earth is a unique learning centre that educates students on the complete story of our planet. Educational visits here are sure to blow your students away and they are a great way to reward them whilst still providing a valuable experience. It is perfect for stu-dents of geology and science as it can reinforce what is taught in the classroom in a modern, immersive and powerful manner.
John Gardiner is the Managing Director of The School Travel Company, a tour operator specialising in educational visits for school and youth groups to the UK, Europe and beyond. As a father and avid traveller, John is very passionate about providing students with valuable and engaging learning experiences outside of the classroom. By sharing his expert advice with teachers, he allows them to inspire their students and bring their studies to life.
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