Faced with the unexpected constraints of the pandemic, we took the opportunity to explore working differently. We asked if we could adapt our Atom Day schools’ programme to the online world. The pictures from our trial workshops speak for themselves and tell you that the answer is ‘Yes’.
An Atom Session with students from St Martin of Porres School; Clara's Atom Mobile absorbing and releasing light; Example vibration patterns found inside hydrogen atoms.
We took our one-day workshops and created two one-hour online sessions. Up to eight children attend each session and we ask questions, imagine and discuss. We also dance. After each session, students express what they have learnt by creating artworks at home, first inspired by Matisse’s collages and then by Alexander Calder’s sculptures. We close with a third session to consider any remaining questions and celebrate all that has been made and discovered.
There are significant benefits in working this way: We’ve enjoyed the opportunity to get to know students over three sessions and bring together colleagues no matter where they are in the world; And we’ve delighted when parents, carers and siblings have become involved. We hope that this way of working will have a life far beyond the pandemic and that these sessions will develop and be a place were we can join together to be inspired by and celebrate Nature’s beauty.
We are over halfway through the pilot and are stunned by the creativity born from constraint. The children raided their gardens, parks, kitchen cupboards and recycling boxes to express their ideas.
To see more please visit the World of Atoms online webpage.
Rasharn’s ‘Wave’ of hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine and sodium atoms. Breakfast cereal and pasta.
The Atom Sessions are supported with a Rapid Response Seed Fund Award from Imperial College London.