Incursions That Stick: What Makes a Science Workshop Memorable (According to Kids!)
Let’s be honest—some incursions are forgettable. A nice distraction. A free pen. Maybe a worksheet that disappears into the abyss of the schoolbag.
But then there are the other ones. The ones that kids won’t stop talking about. The ones that spark ten million questions at once, start a playground science club, and make the class teacher mutter, “how do I top THAT?”
So what makes the difference? After delivering hundreds of preschool and primary school science sessions, here’s what I’ve learnt… straight from the tiny (very loud) mouths of kids themselves.
1. “We got to DO stuff!”
The #1 thing kids remember? Not what they saw—but what they did.
Whether it’s launching rockets, making slime, or yelling “3, 2, 1… EXPLODE!”—hands-on equals brain-on.
✅ Tip for educators: Choose incursions where kids aren’t just watching—they’re experimenting, building, mixing, testing. Curiosity is a full-body sport.
2. “It was LOUD! And gooey!”
Science is messy. Science is noisy. Science is awesome.
You don’t need a silent classroom to make learning happen—in fact, when it comes to science, chaos is kind of the point.
✅ Tip for educators: Let go of perfect control. The best science learning happens when kids are excited, moving, and accidentally learning.
3. “She was funny and wore goggles!”
Yep—presentation matters. You can teach the laws of physics wearing a lab coat and yelling “KA-POW!” or you can read from a textbook. Guess which one sticks?
✅ Tip for educators: Bring in presenters who perform the learning. Kids learn best from people who are excited, silly, and maybe slightly unhinged (in the best way).
4. “We did something real”
Kids are born scientists—they just don’t know the big words yet. When they connect science to real life (like making a chemical reaction in a cup or designing their own contraptions), they feel powerful.
✅ Tip for educators: Choose sessions with real-world links and open-ended outcomes. Bonus points if the kids get to take something home (especially if it smells weird).
5. “I wanna do that when I grow up!”
This is the big one. The moment a child realises science isn’t just for “smart people” or lab geniuses—it’s for them. That’s how you spark a future marine biologist, rocket engineer, or slime YouTuber.
✅ Tip for educators: Pick programs that encourage questions, celebrate mistakes, and make science feel accessible to every child.
Want your next incursion to actually stick?
Whether it’s preschoolers discovering bubbles or Year 6s trying to beat gravity, our sessions are designed to explode curiosity, ignite engagement, and give teachers a well-earned breather while kids learn through play.
👉 Check out our preschool & school science programs here.
(Or just reply and say “Help! I need slime and science.” That works too.)
Final words from a Year 2 kid last week:
“That was the best day of my life. Also, I accidentally made a lava thing.”
We’ll take it.
