A Hands-On STEM Play & Engineering Kit

What happens when storytelling meets structural engineering?

In this interactive STEM theatre experience, children don’t just hear the story… they build it, test it, and engineer their way through it!

Inspired by Sue Carvell’s (Scientific Sue’s) live performances, The 3 Ingenious Pigs & Gale Force the Wolf transforms a familiar tale into a powerful exploration of forces, materials, design, and problem-solving.

Exclusive Access: The Ingenious Engineers Resource Hub

When you purchase this kit, you’re not just receiving materials — you’re unlocking a complete teaching experience.

You will be sent a secure password granting access to The Ingenious Engineers Resource Hub, your dedicated online support space for delivering the full STEM theatre experience with confidence.

Inside the Hub you’ll find:

• Full narrated script for easy classroom delivery
• Clear explanations of forces, materials and structures
• Step-by-step engineering challenge guidance
• Drama direction tips to engage every child
• Real-world housing comparison visuals
• Extension and differentiation ideas
• Curriculum mapping (UK & Ireland)
• Question prompts to deepen scientific thinking

Everything is designed to help you lead meaningful investigations — not just activities.

Full of experiments, facts, and fun ways to bring Science2Life!

What Children Will Do

• Act out the story using pig and wolf masks
• Test houses against “Gale Force” wind power
• Build and compare straw, stick, and brick structures
• Explore stability, strength, and structural design
• Create and use a working pulley system to solve a dramatic rescue challenge
• Predict, test, improve, and redesign their builds

This is engineering thinking in action.

STEM Concepts Explored

• Pushes and pulls
• Effects of forces (starting, stopping, changing direction)
• Strong vs weak structures
• Materials and their properties
• Stability and foundations
• Simple machines (pulleys)
• Real-world housing comparisons

Perfect for linking to Forces & Energy, World Around Us, and cross-curricular drama and literacy objectives.

What’s Included

• Character masks (pigs and wolf)
• Story script for teacher-led narration
• House-building materials (straw, sticks, template guidance)
• Guidance for brick builds (LEGO® or similar)
• Pulley system activity instructions
• Teacher guide with STEM explanations and discussion prompts
• Real-world housing comparison notes
• Extension ideas for literacy, numeracy, and drama

Everything you need to bring the classroom story to life.

Designed for Teachers. Loved by Children.

Created by Sue Carvell — founder of Science2Life and former Guinness World Record holder for the Largest Practical Science Lesson — this kit blends:

Practical engineering
Creative drama
Scientific investigation
Cross-curricular learning

Full of experiments, facts, and fun ways to bring Science2Life!

The post STEM STORY: Three Ingenious Pigs Engineering Kit appeared first on Science2Life.

Making bubbles in Antrim Castle Gardens

Tri-String Bubble Wand × 5

Create Magical Giant Bubbles!

Celebrate summer with this 5-Wand Bundle – only £20 (was £24.95)!
While stocks last, bring the wonder of science and the joy of play to life with Scientific Sue’s Tri-String Bubble Wands– your ultimate tools for creating giant, glistening bubbles that float, twist, and dance through the air.

Why Parents & Teachers Love It

• Endless outdoor fun – Watch as huge shimmering bubbles mesmerise children and adults alike.

• STEM through play – Explore surface tension, air flow, and bubble chemistry while having fun.

• Perfect for all settings – Great for gardens, parks, science shows, school activities, parties, and sensory play sessions.

• Engaging for all ages – Simple enough for children, yet magical enough to captivate everyone.

What’s Included

• 5× Tri-String Bubble Wands (choose Yellow, Purple, or a mix!)

• Step-by-step instructions for using your wands effectively

• One of Scientific Sue’s bubble recipes using easy-to-find supermarket ingredients (bubble solution not included)

Educational Benefits

• Encourages hands-on science learning about air, forces, and surface tension.

• Builds observation and measurement skills by testing bubble size and duration.

• Introduces STEM concepts naturally through outdoor play.

• Inspires curiosity and creativity while blending learning with fun.

A STEM Twist:

How to build your trip-string wand

These wands aren’t just for fun – they’re also a great way to explore surface tension, air flow, and the chemistry of bubbles. Learn as you play!

Activity Ideas

1. Bubble Size Challenge

• Dip the string section into the bubble solution – ensure the entire string is soaked.

• Walk backwards slowly on calm days, or stand with your back to the breeze on windy days.

• Measure how long your bubbles stretch before popping using a tape measure, strides, or chalk marks.

2. Compare Bubble Recipes

Try different bubble solutions and record your results:

3. Bubble Races

Release bubbles at the same time and see whose bubble travels furthest or lasts longest.

4. STEM Storytelling

Ask children:

“Why do some bubbles burst in strong winds?”
“How does the wand ‘trap’ air to make such huge bubbles?”

Science Note

The tri-string wand works by trapping air inside a soapy film stretched between three pieces of string. The absorbed bubble mix strengthens the film, allowing it to stretch into supersized bubbles.

Top Tip:
Close the wands gently after inflating a bubble – this seals off the film and lets the bubble float away rather than collapsing. It’s like tying off a balloon, locking the air safely inside.

Live Show & Virtual Experience Links

For the full bubble science experience, explore Scientific Sue’s Science of Bubbles Show:

• Live Shows – Watch giant bubbles, colour-changing experiments, and STEM magic in person

• Virtual Experience – Perfect for schools, groups, and at-home learners

Parenting & Classroom Tips

• Use bubbles for turn-taking – set a sand timer so everyone gets a fair go.

• Combine measurement skills with fun – compare bubble length, height, and float time.

• Great for sensory regulation – calming for children who benefit from visual, slow-flowing activities.

Bubbles by the se

Sparks of imagination are at the heart of creativity!
– Scientific Sue     

The post TRI-STRING BUBBLE WAND x 5 appeared first on Science2Life.

Making bubbles in Antrim Castle Gardens

Bring the wonder of science and play to life with Scientific Sue’s Tri-String Bubble Wand – your ultimate tool for making giant, glistening bubbles that float, twist, and dance through the air!

Product Highlights:

• Vibrant Colours: Choose from cheerful Yellow or Purple wands – or grab both for even more bubbly fun!

• Impressive Reach: Each wand measures 52.5 cm when fully assembled – ideal for crafting spectacular supersized bubbles.

• Science in Action: Includes one of Scientific Sue’s specially formulated bubble recipes, made using easy-to-find ingredients from your local supermarket (bubble solution not included).

• Fun for All Ages: Perfect for outdoor play, science shows, school activities, birthday parties, and family days in the garden or park.

Want More Bubble Magic?

Prefer more fun in one go? Our Tri‑String Bubble Wand × 5 – Summertime Special is now just £20 (down from £24.95)!

Click here to grab the 5‑wand bundle and save →

A STEM Twist:

How to build your trip-string wand

These wands aren’t just for fun – they’re also a great way to explore surface tension, air flow, and the chemistry of bubbles. Learn as you play!

Stretch Test with the Tri-String Wand

Before you start, make sure your tri-string wand is fully soaked in bubble solution. Play with the wand to create bubbles of all sizes and get the string ready!

To measure bubble length, use a measuring tape or mark the ground using foot lengths or strides.

Test Instructions:

• Dip the string section of the wand into the bucket of bubble solution. You have to make sure the whole of the string is covered. DO NOT STIR this will tangle up the string.
• Keeping the sticks of the wand together remove the string from the bubble solution. Lift the sticks high. Open up the sticks. You will see a bubble film stretch between the strings.
• If it isn’t windy you will have to walk backwards (safely!) to catch the air in the bubble film.

To make a bubble:

On a calm day: Walk backwards to let the air fill the film – you will need to practice the speed at which you walk. Too slow and nothing will happen – Too fast the bubble film will burst

On a breezy day: Stand with your back to the wind.

The wind will inflate the bubble for you! You don’t need to move – just open the wand and let the wind do the magic. If it is too windy the pushing forces of the air molecules will burst the delicate bubble film.

1. Measure the length of your longest bubble at the point that it just pops or breaks.
2. Repeat 3 times for each solution.
3. Because wind can affect your results, should you repeat the test more than 3 times?

Bubbles by the sea

Science Note:

The large loop and gentle movement help trap air in the bubble film. The soaked string creates a stable surface that stretches into a giant bubble before breaking away.

 Top Tip: Close the Wands to Make the Bubble Fly!

When you’re ready to release your bubble, gently bring the two wands back together. This pinches the soap film and seals off the bubble, allowing it to float away instead of collapsing.

Why This Works:

• The soap film is like a stretchy curtain between the 3 lengths of string.
• If you don’t close the wands, the film stays openand the bubble won’t break off — it just pops or collapses.
• Closing the wands snaps the film shut, turning the long soap tunnel into a complete bubble.

Think of it like tying the end of a balloon — the air stays inside the bubble because you’ve sealed it off just in time.

Sparks of imagination are at the heart of creativity!
– Scientific Sue     

The post TRI-STRING BUBBLE WAND x 1 appeared first on Science2Life.

Unleash the Jitterbug! A thrilling engineering activity using electric excitement with off-centre cam magic!

Science2Life’s Science iT! Activities takes everyday life objects, toys and knick-knacks and turns them into fun, innovative science projects.

In this activity Scientific Sue uses a simple circuit with a motor and off-centred mass to turn a pot into a Jitterbug! In fact the vibrating circuit could be attached to a range of items. What would you like to see vibrate across the floor?

This activity allows your children to learn to build electrical circuits in a unique, engaging, fun and achievable way!

We supply the items required to bring your bug creation to life. Hear it buzz and watch it skitter across the table or floor.

With a little more ingenuity  you can turn this Jitterbug into a Drawbot! Just add felt tipped pens as legs and turn your design into a drawing machine. Switch on the motor and watch your creation come to life to wiggle and vibrate across the page. The Drawbot Click on this link to see it in action!

Contents:

• 350 ml pot with lid x 30
• Battery holder with wires and switch x 30
• AA Battery x 30
• Motor tag connectors x 60
• 5 V motor x 30
• Off-centre Cam x 30
• Motor clip x 30
• Sticky glue dots x 300
• Lolly pop sticks x 100
• Wiggly eyes x 60
• Bag of craft materials
• Teaching notes

What you need:

What will your creation look like?

Art materials to turn your machine into the most unique bug!

This kit makes use of a rapidly spinning off-centre mass to cause movement.

In these images the circuit is placed on top the lid – the lid is then connected to the item you wish to turn into a jitterbug.

Our bug with the battery and motor inside the pot.

The Jitterbug!

Click on the link above to see my creation in action! The art materials are not included –  our creations  are just intended to show you how easily the vibrating lid or pot can be modified.

The circuit can be placed on to of the lid or pot or inside the pot – If inside the pot you will find there is more scope for decorating your vibrating creature.

If the motor mount is on top pipe cleaners and other items can be added to the yellow cam to creating a spinning nose or tail!

Jitterbug_Teacher_Curriculum_Sheet – Click here to view the full curriculum links for Ireland, Northern Ireland, England & Wales.

Curriculum Links:

• construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts, including battery, wires, switch and motor.
• recognise that a switch opens and closes a circuit and associate this with whether the motor spins or not.
• develop and design an innovative, functional and appealing product that is fit for purpose.

Science2Life’s Science iT! activities and programmes

Children love to be engaged in learning, especially through interactive projects that they can really get involved and be hands on with.

Science2Life’s Science iT! activities and programmes are part of our STEAM Academy. The activities use everyday life objects, toys and knick-knacks and turns them into fun, innovative, hands-on experiences designed to encourage children to:

• discover the amazing world of science and engineering
• to perform engaging activities that show how science and engineering is at work in their everyday lives
• to foster a lifelong love of science and engineering
• to give a basic grounding in scientific concepts and scientific thinking
• to increase children’s motivation to learn and
• enhance their perception, creativity and logic.

Hands-on learning is learning by doing.

Children involved in our ‘Science iT!’ activities and programmes are introduced to various STEAM learning methods and activities. Our creative programmes involve learning activities that require active thinking and experimenting to find out how things work. We all know how curious children are about the world around them and how they love using the word ‘why?’

The aim of our activities is to provide optimal learning opportunities that strategically help children grasp mathematics, engineering and science concepts.

The inclusion of the arts component into STEM makes it more fun to learn, and more approachable to children.

Art education allows children to learn things in a more open-ended way and make them applicable to real life.

Links to the curriculum

All of Science2Life activities can be used to entertain children – however they have been created with the curriculum in mind, so are perfect activities to generate mesmerizing examples of the topics they can be used to explore.

All of our Science iT! activities can up scaled-up to be used in workshops within the classroom, for festival and birthday celebrations, which provide opportunities for children to collaborate on initiatives, explorations and creations.

The idea behind our Science iT! activities is to ignite children’s natural innate curiosity about the world around them (and the items in it) and to channel their enthusiasm for scientific discovery as early as possible.

Currently Science2Life have the following Science iT! activities:

1. The Magical EVANESCO Spell
2. The Magical AMORTENTIA Spell
3. The Super Bouncing Bubble Kit
4. Make your own Fossil Kit
5. Colour Changing Bracelet Kit
6. Pneumatic Monsters Activity
7. Creative Circuits
8. The Magical Wandarama
9. Gone Fishing
10. The Jitter Bug

All of the above can be upscaled to become workshops. Interested? Give us a call!

Scientificsue@science2life.com

+447970884728

Note: All of Science2Life’s STEAM ACADEMY shows and workshops are designed to not only motivate and fire the spirit of discovery within your children but also ignite curiosity in their minds.

For more information on our shows visit our website: https://www.science2life.com

Sparks of imagination are at the heart of creativity!
                                                                                   – Scientific Sue

The post JITTERBUG ACTIVITY CLASSROOM KIT (30) appeared first on Science2Life.