The LifeWorks Exhibition

• Twelve hands-on exhibits focusing on the National Curriculum Science programmes of study at key stages 1, 2 and 3.
• Suitable for school use or at public events.
• For schools, the exhibition is most effective at key stage 2.
• Accommodates one class at a time for around 50 minutes.
• Requirements an area of about 50 sq. metres, 13 tables and 5 mains electricity sockets.

List of exhibits

Skeleton hand (right)
A model of a human hand and wrist shows the bones and tendons. Pupils pull knobs to flex the fingers of the hand individually showing how the hand works.

Human torso
Children can fit the internal organs into their correct places in a full-size human torso. Afterwards they remove them and put them in the base which names and describes them.

Digestion
By listening to phones which you move across a 'talking picture' of human digestive organs you can find out what happens to the food as it passes along the alimentary canal.

Sunflower (right)
A large model plant simulates a plants ability to use light energy. By moving the leaves you can maximise the light uptake which is shown on a meter in the centre of the flower.

Key
A number of resin blocks contain small creatures of the arthropod group (insects, etc.) which children can view with magnifying glasses. They then classify them onto a key based on a number of defining characteristics.

Animal vision
A number of goggles have lenses that are modified to mimic the vision of various animals. When children put them on they see as the animals do.

Animal sounds
Recordings of the sounds of animals, particularly birds, are positioned in a picture of an environment. By moving phones across it you can hear the sounds and identify them by comparison with an animal picture key.

Fossil find
A set of fossils are arranged in a time sequence. Pupils have to try to identify the source of the fossil by comparing them with a picture key.

Body parts
There are casts of different parts of the human body hidden inside boxes. Children feel them and try to identify what they are. They check their answers

Video microscope (right)
The image produced by a microscope is displayed on a monitor. Children can examine a number of samples provided but most of all they can look at themselves in excessive detail.

Reaction timer
A random time after a start button is pressed, a buzzer or a light is triggered and you have to press the stop button as quickly as possible. The counter shows how fast you were.

Balance (right)
Children test their ability to balance by standing on a small platform that pivots at its centre. As long as they stay level a timer will run. They can compare their times with one another. by lifting flaps to see the parts.

This exhibit list is subject to alteration and should be used for guidance only.

Detailed teachers' notes are available.