Schoolchildren get on their scooters to learn more about science at Corby’s Adrenaline Alley

Over 100 Northamptonshire schoolchildren had the opportunity to experience a science day with a difference at Corby’s Adrenaline Alley – the UK’s largest indoor urban sports park.

The University of Northampton’s Adrenaline STEAM Day was held on Wednesday 15 March and aimed to show children how the STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) can be applied to anything in a fun and engaging way.

A number of workshops were run by industry and community  partners, as well as the University students. They allowed the children to explore the physics and maths behind scooters, design and build their own ramps, consider the messages that the brain gives out when participating in activities and create exciting photographic images using light and movement.

One fun session gave the children the opportunity to learn more about their heart rate by riding scooters up and down ramps in a bid to get their pulse up and comparing it to what it is before they become active.

The day was open to around 120 children aged 10 and 11 from nine schools across the county, including St Luke’s CEVA Primary, Denfield Primary, Wilby Primary, Weedon-Bec Primary, Mawsley Primary, Cogenhoe Primary, Boothville Primary, Upton Meadows Primary and Eastfield Academy.

One teacher said: “It was an excellent alternative classroom for the day – engaging, inspiring, and exhilarating.” Another teacher suggested her children had learned lots of new skills including measuring pulse rates, naming muscle groups, studying the earth, naming and finding countries, developing knowledge of food origins, what organic means and creating light streams using camera equipment.

Adrenaline STEAM is the latest example of how the University is playing a key role in helping to reverse a decline in the popularity of science subjects in schools.

Linda Davis-Sinclair, Schools Engagement Lead at the University of Northampton, said, “We wanted to bring science to the students in an innovative and fun way and Adrenaline Alley provided the wow factor for inspiring and raising aspirations.

“It was great to see how excited the children were to have a go and get involved. Some of the children overcame their fears when given the opportunity to go on the gigantic slide and were excited to see their teachers having a go too!”