Marty Jopson Minbeast Safari

Over 5000 primary pupils from 60 schools across Yorkshire joined GSAL for Marty Jopson's 'Mini Beast Safari Show' which was broadcast live from one of GSAL's biology labs. We witnessed all sorts under the microscope from head lice to woodlice to blood!

Aims

To share excellent and engaging curriculum-related content with primary schools in the local area. The need for an event like this arose when in-person events as part of our outreach programme had to be cancelled. We realised could reach even more pupils virtually.

Background

Working closely with Marty Jopson and videographer, Simon Kirk, GSAL events team created this series of virtual events involving scientists such as Marty and authors. Each virtual show has grown in audience size. First show took place in November 2020. This one was our fourth.

Resources

For this show Marty used his microscope and special camera. Simon Kirk used two cameras and the show was broadcast via the Zoom webinar platform.  Schools joined from their classrooms using a school computer and a classroom white screen. Teachers watched it with their pupils and submitted their questions for Marty live using the ineractive Q&A function on Zoom. Financial contribution from GSAL was £1025 (£720 - Marty's fee and £325 - Simon Kirk's fee) plus Zoom webinar licence (£187 per month).

Impact

Qualitative: Positive thank you emails from schools by email, photos showig children engaging with the show tweeted and sent in and many classes continued with work on minibeasts after the show.

Quantitative: audience attendance 5000 (160+ classes) and over 50 schools.  Over 100 questions asked during the session shows active participation. A recording of the show was also shared with database of primary schools afterwards so the content can be viewed by those schools who missed the event. Primary schools expressed an interest to be involved in future virtual 'classroom' events both in science or other subjects.

Pupil Involvement

Year 3 to 6. 3 independent primary schools (incl. GSAL); 3% of audience and 97% audience from state primary schools.

Frequency

Ongoing. Due to the success of virtual outreach events and the number of children that we can engage with them we will continue even after the pandemic.