Our fast-moving Science Shows and Science Incursions, will inspire students and support your curriculum.
We specialise in Chemistry & Physics presentations.
Real Edutainment!
Fun & exciting science
delivered by an experienced educator & scientist
Fascinating science talks & demonstrations at your school
- Enrich your physical science curriculum
- Save on travelling & excursion costs
- Up to 100 students per session
- 60-minute sessions
- Family science nights & homeschooling sessions
Science Show Topics
Solids, Liquids & Gases
Level: Year 1 to 8
Our most popular show. It has smokes, clouds, slimes, slushy polymers and many surprises that students love.
- Students will experience the properties of solids, liquids and gases as well as the effects these properties exhibit
- We will demonstrate many phase changes using physical and chemical change
- Many fun examples of changes in states of matter
- See how gases can ‘push’, compared to solids & liquids
- More advanced: A kinetic molecular model of how heating causes boiling and evaporation
- Great fun! Engagement guaranteed!
Fun Chemical Changes
Level: Year 1 to 8
This interactive presentation focuses on a number of interesting & fun colour and gas producing reactions from the kitchen, laundry, toy shop and bathroom.
We will demonstrate a number of physical & chemical changes and reversible & irreversible changes. Students see & help with instant colour changes, discover the “chemical abilities” of laundry materials when an explosive balloon is produced, find out how heat packs work and get into nappy science. We will throw in some “controlled explosions”, fast burning reactions and many more.
Hold on . . . this is exciting stuff!
Heat Effects / Melting Moments
Level: Year 3 to 8
Heat is a form of energy created by the motion of molecules. This popular interactive presentation focuses on the influence heat has on matter. We investigate and demonstrate
- The difference between hot and cold and our touch sense
- The way heat moves and what happens when heat moves in or out of matter and the associating phase changes
- Heat as the product of a chemical reaction such as combustion
- We look at reflection, radiation, convection & conduction of heat using examples
- Discuss sources of heat (friction, electricity, chemical, sun) and find the sun to be the biggest provider
- Heat effects: colour changes, melting, deformation or expansion, combustion (demonstrate steam engine and other heat engines)
- Find that water is an amazing absorber of heat on our planet and in the kitchen
Forces, Motion & Energy
(The Science of Toys)
Level: Year 1 to 6
This session focuses on the physical laws that govern the movement of bodies.
We use toys to discover the push & pull forces that make them move.
Find out that energy is required to create the unbalanced force.
- Types of forces: push & pull
- Does no movement mean “no force”?
- The fundamentals of motion, unbalanced force & energy
- Can we levitate a product by balancing the acting forces?
- Can we balance and even beat gravity with other forces?
- Direct acting forces and forces acting over a distance
- Examples of forces between molecules, smaller objects and massive objects such as Earth and Sun
- Senior students: See all three of Newton’s laws in action
- We find that energy can be stored in batteries, food, muscles, springs, fuel, elastics, capacitors and we see examples of all
- We discover how energy is converted from potential energy to kinetic energy in toys, steam engines, and see chemical energy ‘explode’
- We float objects and eventually, a student on air!
Bonus: We can include our famous outdoor water rocket session with Barbie & Ken and Cola & Mentos (weather dependent)
Light & Colour
Level: Year 1 to 8
Light is energy in wave and particle format. Amazing stuff – it bounces off matter so we can see, carries energy, it grows our food and can transmit our emails and Netflix movies. Furthermore, it travels at the speed limit of the universe at 100 million m/s!
In this amazing session, we will cover many of light’s properties – all to be demonstrated at the appropriate age level and students will use rainbow gratings.
* Five ways to produce light
* Light has energy: photosynthesis, solar panels, photography, etc
* How fast does it travel? Does it travel in straight lines?
* Why are red apples red and green ones green?
* The influence of heat and chemical change on colour – pure magic!
* Is white light pure? Is fire light different from lamp and sunlight?
* Which colour in the rainbow is the most energetic?
* Glow in the dark vs fluorescent colours and its many uses
* How to separate white light into the primary colours @ home
* Persistence of vision and how it is used in the movies
* How light is bent/reflected with mirrors, lenses and used in optical fibre and periscopes
* How to transmit sound on a torch light beam and the application in the NBN.
This session requires a darkened or semi-darkened room.
Energy & Electricity
Level: Year 4 to 10
Humans have fallen in love with electrical energy because of what it does for us.
In this fun & interactive session, we will start our discussions on static electricity with some amazing demonstrations using electrons to move, levitate & glue items. Then we will shift our attention to how changing magnetic fields push electrons along and create electrical currents (Faraday’s principle). We will discover that energy can be stored in batteries, food, muscles, springs, fuel, elastics, capacitors and we see examples of all. Discover how energy is converted from potential energy to kinetic energy in toys, steam engines and experience chemical energy ‘exploding’.
Our next step is an investigation of conductors, insulators, electromagnets, simple batteries, electric motors and generators. A simple power station will generate electricity on the table. This session is big on energy conversions.
New Option: Our Nicola Tesla demonstration with a singing Tesla Coil!
Sound / Resonance / Standing Waves
Level: Year 1 to 10
“Sound” is air vibrations that move forward in a waveform, creating pressurised areas that are sensed by our eardrums.
In this session we discover
* The important link between vibrations and sound
* The differences in how sound is conducted through air and solids
* We investigate many different objects that vibrate, especially those in orchestras using wind & strings
* Find out how vibrations in gramophone needles come about
* See a demo of a sound wave and its echo
* Listen to Prof Bunsen’s amazing singing rods
* Hear a singing tube stimulated by hot air and find out if sound can be ‘poured’
* See beads dance on a speaker and more
Notes:
- At Year 1 to 6 level this session has to be combined with the Light topic.
- At Year 8+ level we can add wave interactions, refraction, resonance, standing waves, the Doppler effect, and more
Chemistry Secrets Revealed
Level: Year 7 to 10
A Show that emphasizes the important role that molecules play in our everyday lives. In our World, molecules get recycled while energy flows.
This is a fast-moving session with controlled explosions, chemical backbone stuff, fun chemical reactions, smokes, gels and more.
- What is an “explosion” and why do some chemicals explode?
- Why and how can rocket fuel be made from plants?
- Experience explosive sugar and discover where it gets its energy from
- Understand why 0.04% of CO2 in our atmosphere is of such importance compared to the 78% N2
- Learn why fumigating a restaurant can be dangerous and
- See hydrogen and butane explosions.
- Find out how chemical miners’ lamps work, how water can save lives, how a magnesium pencil sharpener can power a clock, how Yuri Geller bent teaspoons and much more.
Renewable Energy: Get Energized!
Level: Year 4 to 10
Energy makes the world go round. It is that strange invisible entity that has the ability to “create change”. What is energy, how is it converted and how can it be stored & used sustainably?
Energy, energy everywhere but humans have fallen in love with one specific form – electrical energy. So how do we turn a tree’s chemical energy into electrical energy? Burn it. Yep.
We will demonstrate the two fundamental laws that govern our universe:
1. Energy cannot be made or destroyed
2. Energy can be transformed but this goes hand in hand with huge losses.
- Show how generators ‘make’ energy and trace the energy cycles back to the sun.
- Discover solar cookers, water heaters and solar panel magic
- Discuss the importance of photosynthesis and our energy needs while ‘exploding’ a teaspoon of sugar
- Run three engines on clean green power
- Discuss a number of ways to store energy and produce safe hydrogen/oxygen combustions and a high-temperature cutting torch, using only water and electricity.
A selection of our best Science Demonstrations
Level: Year 6 to 10
A mix of our best Chemistry & Physics sessions. Geeky but cool!
In this interactive show, we take our best and most fun demonstrations and mix and match to your requirements and age level. The aim is to “expose, excite and ignite” students’ imagination and change their science perspectives.
Here are a few options:
- Hear sound being poured from a glass?!
- Why most technological companies, like Apple, originated from Silicon Valley
- Hear bowls and metal rods resonate
- Get locked into a bin liner by air
- Hear the difference between AC/DC and then listen to the rock band on a flashlight beam
- Float on air from a leaf blower
- Split white light with the swing of the wrist
- Our new COVID test that exposes the virus with a touch
- Turn your skull into a speaker and much more . . .
If you have questions or need to get pricing on the shows
feedback
We often hear and are humbled by your words “this was the best incursion we have had at our school . . . ” and appreciate the many follow-up requests (six from one school!). Here are some of the spontaneous post-visit responses we have received:
“My colleagues all said that the presentation was fantastic. Informative and engaging. The students have gone on to post on their digital portfolios, comments like “most exciting incursion ever” and “I learned so much in such a small amount of time.” They all loved it and were very excited!”
Year 5 teacher, M K from Preston West PS
“I thought that Prof Bunsen was fabulous – highly entertaining and full of scientific explanations. Apart from the engaging chemistry demonstrations, I thought his explanation of sound waves and electromagnetic waves was very clear.
There is so much value with this incursion. All of his experiments are directly related to the curriculum and I particularly like how he connects all of his demos/explanations to a real-world concept.”
Middle School Teachers @ MLC, Kew
“I just wanted to let you know that I have been inundated with feedback from teachers, students and parents who have all told me what a fantastically informative and engaging presentation you gave. Some actually said, the best incursion or excursion they have ever been on! So on behalf of St Clement’s, Thank you!”
Kerrie, St Clement of Rome Catholic Primary School, Bulleen "We have had you before and the whole school loves and values what you do and how you do it. You were lovely with the kids and highly engaging. You manage to get so much into the sessions and we would love to have you back”
R McClurg, Our Lady’s Primary School, Sunshine
” You teach concepts and principles in such an engaging way – the kids were learning science without even realising it! You obviously put a lot of thought into your sessions and try to include new ideas”
P Wilson, Plenty Valley Christian School
“The children are still talking about your Shows and many other teachers have commented on how their children were enthralled with the outside experiments as well. We have recommended you to the rest of the staff for any science topics being covered in the future”
A Seeckts, Carranballac College, Point Cook “l felt really excited because l was seeing so many fascinating things that l have never ever seen before! I've never seen so many explosions.”
Cameron, Grade 3 Previous
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