School and Group Visits
- Main Exhibition
- Maths Detective
- Science from the Toy Box
- Bugs and Beasties Show
- Eric's Guide to The Look Out
- Discovery Shows for KS1 and KS2
- Backpack Trails
- Discovery Boxes
- Teachers Packs
- Leaders' Information Days and Complimentary Visits
- Feedback from school visits
- Children's Groups
Main Exhibition
Schools and other groups are always very welcome to The Look Out. We are proud of the fact that nearly all our school groups come back many times! It is essential to pre-book your visit. Pre-booked school children are charged £3.70 each with free entry for 1 adult to every 6 children. Please call 01344 354400 and ask for the duty manager.
The main exhibition has over 90 hands-on interactive exhibits that help bring alive many concepts that are difficult to put over in the classroom. The exhibits are themed in the following zones:
- Sound and Communication
- Light and Colour
- Body and Perception
- Forces and Movement
- Woodland and Water
Maths Detective
18 January - 5 May 2010
A mysterious burglary leaves detectives baffled. Can your pupils help us solve the crime using maths? During the workshop, we will investigate aspects of the crime using graphs, timetables, eyewitness accounts and re-enactments to provide mathematical clues to the burglar’s identity. The presentation will provide pupils with the opportunity to solve mathematical problems, work quantitatively, use mathematical information, calculate, interpret and present findings.
Science from the Toy Box
18 January - 5 May 2010
Our toys are great fun but what makes them go? Is it air or gravity, clockwork or electricity? Could it be magnets? Join in the show as we find out how our toys work - help to make the biggest toy of all, a giant human circuit! Back by popular demand!
Bugs and Beasties show
6 May - 23 July 2010
Fantastic show lasting up to an hour. Informative talk finding out more about the world of minibeasts. Plus, time is spent outside with sweeping nets to find out what bugs live in Swinley Forest. This is a very popular show and is worth booking early.
Let Eric the owl introduce you to the excitement and wonder of The Look Out in this fun and colourful animated guide.
Discovery Shows for KS1 and KS2 (Shows for schools)
14 September - 3 January 2011:
- Pushes and Pulls KS1
- Forces KS2
17 January - 4 May 2011:
- Electricity KS1
- Electricity and Magnetism KS2
Many schools book these interactive science shows run by staff at The Look Out.
- A different themed show runs each term.
- The shows usually last 35 - 45 minutes.
- Booking is essential.
- Shows are at 10.15am, 11.15am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 2.15pm.
- Shows cost £1.85 per child in addition to the main exhibition entrance charge.
- 1 adult to every 6 children is given FREE entry.
Backpack Trails
The Look Out Backpacks are designed to be used for outside, but in bad weather are suitable for inside use.
Using the backpacks involves a short walk, stopping at various points and concentrating on National Curriculum themes.
Backpacks can be hired in advance and are self led.
Nature Explorers (4- 8 year olds)
The Backpack covers:
- Colour
Story telling- Leaves
- Textures
- Life cycles
Materials Detectives (8-11 year olds)
The backpack covers:
- Magnets
- True or False game
- Materials
- Rocks
- Trees
£1.85 per child in addition to the entrance charge.
For further details, download the 
backpack trail poster.pdf (812kb)
Discovery Boxes
Designed to be used in small groups of 3-4 children, Discovery Boxes cover a wide variety of KS2 national curriculum topic areas. For details of the contents of the boxes download the Discovery Boxes Poster (451kb)
£1.85 per child in addition to the entrance charge.
Teachers' Packs
Photocopyable worksheets and teachers notes are available to complement your visit to The Look Out.
KS1 Themed worksheets: Light and Sound, Woodland and Water, Forces and Movement- KS2 Themed worksheets: Body and Perception, Light and Colour, Forces and Movement, Sound
and Communication. - £10 per pack.
Leaders' Information Sessions and Complimentary Visits
We schedule termly open days with information about the current show and for you to have a look around the exhibition. You are welcome to have a complimentary visit at any time.
Teachers' Information Sessions:
- 4 March - Bugs and Beasties
- 13 September - Pushes and Pulls KS1 and Forces KS2
- 20 January - Electricity KS1 and Electricity and Magnetism
To pre-book a place on the open day, please call The Look Out on 01344 354400.
Feedback from school visits has included the following comments:
- "Very enjoyable, great fun."
- "Science from a Toybox was an excellent presentation pitched at just the right level. All hands on activities were excellent."
- "As always we enjoyed spending time in the exhibition. Children responded productively to the variety and hands on nature of the exhibits. Staff were helpful and accommodating."
- "Thank you for a most enjoyable and informative day. Staff were most welcoming and put us at our ease."
- "I bring my class every year and the children absolutely love it. If fits in well with some of our topics. Thanks for a great day.".
- "Excellent experience for our autistic children. They loved the water play. Staff extremely helpful and friendly."
Children's Groups - Brownies, Cubs, Rainbows and Beavers
We are opening up The Look Out until 8pm to accommodate groups of children on the following dates:
- 17 - 21 May 2010
Pre-booked groups are charged at £3.70 per child (under 16) with FREE entry for 1 adult to every 6 children.
Please call The Look Out on 01344 354400 to book your group visit.
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Downloads
- The Toy Box Show (125kb)
- The Look Out on the road for schools (190kb)
- Toybox Maths Detective (289kb)
- School Visits Leaflet (654kb)
- Discovery Shows Poster (106kb)
