Y3 Visit from Discovery Museum

Exciting Visit from the Discovery Museum – “Steam to Green”

Year 3 had a fantastic visit from Tom at the Discovery Museum, who introduced them to the “Steam to Green” project. The session explored how electricity is made, where it comes from, and how we are moving towards greener energy sources.

The children learned that electricity comes from tiny particles called atoms and electrons and shared their own experiences with static electricity—like making balloons stick to their hair!

They also discovered how the North East played a huge role in electricity’s history. They heard about Charles Parsons’ steam turbine, William Armstrong’s hydroelectric generator, and Joseph Swan’s invention of the lightbulb—all pioneering work from local inventors.

Moving on to circuits, the children explored components like wires, bulbs, LEDs, motors, and buzzers, understanding how electricity flows. They then discussed renewable energy, learning why solar and wind power are important but sometimes need batteries to store energy.

The highlight of the session was making a battery from a potato using different metals and measuring the electricity produced!

It was an engaging, hands-on learning experience that left the children inspired about the past, present, and future of electricity. A huge thank you to Tom and the Discovery Museum!