Cottingham mum's pound practicals the solution to lockdown science lessons

A Cottingham-based boffin may have the answer to lockdown parents who have been teaching their children science at home and who have been struggling with the subject.

Kerry Esgate-Green, a teacher with 22 years experience, has been providing free, weekday science lessons to parents and children on YouTube to offer them a way to engage with the core curriculum subject.

To assist parents further, she has produced a set of mail order 'Pound Practicals' that contain everything needed for pupils to take part in a range of experiments.

Kerry, 42, said: "I'd love to take the pressure off parents. There's no end of people who have told me that they have no idea what they are doing and I'm here to help.

"Because of my science experience, I know what works and how to engage the pupils. I want them to learn science. It's a core subject for schools."

The Pound Practicals were invented by Kerry to help keep her school-based Super Scientists business on track during the government lockdown.

She started the venture full time in September 2019, when she left her teaching job at Robert Smyth Academy in Harborough to pursue her Super Scientist workshop dream.

Her extra-curricular science lessons, designed as an after-school club activity, have been adapted to home-schooling for children from aged four up to GCSE level.

Each Pound Practical explores a scientific principle with simple step-by-step photographic instructions and a clear explanation for parents to tell their children and includes engaging experiments including 'Magic Snow', 'Screaming Balloon' and 'Elastic Fantastic' - all £1 each.

Kerry said: "There are 30 to choose from that I've designed. They come in a little bag with everything you need. They can be very quick or there is a go further section with more activities.

"The children can stretch their knowledge and if they don't understand the science, it's explained on the back of the experiment method which is included."

Kerry's free to access science lessons are availble on YouTube with a new lesson added every day.

"My idea is to make science home learning fun, practical, affordable and accessible to all. There are 30 to choose from and new ones are being added all the time.

"Parents have told me they have learned something too."

Anyone wanting to order a Super Scientists' Pound Practical can contact [email protected] or go to Facebook or to her online shop A message from the Editor: Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

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