Centre of the Cell

Yesterday, Year 6 were lucky enough to visit a The Centre of the Cell a one of a kind interactive education experience suspended over the working laboratories at Queen Mary's University. The children learnt about cells within this pod shaped like a 16-cell-embryo before being able to play a range of touch screen games including 'Chase the Poo', skin grafting, Cell Top Trumps and selecting the genetic code for deafness. The children also got to investigate the cells in their hands under a very powerful microscope to feel like real scientists. As well as fun and games, the children also got to experience what it is like at a real-life university lecture theatre where they enjoyed the 'Genes and Evolution Show'. During this session, they learnt fun facts such as how human chromosomes pair up (through a game involving socks); how we share 50% of our genes with a banana and 98% with a chimpanzee; the science behind Natural Selection and much, much more. The children had a brilliant day investigating the world of the cell and hopefully it has deepened an interest in science that will continue into secondary school.