This kit contains all the material you will need to make paint using pigments and a medium just as artists did (before ready-mix paint!). You can construct an experiment for students to explore the role of science in both the artist’s and the scientist’s workshop with reference to the technical analysis of the Renaissance painting, Cupid and Psyche by Jacopo del Sellaio. There is material provided with the kit that supports each of the suggested activities below.

Suggested activities

About the Session 

From an enormous protein structure to plaster casts of chicken heads, students will see models spanning different scientific fields, dating from the 18th century to the 20th. They will learn about the importance of models in scientific investigations and discoveries throughout Biology, Chemistry and Physics. They will analyse the representation of concepts including electricity and genetic inheritance, have an in-depth look at the history of molecular models, and operate a mechanical model of the solar system.

About the Session 

Explore how technology has changed through time and learn more about key inventions such as microscopes, telescopes, globes and calculators. The Museum has many other intriguing inventions such as pre-film animation devices, papier-mâché human anatomical models and glass fungi. What will your students discover?

About the Session 

This set of activities focusses on women in STEM, using objects from the Whipple Museum to explore:

Caroline Herschel and Maggie Aderin-Pocock (astronomy)

Hertha Ayrton (engineering)

Ida Freund (chemistry)

Marjory Stevenson (microbiology)

Rosalind Franklin and Deborah Ruffunduo (microscopy)

Duration: Can be booked as: 

A 60-minute outreach session (online or in person) with ideas for activities to complete in class

or

About the Session 

This set of activities covers and expands on the Year 5 national curriculum unit "Earth and Space", using objects from the Whipple Museum to explore:

The solar system

Terrestrial, celestial and planetary globes

The earth's movement around the sun

Space science today 

Duration: Can be booked as: 

About the Session 

This set of activities covers and expands on the Year 3 national curriculum unit "light", using objects from the Whipple Museum to explore:

Shadows (sundials)

Microscopes

Telescopes 

Reflection and refraction

Transparent, translucent and opaque 

Duration: Can be booked as: 

One or more museum-led online sessions (up to an hour in total length) and a loans box of equipment for groups of up to six 

or

About the Session 

How can we make a difference to the sound something makes? Experiment with the museum’s duochord, tuning forks and other objects to find out how sound can be changed and measured. Find out why there are different sizes of instruments and what difference that makes to the sounds they can make.

Duration: Can be booked as: 

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