Science Week 2024: FREE Teaching Resources!

Scientific Creative Writing 

Week 1: Time-Travelling Scientist 

Are you looking for free resources to use during science week? Engaging students in this time-travel themed creative writing activity not only sparks their imagination, but aligns with the chosen theme of 2024’s Science Week - Time. 

This opening paragraph to a story about a time-travelling scientist prompts children to explore concepts of time, envisioning different historical periods or futuristic scenarios. As they continue the narrative, your pupils can naturally incorporate scientific ideas related to time, such as cause and effect, historical changes and the impacts of scientific advancements. This activity encourages critical thinking, storytelling skills, creativity, and the application of scientific concepts in new contexts. So, make the most of this opportunity to explore key scientific events from the past - and potential ones from the future - by giving your class the opportunity to narrate them from their own perspective! 

KS2 opening: 

In a small, secluded town surrounded by hills lived a curious scientist named Dr. Amelia Timekeeper. Dr. Timekeeper had loved studying science ever since she was in school and had her own laboratory filled with whirring machines, effervescent solutions and a mysterious contraption that looked like a giant clock. 

However, Dr. Timekeeper wasn’t an ordinary scientist. She had been fascinated by the possibility of time-travel for as long as she could remember, and had a whole library dedicated to science fiction novels. Every day, she gazed at her giant clock-like machine and asked herself; what invention do I need to create to make time travel possible? The thought made her eyes sparkle with excitement. She worked day and night, adjusting gears, mixing solutions, and connecting wires, until, finally, the time machine was ready. It stood solidly in front of her, humming slowly as though it were filled with a hundred tiny bees. 

With a deep breath, Dr. Timekeeper stepped into the device. The room buzzed with energy, and in the blink of an eye she found herself transported to…

KS1 opening: 

In a small, secluded town surrounded by hills lived a curious scientist named Dr. Amelia Timekeeper. Dr. Timekeeper loved to discover amazing things. One day, she had a big idea. "What if I could travel through time?" she wondered.

In her special lab filled with colourful potions and funny machines, Dr. Timekeeper worked very hard. She mixed potions and turned gears until she had a magical time-travelling machine.

One day, Dr. Timekeeper stepped into her machine. It made funny sounds, and in a flash, she wasn't in her lab anymore. Guess where she went? Back, back, back to a time when…

Ask your class to continue the story, choosing a time period of their choice and narrating what scientific phenomenon Dr. Timekeeper would find there. For KS1 pupils, you could read the opening together as a class and then ask them to complete a story-board of drawings to complete their own narrative. If they need prompts, some ideas could include: 

Sir Isaac Newton developing the laws of motion and universal gravitation in the 17th century (KS2)

Charles Darwin developing the theory of evolution in the 19th century (KS2)

The extinction of the dinosaurs (KS1/KS2)

Neil Armstrong walking on the moon in 1969 (KS2)

Scientific advancements in the future (AI, robots, new medical discoveries, etc) (KS2)

Discovery of fire in prehistoric times (KS1)

Astronomers observing the moon and stars throughout history (KS1)

The first farmers learning to plant seeds and grow their own food (KS1).

As an extra challenge, ask the children to think about what scientific skills Dr Timekeeper will observe through each event and challenge them to incorporate these in their writing. Doing so will naturally incorporate a link to the enquiry skills. You could also select some relevant rocket words from DE’s units and challenge the children to use these in their stories!