Islay and Jura Primaries Bright Sparks project was enhanced by a truly engaging and fascinating ‘Power from the People’ show and workshop brought to the pupils of all five schools by the Generation Science Team from the ‘Edinburgh International Science Festival’.

The interactive workshop involved the pupils in exploring electricity, what it is and how it is produced. Children became Electric Scientists and discovered how electricity could be produced from the movement of their body; explored the principles of electricity using circuits; demonstrated flowing electrons and investigated magnets and capacitors. They were also given the challenge of assembling their own generators and producing electricity using a hand crank. It was a brilliant learning experience for all involved. Below are responses from individuals and groups…

‘It was excellent because Manda and Charlene brought in really interesting things for us to do and they were great fun!’


‘We were learning about electrons and how they moved about the circuit – Manda and Charlene made it amazing!’


’It was extremely exciting and we took part in some fun activities. This helped us learn more about circuits.’


‘All of the activities we did were very interesting and fascinating but the most exciting task was charging up the specially adapted hex bugs and watching them scuttle around the racetrack. It was absolutely brilliant! We also enjoyed learning about electrons. We had to demonstrate how they flowed and how they reacted to magnets. It was an exceptional learning experience. It was fantastic learning about electricity and we would love to learn lots more.’

‘It was very enjoyable and the experiments were entertaining!’



‘It was great fun and I learned that you can use a magnet to make electricity.’

‘Can we get some hex bugs because they are cool?’

‘The people were fun.’
‘It was fun and I got some good ideas for our Saltire Project.’

‘It was fun and you learned stuff too!’

Staff and pupils would like to thank Manda and Charlene for inspiring pupils by their enthusiastic and entertaining workshop; Patrick Campbell for organising the event (Education Coordinator, Edinburgh International Science Festival) and ‘Cairn Energy PLC’ who sponsored this event in partnership with the Science Festival. We are most appreciative of their generosity and support.

Islay and Jura Schools