Esplora Interactive Science Centrewas part-financed by ERDF

EDUCATION PROGRAMME

2019 - 2020

CONTENTS Plan your visit Here you can find all the information needed to plan and book a visit to the Science Centre.

Periodic Table of EventsHere you’ll find all of Esplora’s thematic events. These events are related to a particular theme such as Space or Christmas.

Calendar of ActivitiesAll of our activities are spread over 9 months. Pick the month you want to visit and check out what’s on o�er.

Activity InformationHere you’ll find a brief description of all our activities grouped together by year group.

Early Years Early Primary Late Primary National STEM Careers Expo Not to be missed by Years 4 to 6!

Middle School

Masterclasses & On-Demand WorkshopsActivities developed for secondary school students, delivered in collaboration with STEM industry experts.

Planetarium ExperienceWant to visit our Planetarium? Check out all our films and live shows.

Gallery InformationWant to visit a specific gallery? Check out how you can use Esplora as an extension to your classroom.

For EducatorsWe also o�er sessions for educators including CPDs, SDPs and Teambuilding activities.

Our CollaboratorsThanks to our collaborators within the STEAM field, who help us deliver great learning experiences at Esplora.

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Find out everything you need to know before booking an educational visit to Esplora Interactive Science Centre.

Free Entrance for Educators.

Experience Esplora first-hand prior to planning your visit! Educators and their immediate family members (+ One (1) Adult and up to two (2) Children) are entitled to a FREE entrance to Esplora’s exhibitions all year round. Please visit esplora.org.mt for more information.Terms & Conditions apply.

What does an Educational Visit consist of?

We recommend that you plan a visit of at least 3 hours. The educational visit will consist of 3 main parts:

On the day of your visit, you will then be provided with a schedule for your school depending on which activity and exhibition galleries were chosen.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

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1 hour activity which could be a workshop, a science show or a planetarium show/film.

Access to 3 Exhibition Galleries. Your class will be scheduled to spend around 30 minutes in each exhibition gallery of your choice.

30-minute lunch break

Want to visit Esplora on a particular day?

To book a visit in a particular month or on a specific day, we suggest that you follow these 5 steps:

1. Go to the Activity Calendar on pages 10 & 11

2. Find your year group

3. Check which activities are on o�er during that month

4. Select an activity

5. Contact our bookings o�cer to confirm availability and to make your booking

Want to visit Esplora for a particular activity?

If you can visit Esplora any time during the year and would like to participate in a specific workshop or watch a particular show, then we suggest that you follow these 3 steps:

1. Go to the pages which include a description of the activities which are suitable for your year group.

Early Years 12-13

Early Primary 14-15

Late Primary 16-17

Middle School 20-21

Secondary School 22-23

Planetarium Shows 24-27

2. Choose an activity and see during which month it is o�ered.

3. If you can visit during that month, contact our bookings o�cer to confirm availability.

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What does an Educational Visit consist of?

We recommend that you plan a visit of at least 3 hours. The educational visit will consist of 3 main parts:

On the day of your visit, you will then be provided with a schedule for your school depending on which activity and exhibition galleries were chosen.

EXHIBITION GALLERIES

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CHOOSING AN EXHIBITION GALLERY:

During the booking process, you can choose 3 exhibition galleries to form part of your educational visit.  

A description of the exhibition areas can be found on pages 28–33.  

Please note that the galleries will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact our bookings o�cer to confirm availability.

In the case of Early Years (K1 & K2) and childcare centre bookings, rather than selecting 3 galleries, we will reserve the Little Esploras galleries for you. These galleries were especially designed keeping in mind the needs of our tiny vistors.

ADMISSION COSTS:

3 euro per student.

Supervising adults visit for free.

Please refer to the booking terms & conditions on our website for adults: student ratio.

FOR BOOKINGS+356 2360 2299

bookings@esplora.org.mt

OPENING TIMES.......................October - JuneMondays...........................................ClosedTuesday - Friday............................9am - 3pmSaturday & Sundayincluding Public Holidays............10am - 6pm

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CCODE WEEK

01 2019

15thOCT - 20thOCT

HHALLOWEEN

02 2019

31STOCT

EVENTSTHEMATIC

WWORLD CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATIONS

03 2019

19thNOV - 22NDNOV

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www.esplora.org.mt

FOR BOOKINGS+356 2360 2299

bookings@esplora.org.mt

KKULURI KARNIVAL

06 2020

15thFEB - 16thFEB

XCHRISTMAS AT

ESPLORA

05 2019

24thDEC - 5thJAN

SpJOURNEY TO SPACE

Earth & Beyond

07 2020

08 2020

14thAPR - 24thAPR

SSUPER HEROES &

STAR WARS IN SCIENCE

04 2019

28thNOV - 1stDEC

TToi Toi

27th Feb – 1st Mar – Fabulous Fibonacci – 8+22nd – 24th May – Alice in Esploraland – 4+28th – 31st May – Splish Splash Splosh – 4+

4th - 7th June - Trip Hop Trash - 5+

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Beautiful Bubbles

Beautiful Bubbles

Minibeasts Minibeasts Minibeasts

Beautiful Bubbles

Beautiful Bubbles

Ingenious Engino Inventors

The Magnificent Balloons Show

Colouring with Chemistry

Ingenious Engino Inventors

The Magnificent Balloons Show

Colouring with Chemistry

Ingenious Engino Inventors

The Magnificent Balloons Show The Magnificent

Balloons ShowColouring with

Chemistry

Colouring with Chemistry

Weatherology*

Weatherology* Weatherology* Weatherology*

Creative Collision

Weatherology*

Explore VEX IQ

STEM Gameshow

Explore VEX IQ

STEM Gameshow

Explore VEX IQ

STEM Gameshow

STEM Gameshow

Me, My Body & I

QOBO Code Masters

Let’s Code with Scottie Go!

Shadow Play

Weatherology*

Let’s Code with Scottie Go!

Shadow Play

Weatherology*

Sphero’s Heroes

Shadow Play

Weatherology*

Sphero’s Heroes

Kitchen Lab

*science show content and delivery will be adapted to the audience

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ACTIVITY CALENDAR

Beautiful Bubbles

Beautiful Bubbles

Beautiful Bubbles

Beautiful Bubbles

The Magnificent Balloons Show

The Magnificent Balloons Show

Pump Up the Volume

Bee-A-Coder Bee-A-Coder

Pump Up the Volume

Bee-A-Coder

Pump Up the Volume

Pump Up the Volume

Bee-A-Coder

Creative Collision Creative Collision Creative Collision Blast O�! Blast O�! Blast O�!

STEM Gameshow

STEM Gameshow

STEM Gameshow

STEM Gameshow

STEM Gameshow

Me, My Body & I

QOBO Code Masters

QOBO Code Masters

Beautiful Bubbles

Me, My Body & I

Beautiful Bubbles

Me, My Body & I

Fossil Detectives

Fossil Detectives

Fossil Detectives

Ingenious Engino Inventors

Our Body Under Siege*

Our Body Under Siege*

Our Body Under Siege*

Our Body Under Siege*

Our Body Under Siege*

Our Body Under Siege*

Weatherology*

Sphero’s Heroes

Kitchen Lab

Our Body Under Siege*

Our Body Under Siege*

Our Body Under Siege*

Our Body Under Siege*

Sphero’s Heroes

Kitchen Lab Tinkering Studio

Tinkering Studio

Tinkering Studio

Let’s Code with Scottie Go!

Let’s Code with Scottie Go!

Let’s Code with Scottie Go!

*science show content and delivery will be adapted to the audience

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FILM

ACTIVITY CALENDAR

BEAUTIFUL BUBBLES

This interactive show features bubbles of all sizes going up, this way, that way, and all over the place… with a little help from the audience! Find out what bubbles are made of, how bubbles are formed, and you might even get the chance to step inside our famous human bubble.

Oct—Jun 30 45

MINIBEASTS

Explore and appreciate the world of Minibeasts (a.k.a. tiny bugs) through creative play and hands-on activities. Your students will love using magnifying glasses to get up close and personal with these fascinating creatures.

Oct—Dec 15-20 30

ME, MY BODY & I

What does your body need to stay healthy? What lies inside your skin? Join us in learning through play about internal organs, how our bodies work, and how to take care of them.

Jan—Mar 15-20 30

EARLY YEARS

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Explore and appreciate the world of Minibeasts (a.k.a. tiny bugs) through creative play and hands-on activities. Your students will love using magnifying glasses to get up close and personal with these fascinating creatures.

Work like a real scientist to dig up and analyse fossils! How do you think your dinosaur moved? What do you think it ate? Become a paleontologist and explore di�erent types of dinosaurs!

Apr—Jun 15-20 30

QOBO CODE MASTERS

Coding has become an essential skill, and it's never too early to start! This fun and interactive workshop uses our adorable snail robots to introduce simple coding concepts.

Jan—Mar 15-20 30

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FOSSIL DETECTIVES

THE MAGNIFICENT BALLOONS SHOW

Join our Balloon lab where we discover various cool experiments that you can do using balloons. How many ways are there to inflate or deflate a balloon? Science will show us that there are more ways than simply using a pump.

Oct—Feb 120 60 60

PUMP UP THE VOLUME

Want to learn more about sound? Sounds are made everywhere! Our show is all about making sounds with your body and exploring di�erent instruments. Now’s your chance to hear, see and feel the vibrations that are being produced every day!

Mar—Jun 120

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EARLY PRIMARYPrepare to be amazed by the colourful world of chemistry. Be an artist for the day and create your own designs using no paint but just common household chemicals!

Oct-Jan 25 60

Code your way to the National Aquarium, Ħaġar Qim or to the Ġgantija Temples! Now’s your chance to go on an exciting adventure around the Maltese Islands, with our friendly bumble bee robots, which are designed for young kids to teach simple programming concepts.

Feb-May 25 60

INGENIOUS ENGINO INVENTORS

BEE-A-CODERCOLOURING WITH CHEMISTRY

Put your coding skills to the test with our Engino Robotics Kit. Explore the basic principles of coding and learn more about motors, LEDs and touch sensors by coding a colourful Carousel to follow a set of instructions .

Oct—Dec,Jun

25 60

“ L-iskola tagħna tattendi għal ħafna attivitajiet li jsiru l-Esplora. L-istudenti jieħdu gost dejjem u l-għalliema dejjem ifaħħru l-livell ta’ tagħlim illi jeżisti. Prosit tassew. „

– Kalkara Primary

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OUR BODY UNDER SIEGE

Our body is truly and constantly under siege. Our skin, hair and white blood cells are at constant war with microbes; be it viruses, fungi or bacteria. What defence mechanisms does our body use to protect us from these pathogens? And what can you do to help?

Feb-Jun 120 60

WEATHEROLOGY

Discover the natural wonders of Earth’s climate in our Weatherology show. Explore questions such as ‘why does it rain?’ and ‘how do di�erent types of tornadoes form?’ We even create an indoor cloud as part of a live demonstration!

Oct—Jan 120 60

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LATE PRIMARY KITCHEN LAB

Did you know that we are all chemists in the kitchen? We’re not baking cakes, but we will surely have fun with kitchen chemistry!

Jan-Mar 25 60

SHADOW PLAY

Create a shadow theatre performance to explore how light interacts with di�erent objects and discover the relationship between lights, colour and shadows.

Oct—Dec 25 60

TINKERING STUDIO

Join our team of engineers! Discover which materials allow electricity to flow, build your own circuit and help Esplora’s electrical engineer to solve the problem at hand.

Apr—Jun 25 60

LET’S CODE WITH SCOTTIE GO

Use carboard tiles to control Scottie, a friendly alien. Help Scottie return home by solving problems at gradually increasing levels of di�culty while also discovering key concepts in programming.

Oct—Nov 25 60

SPHERO’S HEROES

Ever wondered how you can learn about coding in an imaginative and collaborative environment? Then Sphero is the perfect tool to use! Guide the Sphero bot through a series of coding challenges by using block coding and problem-solving skills.

Dec-Mar 25 60

“ Our Year 6 students were immersed in a stimulating hands-on scientific experience through a well-planned guided tour of the exhibits at Esplora. „

– Qala Primary

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Apr—Jun

The Malta Council for Science and Technology, together with the University of Malta, The Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology and a number of industry partners, is organising its first National STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematic) Careers Expo at Esplora Interactive Science Centre. During this event, Late Primary students will not only get a chance to meet professionals working within the STEM fields, but will also be engaged in a number of hands-on activities to shine a light on the skills and competencies needed for particular jobs.

The expo will be a great way for educators and students alike to learn about di�erent STEM fields, local research being carried out and about the variety of careers available in Malta.

By bringing together industry experts, students, educators and parents, we can continue to support children’s science experiences not only for the purpose of doing well at school and for the prospect of taking up a STEM career, but also to provide them with the necessary tools to be able to make informed decisions about science related issues.

Check out esplora.org.mt for more information closer to the date.

21st – 26thJanuary 2020Year 4 / Year 5 / Year 6

NATIONAL STEM CAREERS EXPO

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Together let’s inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.

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The Malta Council for Science and Technology, together with the University of Malta, The Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology and a number of industry partners, is organising its first National STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematic) Careers Expo at Esplora Interactive Science Centre. During this event, Late Primary students will not only get a chance to meet professionals working within the STEM fields, but will also be engaged in a number of hands-on activities to shine a light on the skills and competencies needed for particular jobs.

The expo will be a great way for educators and students alike to learn about di�erent STEM fields, local research being carried out and about the variety of careers available in Malta.

By bringing together industry experts, students, educators and parents, we can continue to support children’s science experiences not only for the purpose of doing well at school and for the prospect of taking up a STEM career, but also to provide them with the necessary tools to be able to make informed decisions about science related issues.

Check out esplora.org.mt for more information closer to the date.

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Discover the natural wonders of Earth’s climate in our Weatherology show. Explore questions such as ‘why does it rain?’ and ‘how do di�erent types of tornadoes form?’ We even create an indoor cloud as part of a live demonstration!

WEATHEROLOGY

Oct—Jan 120 60

OUR BODY UNDER SIEGE

Our body is truly and constantly under siege. Our skin, hair and white blood cells are at constant war with microbes; be it viruses, fungi or bacteria, among others. What defence mechanisms does our body use to protect us from these pathogens? And what can we do to intentionally help in this mission?

Feb—Jun 120 60

MIDDLE SCHOOL

20 21

STEM GAMESHOW

Ignite, React, Magnify, Adapt, Identify, Defend or Electrify . Try your luck at choosing a card. What will your card help you to discover about our world? What is the fire triangle? How do animals adapt to their environment? How can you check whether a substance is an acid or an alkali?

Oct—Jun 25 60

BLAST OFF!

Get hands-on as we investigate rockets and learn how they shoot up in the sky. Use water and compressed air to launch a rocket, experiment with di�erent shapes of parachutes and design a recovery system. Have a safe journey!

Apr—Jun 25 60

Robots and AI are becoming a part of our everyday life. The present generation of students needs to be more prepared for technological changes than ever before. Explore how robots can do specific tasks using VEX IQ and try programming a robot yourself.

EXPLORE VEX IQ

Oct—Dec 25 60

We’re on the move! Design and build a K’nex car with enough safety features to protect a raw egg from breaking when colliding with a wall, while exploring kinetic and potential energy as well as energy transfer.

CREATIVE COLLISIONS

jan-Mar 25 60

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EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES MASTERCLASS

The Emerging Technologies Masterclass encourages students to learn by doing, through hands-on workshops. During this activity the equipment that will be used, includes virtual and mixed reality headsets, 3D printing and 3D scanning, and leap motion hand gesture motion device. Through this learning opportunity, students will get the chance to engage with MITA professionals working in the IT field and they will have the opportunity to try these technologies first hand.

3rd-6th Mar 2020

25 Half-day workshop

MASTERCLASSES & ON-DEMAND WORKSHOP(Years 9 - 11)

“Both my students and I look forward to our school trips to Esplora! Esplora is changing the perception that science is a di�cult or boring subject by providing interactive, fun and memorable activities which aid learning while promoting skills such as creativity, collaboration and critical thinking. „

– SPMC, Rabat

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MARINE BIOLOGY MASTERCLASS

The Marine Biology Masterclass gives young minds the opportunity to learn about the beautiful seas which surround Malta. The Masterclass will introduce what is in our oceans, the habitats which sustains life, and describe the natural systems which makes one ocean di�erent from the other. The masterclass will also look at ways in which we can conserve our oceans, protect the fish stocks that act as a valuable food source, and understand the industries that depend on the seas. The session will wrap up by exploring ways in which citizens can help safeguard this precious resource from the human influences such as plastic and pollution.

24th-27thMar 2020

25 Half-day workshop

STI AWARENESS

Are you aware of the most common sexually transmitted infections? How do we recognise them? What preventative measures can be taken to avoid them? This workshop was developed in collaboration with the GU Clinic at Mater Dei hospital as a teenage guide to reproductive health care.

On Demand 25 60

such as plastic and pollution.

by exploring ways in which citizens by exploring ways in which citizens

understand the industries that depend

resource from the human influences can help safeguard this precious

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ACCIDENTAL ASTONAUTS (K2-Y6)

Follow the adventures of Cy and Annie together with their dog Armstrong as they embark on an unexpected journey into Space.

PERFECT LITTLE PLANET (Y3-Y6)

Discover what you may find on other planets in our solar system as a family from another star system seeks a vacation location in our solar system.

DREAM TO FLY (Y6-Y11)

Discover more about the first plane, the hot air balloon and even Da Vinci’s flight inventions with this poetic and touching history of aviation.

WE ARE STARS (Y7-Y11)

Connect life on Earth to the evolution of the Universe by following the formation of Hydrogen atoms to the synthesis of Carbon, and the molecules for any form of life.

PLANETARIUM EXPERIENCE

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LIFE: A COSMIC STORY (Y9-Y11)

Life surrounds us. How does the complex systems of life develop? How did it all begin? To find out, let’s travel over 13 billion years into the past.

THE DARK MATTER MYSTERY (Y9-Y11)

Is our cosmos dominated by an unknown force? We can’t detect it or measure it, and we can’t feel it but we still know it is there. Scientists are on the hunt scouting for dark matter to solve the dark matter mystery.

CELL! CELL! CELL! (Y7-Y11)

You are made of 70trillion cells. They work, they talk, they think. This is the story of how they do it.

HABITAT EARTH (Y7-Y11)

Explore the dynamic relationships found in all kinds of forest ecosystems and journey to new heights to witness the intricate intersection between human and ecological networks.

TWO SMALL PIECES OF GLASS (Y7-Y11)

Discover how telescopes work and how astronomers have used them to scrutinize the structures within our cosmos. Telescope development has helped us understand our place in space.

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SPACE EXPLORERS (K2-Y6)

The perfect show for younger visitors who are new to the planetarium. Explore the night sky and take a trip to the Moon before flying through the solar system to see a planet up close.

WONDERS OF THE NIGHT SKY (Y3+)

Take a dramatic tour of our solar system, from the International Space Station to distant planets, and then head into interstellar space as we explore our galaxy and our place in the cosmos.

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Enjoy one of our

LIVE PLANETARIUM SHOWS

WONDERS OF THE NIGHT SKY (Y3+)

Living in Space Exhibition

Get a taste of life in space (and find out how astronauts use the toilet on the International Space Station) and identify planets that may host extra-terrestrial life!

Universe Exhibition

Use the interactive exhibits to explore the wonders of nebulae and black holes and challenge your friends to the solar system quiz. But be quick… to win, you need to run and stand on the correct answer first!

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Enhance your planetarium experience by visiting the

PLANETARIUM EXHIBITS

THE EXHIBITION BUILDINGIt looks like fun… and yes, they’re learning!

Pull, push, tap, lift, slide – our exhibits are designed to be interactive!

Inquiry-based learning is our driving principle. Our fascinating exhibits engage students and encourage them to explore scientific concepts by designing and conducting their own investigations. The informal environment encourages group inquiry and collaboration, allowing students to explain their observations to each other. Our sta� are very willing to help you with sca�olding your students’ learning to elaborate and evaluate their understanding, rounding out the application of the 5E model.

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Life at BighiDelve into the history of life at Bighi (excellent for linking to History / Literacy). Inspect medical equipment from when Esplora was a British military hospital, and use the interactive stations to follow a timeline and learn about the patients’ most common ailments.

Motion

One of our most popular galleries, Motion is also one of the loudest! Watch your students light up as they internalise Newton’s Laws of Motion while engaging with our compelling exhibits. Linear motion, inertia, conservation of energy, volume displacement, friction, aerodynamics, gravity, mechanical advantage – we’ve got it all!

Electricity

Optics

Your students will step into a world of light and explore reflection, refraction, colour, vision, absorption, spectroscopy, and even peer into an invisible world thanks to our infrared video livestream!

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Life at Bighi

Electricity and magnetism can be tricky concepts to explain, but our exhibits allow students to explore hands-on! Learners can connect an intruder alarm circuit, explore magnetic fields, convert electricity to magnetism and back again, and interact with the plasma globe.

Electricity

Human BodyThe Human Body gallery is all about human life science. Evaluate your diet, view your heart rate, put together a 3D heart, examine di�erent body cells and trace through the digestive system.

Eco LifeIn the Eco Life gallery, learners can take quizzes about product materials and energy use at home, build their dream home, and play a waste sorting game (mind the dog poo!).

EarthThe Earth gallery brings earthquakes, volcanoes and tornadoes to your students’ fingertips. Use our amazing ‘Planet Earth’ exhibit to explore the surface of Earth and even other planets!

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Media

Engineering

Sound & Illusion

Electricity and magnetism can be tricky concepts to explain, but our exhibits allow students to explore hands-on! Learners can connect an intruder alarm circuit, explore magnetic fields, convert electricity to magnetism and back again, and interact with the plasma globe.

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MediaThe Media gallery is a hands-on experience with sound looping, stop-motion animation, dubbing and even a green screen (mind the zombies!).

EngineeringThe Engineering gallery is full of opportunities for building and creating, while the 3-D Thinking exhibits get students to engage with geometry, topology, recursion, logic and spatial puzzles.

Sound & IllusionThese two rooms explore our senses – create music and watch its waveform on the screen in the Sound gallery, and be astounded as your perception is tricked in the Illusion gallery.

ChemistryOur Chemistry gallery allows students to investigate materials science by constructing molecules (including DNA!), learning about smart materials, designing their own fireworks display, and exploring an interactive digital periodic table.

LITTLE ESPLORAS AREAOur delightful Little Esploras area is ideal for Kinder 1 and Kinder 2 students. The Home & Garden gallery encourages cooperative learning, while the Ball Factory gallery brings out budding engineers. Don’t miss the outdoor Playscape’s water exhibits and pirate ship too!

In the case of Early Years’ (K1 & K2) and childcare centre bookings, the Little Esploras galleries will be reserved for you.

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“ Esplora is an amazing education experience for everyone and truly makes learning fun. Since everything is hands-on, the children could roam around and experience all the multi-sensory exhibits. It was great to see their reaction as they explored each room. „

– St. Monica School, B’kara

“ The sta­ was also very helpful and assisted us to choose the right programme for the age group. Looking forward to organising more outings in the coming scholastic years. „

- St. Joseph School, Blata l-Bajda

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Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

Engage in hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) activities while exploring new content, teaching ideas, and science centre exhibits in one of our educator workshops. A range of workshops related to science communication, informal education and inquiry-based learning are being o�ered to support educators in the advancement of STEM education goals. These workshops can be delivered at your school or at Esplora. For more information please visit our website.

School Development Plan (SDP)

Looking for the ideal place to discuss your plans for the current school year or to brainstorm next year’s action plans? Then why not hold your session at Esplora? For more information, contact our programmes team!

Teambuilding Packages

Looking for a unique teambuilding activity for your employees? Esplora has everything that you could need to bring your team together, with challenges designed to enhance communication and collaboration skills, in-house catering and breakout rooms. So what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us to see how we can accommodate your request.

For more information on the above o�ers, please contact us on programmes@esplora.org.mt

FOR EDUCATORS

34 35

COLLABORATIONS

www.esplora.org.mt ESPLORA | Interactive Science Centre

Villa Bighi, Kalkara, KKR 1320, Malta