Science Explorers
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Science Explorers Summer Course
Discover how the world works, investigate fascinating scientific questions and develop confidence thinking like a scientist with Atlas Summer Courses. Our Science Explorers summer course, designed for junior students aged 9–10 and 11–12, introduces young learners to scientific ideas through engaging, age-appropriate learning.
Across the one-week course, students are encouraged to ask questions, examine evidence and explore explanations while developing their curiosity about science and the world around them.
What's Included?
Your residential Science Explorers summer course includes academic teaching, accommodation, meals and a certificate on completion, alongside the activities and experiences included within your chosen programme.
What Is Science Explorers?
Science Explorers introduces younger students to scientific thinking and the process of investigating the world around them.
Science isn't simply about learning facts. Scientists ask questions, make observations, consider evidence and develop explanations for what they discover. Learning to approach questions in this way can help young students become more confident and independent thinkers.
Our Science Explorers summer course provides an age-appropriate introduction to these ideas, encouraging students to investigate scientific questions and develop their understanding through active participation.
What Will Students Explore on the Science Explorers Course?
There is no prescribed syllabus that every student follows. Atlas Summer Courses tutors create their own syllabi, drawing on their expertise while taking the ages, abilities and interests of their students into account.
Depending on the tutor and group, students could explore ideas from different areas of science and investigate how scientific principles can help explain the world around them.
They might consider questions such as:
- How do scientists investigate the world?
- What can observations and evidence tell us?
- How can we test whether an explanation makes sense?
- What causes different materials to behave as they do?
- How do living things function and interact with their environments?
- How can scientific discoveries help us understand and solve problems?
The exact content can vary from course to course. Tutors have the flexibility to adapt their teaching to the interests and engagement of the students in their group.
Any syllabus or topics shown on our website are examples rather than a guarantee of exactly what students will study.
How Students Learn
Our Junior courses are designed to make academic learning engaging, interactive and appropriate for younger students.
12 hours of small-group lessons
Across the one-week programme, students take part in structured small-group classes. Lessons are designed to get students thinking and learning in an engaging and interactive way, with the tutor encouraging everyone to participate and develop their curiosity about science.
Each lesson follows a process of review, learning and application, giving students opportunities to build their understanding and then apply what they've learned.
Students are encouraged to ask questions, discuss ideas and approach scientific problems thoughtfully. Tutors can adapt activities and discussions to the
interests and progress of their group.
The aim is to develop curiosity and confidence while helping students become more thoughtful and independent learners.
Who Is Science Explorers For?
Our Science Explorers summer course for ages 9–12 is designed for young learners who are curious about science and enjoy discovering how things work.
Students don't need any specialist scientific knowledge. The course may particularly appeal to children who enjoy science at school, asking questions, investigating new ideas or solving problems.
Students will be encouraged to develop skills including scientific reasoning, observation, problem-solving, critical thinking, communication and collaboration.
With separate age groups for 9–10 and 11–12, teaching can be adapted to provide an appropriate level of challenge for students at different stages.
Learn from Expert Tutors
Atlas Summer Courses tutors are experienced educators and subject specialists with backgrounds across academia, industry and education.
For our Junior courses, tutors guide students through their subject in an engaging and supportive way, encouraging participation and helping students develop their curiosity and confidence.
Tutors have the freedom to respond to their students' interests and enquiries while adapting their approach to the age and needs of the group.
Tutors are confirmed closer to the summer, so profiles on our website are examples of tutors who have previously worked with us rather than confirmation of who will teach a particular course.
What Can Students Gain from Science Explorers?
At ages 9–12, exploring science is an opportunity to develop curiosity, confidence and a stronger understanding of how scientific questions can be investigated.
Students can practise observing carefully, considering evidence, solving problems and explaining their ideas while encountering different areas of science.
These skills can support future learning across biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, engineering and other STEM subjects.
Most importantly, a Science Explorers summer course gives young students the opportunity to enjoy exploring science and discover which scientific questions and subjects interest them most.
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FAQs about Our Summer Courses
No. You don't usually need to have studied your chosen subject before joining an Atlas Summer Courses summer course. Courses are designed for the relevant age group, and tutors can adapt their approach to the abilities, interests and experience of the students in their group.
There is no fixed curriculum that every student follows. Our tutors create their own syllabi based on their academic expertise and the interests and learning needs of their students.
This means the exact topics can vary between courses and years. Any syllabus or topics shown on our website are examples from previous courses and shouldn't be taken as a guarantee of exactly what you'll study.
Teaching depends on your age group. Students aged 9–12 and Scholars aged 12–14 learn through structured, interactive small-group classes. Students aged 13–15 combine small-group seminars with private study, while students aged 16–17 and 18–24 experience seminars, tutorials and independent study.
Across our programmes, teaching is designed to encourage active participation, questioning and independent thinking rather than simply listening to lectures.
Your course includes your academic programme, accommodation, meals and a certificate on completion, alongside the activities and experiences included within your programme.
What's included can vary depending on the programme, age group and package you choose, so we recommend checking the individual course details for the full inclusions before applying.
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Choose from over 40 subjects taught through flexible, age-appropriate programmes. Our tutors adapt their teaching methodologies to different age groups and shape course content around students’ interests, rather than following a fixed curriculum.
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