A Science Enrichment Programme That Goes Far Beyond the Classroom
What if your child spent this Autumn not just learning science, but genuinely falling in love with it?
That’s the ambition behind Little House of Science’s Autumn Term 2026 Science Enrichment Programme – eleven sessions, each one a deep dive into a different corner of the scientific world. From the strangeness of the platypus to the tools of a forensic investigator, this term is designed to do something more lasting than tick curriculum boxes. It’s designed to make children curious.
A Structured Journey Through Science
The Autumn Term has been built as a cohesive programme, not a collection of one-off topics. Each session builds on what came before, layering ideas from biology, chemistry, physics, Earth science, space, and engineering into a broad and connected understanding of how the world works.
Children develop the vocabulary to talk about science, the confidence to ask questions, and — perhaps most importantly – the habit of looking for evidence before drawing conclusions.
Here’s what the full term looks like.
The Full Autumn Term Programme
1. Mysterious Platypuses: Evolution’s Strangest Design. The term opens with one of nature’s most baffling creatures. How does an animal that lays eggs, has a duck’s bill, and hunts with electroreception even exist? The platypus is a masterclass in how evolution doesn’t always follow the rules – and a brilliant way to kick off a term of big questions.
2. Corals: The Hidden Architects of the Ocean. Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor yet support around 25% of all marine species. Children discover how these tiny living organisms build the ocean’s most complex ecosystems, and why protecting them matters more than ever.
3. Vera Rubin – The Mystery of Dark Matter. We can’t see it. We can’t touch it. But it makes up most of the mass in the universe. Children explore the life and work of astronomer Vera Rubin, whose observations helped unlock one of the greatest mysteries in science.
4. Ancient Indian Genius: Early Discoveries and Inventions. Long before the scientific revolution, thinkers on the Indian subcontinent were developing ideas in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and metallurgy that would quietly shape the modern world. This session restores some remarkable stories to their rightful place in the history of science.
5. States of Matter: Ice, Water and Steam. A foundational session that goes deeper than the basics. Why does ice float? What happens to matter at extreme temperatures? Children explore the behaviour of solids, liquids, and gases through investigation and experiment.
6. Chemistry of Reactions: Why Substances Change: From baking soda and vinegar to rusting iron and burning wood, chemical reactions are everywhere. Children learn to recognise what’s actually happening when substances change, and begin to understand the language of chemistry.
7. Earth in Motion: Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics. The ground beneath our feet is always moving, just too slowly to feel. This session takes children inside the dynamic forces that shape our planet – from the Ring of Fire to the deep ocean trenches, and explains why some parts of the world shake and erupt while others stay still.
8. The Digestive Journey: How Food Becomes Energy. A tour of the human body from the inside. Children trace the remarkable journey food takes from the moment it enters the mouth to the point where it fuels every cell, discovering along the way just how extraordinary the human digestive system really is.
9. The Evolution of Rockets: From Firework to Space Travel. What does a 9th-century Chinese firework have in common with a SpaceX Falcon 9? More than you’d think. Children explore the history of rocketry, from gunpowder to liquid fuel, from the first satellites to the ambitions of the current space age.
10. John Snow: How Science Solves Real-World Problems. In 1854, a London physician mapped a cholera outbreak and traced it to a single water pump, without knowing what a germ was. This session uses Snow’s story to explore how scientific thinking, observation, and evidence-gathering can change the world.
11. Forensic Science: How Evidence Helps Solve Mysteries. The term closes with science in action. Children apply their accumulated knowledge- biology, chemistry, physics, logic – to the tools and techniques used in real forensic investigation. How do scientists read a crime scene? What can fingerprints, fibres, and chemical tests actually tell us?
Designed for Ages 5–14
Every session is carefully adapted for different age groups, so younger children and older ones each get an experience that challenges them at the right level. There’s no prior knowledge required – just curiosity.
Join Us Your Way
Little House of Science’s Autumn Term classes are available weekly, in person, online, or at your school. Whether you prefer to come to us or have us come to you, there’s a format that fits your family.
Why This Term?
The topics in this programme weren’t chosen at random. Together they cover the breadth of GCSE and Key Stage science while bringing in history, geography, philosophy of science, and current global issues. Children don’t just learn what scientists discovered, they learn how those discoveries were made, and why that process matters.
By the end of the term, they’ll have met real scientists from across history and the world, grappled with genuinely hard questions, and built a foundation of scientific literacy that will serve them for years to come.
Ready to book your child’s place for Autumn 2026?
Spaces fill quickly — visit littlehouseofscience.com to secure your spot, or get in touch at info@littlehouseofscience.com.
Little House of Science has been inspiring a love of science in children since 2014, delivering after-school clubs, weekly classes, school workshops, and holiday camps across London and online.
