Dynamic Earth’s Learning and Engagement Team create and deliver our experiences. They are highly qualified science communication specialists, experienced outdoor leaders and role models who champion inclusivity and equity in STEM.

All our school experiences are fully aligned with the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. Information on which experiences and outcomes we explore during workshops and planetarium shows are outlined in more detail on our dedicated workshop and show pages.

Dynamic Earth is committed to supporting the delivery of Learning for Sustainability as a national priority. We offer a range of outdoor learning opportunities and experiences exploring the climate emergency, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Global Citizenship.

Our early years storytelling experiences are aligned with Realizing the Ambition.

Our experiences support the development of meta skills and are aligned with the Skills Development Scotland Meta Skills Development Framework.

Dynamic Earth is a significant science learning opportunity for your pupils.

• We’re the only science centre anywhere in the UK dedicated to the story of planet Earth. At a time of planetary emergency, there has never been a more pressing time for learning about planet Earth to take centre stage.
• Our exhibition experience is unique and unlike any other science centre or museum in the world. Our immersive and multisensory galleries offer in depth and memorable opportunities for your pupils to feel connected to and inspired by the science of planet Earth and how this influences their everyday life and future.
• Dynamic Earth has the UKs first and Scotland’s only 6K planetarium. We create and deliver shows unique to our centre – which not only cover outer-space themes – but also Earth and environmental science topics such as natural hazards and Earth’s ocean.
• Dynamic Earth offers an extensive interdisciplinary school workshop programme – available to you on-demand. Our workshops use high quality audio-visual materials, real objects, data-sets and are delivered by passionate subject specialists. We deliver memorable and enriching experiences beyond the classroom which ignite natural curiosity in science and sustainability.

Dynamic Earth offers all school visits on a subsidised rate. One activity costs £5/pupil, two activities £6.75 /pupil and three activities cost £7.50 /pupil.

Our live presenter-led online workshops for primary school pupils are free to schools in remote and rural locations.

Outdoor workshops vary in price from £5-£9/pupil.

Subsidised learning rates are available to all UK School Groups (discounts are also accessible to International schools through our group rates).

With thanks to support from the Scottish Government, we may be able to assist with the cost of your bus, train or boat to make an in-person visit to Dynamic Earth. Qualifying criteria does apply and any subsidy must be claimed within 6 months of your visit.

If your school is eligible for Transport Subsidy and you wish to claim it, please complete and return the following documents to groups@dynamicearth.org.uk

• The completed Transport Subsidy Form
• A certified headed letter with your school’s bank information
• A copy of your travel invoice

We will then process your claim and issue a bank transfer back to the school directly to reimburse you for the relevant amount. Funding is allocated on a first come first served basis and only after you have visited.

We’ll work with you to build a schedule that works for you. We recommend 90 minutes for our exhibition galleries and our Planetarium Shows and Fulldome Movies are 30 minutes. Our indoor school workshops last for 55 minutes. Our outdoor learning experiences vary from 55 minutes to half-day sessions.

We require teacher to pupil ratios as outlined below:

• Early Years – 1 adult per 5 pupils
• Primary School – 1 adult per 10 pupils
• Secondary School – 1 adult per 15 pupils

Teachers falling within these ratios are complimentary. If your local authority ratio differs from that described above please advise on booking. All carers and support workers are complimentary.

Yes you can. We offer free teacher familiarisation visits for practitioners who want to experience the centre before bringing their pupils. Get in touch and we’ll set this up at a time convenient for you.

We aim to be as inclusive as possible at Dynamic Earth as we believe science is for everyone. All areas of our building are wheelchair accessible and our staff team will assist you whenever you need it to make sure everyone has a fantastic experience.

We have a range of resources to support pupils with additional needs; including sensory workshops, sensory bags, sensory maps, now and next cards, ear defenders as well as a full access statement:

Access Statement

Resources

Our Learning and Engagement team can make a number of adaptations to our workshop and planetarium show experiences depending on the needs of your group, or offer a more bespoke sensory workshop experience. Please let us know how we can help.

We ask that all details are confirmed within two weeks of your visit.

We understand that things can change on the day, and not everything always goes to plan. We’re committed to being as flexible as we can with you to make sure you have the best experience possible. We also have a duty to balance your schedule with other schools who are also booked in with us on the day you visit.

You will only be charged for the number of pupils who attend the centre on the day. Deposits are not required. Therefore, if you booked for 30 pupils but only 28 attend on the day, we’ll only charge you for 28 pupils.

Similarly, if you’re late, we reserve the right to amend your schedule and cancel elements of it if we can’t re-arrange them on the day. For example, cancelling your workshop or planetarium show if we can’t accommodate it as a result of late arrival. We won’t charge you for any events of your experiences that need to be cancelled as a result of late arrival.

Dynamic Earth is committed to expanding our reach and impact across Scotland. We support the Scottish Regional Science Festivals network throughout the year with in-person visits organised as part of science festival programmes in locations including Orkney, Shetland and Aberdeen. We also offer online live workshop opportunities for primary school pupils on Microsoft Teams which can be booked throughout the year. See our workshop pages to find out more.

You can find a copy of our school visits risk assessment here
If you require individual additional risk assessments or Standard Operational Procedures information (e.g. for workshops or outdoor experiences), please let us know.

You can find a copy of our insurance information here

If you require a copy of our Protecting Children and Vulnerable persons policy, please let us know. Dynamic Earth has a team of three Designated Child Protection Officers with enhanced responsibilities for child protection in the organisation, and all our team receive child protection awareness training. All our Learning and Engagement Team are members of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.

Yes, we do. You can download copies of our Pupil Discovery Packs for primary and secondary learners (and dedicated packs for teachers, too!) below:

Primary Pupil Discovery Pack

Primary Teacher Discovery Pack

Secondary Pupil Discovery Pack

Secondary Teacher Discovery Pack

We can offer Rocket Fuel bags which have a sandwich, snacks and juice included for an additional cost. School bookings can also make use of our cafe during your visit. Alternatively, we can book you a space and time to eat your own packed lunch as part of your day.

As standard, we don’t write a separate snack time into your day schedule beyond your lunch slot, but if you would like one, we will accommodate this where we can. Unfortunately, you cannot take snacks into workshops, the exhibition galleries or the planetarium.

Yes, you can. We have a wide variety of items available in our shop ranging from pocket money items through to souvenirs and gifts.

We have a convenient drop-off and pick-up point situated in the amphitheatre at the front of our building. All coaches bringing groups to Dynamic Earth are welcome to use this area for drop-off and pick-up purposes. Unfortunately, we do not have coach parking bays available as we must maintain access to the front of the building at all times for the use of emergency vehicles.

Please click here for information on coach parking areas from Edinburgh Council.