Volunteering in the classroom

In this video, Marcia Philbin, a STEM Ambassador, talks about how she considered the group of students she works with, the location and resources available on-site.

As you watch, what are some of the requirements of Marcia’s activity?

The setting for your volunteering

Practical activities may take place in a wide range of settings. Each will bring opportunities and constraints for the types of activities and resources you use.

• In-school as a lesson, lunchtime or after school club.
• Community groups such as Guides and Scouts.
• Family events, public lectures and demonstrations.
• Working with educational officers in museums and nature reserves.

The setting will impact the logistics and practicality of some activities. For example, you may have too many or too few young people to work with.

You may be indoors or outdoors, or in a room without water or power. If you are not running a structured lesson, you may have a drop-in activity that requires a short set-up time for repeated demonstrations.

How your volunteering links with curricula and other frameworks

Each set may have young people of different age ranges and backgrounds. Even within school settings, you may be volunteering in primary (ages 4-11), secondary (11-16), sixth form or further education. How your activity links with curricula and other frameworks are also likely to be significant.

We will look at how to address these considerations, particularly around links to curricula and logistics, in more detail in the next course. However, knowing the age range and setting for your volunteering will help you narrow down your choice of resources.

Health and safety

Though, generally speaking, the teacher or community group leader you work with is responsible for health and safety, you will still need to select resources and activities with safety in mind.

Risk assessments are introduced in the next course to help you think about this in more detail.

Schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be registered with and get health and safety guidance from CLEAPSS and in Scotland through SSERC. If you are based in another country, please ensure you check with your local health and safety regulator.