Pupils from Chater Infant School in Watford paddle in orange custard during experiments for National Science Week (From Watford Observer)

Pupils from Chater Infant School in Watford paddle in orange custard during experiments for National Science Week

2:40pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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Science came to life for children at a Watford infant school today when they came face-to-face with exploding volcanoes and orange custard.

Dressed in white coats, pupils from Chater Infants School saw the chemical reaction created when vinegar was poured onto baking powder pour out of home-made volcanoes.

They then dipped their feet into a paddling pool filled with orange custard, before creating bubbles in the school playground.

Other activities used balloons, lava lamps and microscopes.

The fun-filled morning finished with demonstrations of exploding coca cola bottles, after the fizzy drink was mixed with Mentos sweets, and water rockets.

On hand to help with the mess and mayhem were sixth form students from Rickmansworth School, as part of a science outreach programme with local primary schools.

Lucy Bristow and Nidaa Mir, from the school, brought nine students with them to help lead some of the experiments with the children.

Lucy, an A-Level biology teacher who led pupils through the custard pool, said: “We're here to show science can be fun. They've been doing loads of activities but this is the one where they can make the most mess.”

The school, in Southsea Avenue, had received a £250 grant from the British Science Association to help host the morning, as part of National Science and Engineering Week.

Pupils from Reception to Year 2 were split into eight mixed-age groups, which were each named after eminent scientists.

Lynsey Marshall, early years leader and science co-ordinator, said: “It's the first time Chater has every done anything like this. It's also the first time where we've had mixed groups across the school. It's been really good to get everyone involved, even the nursery children.

“It's been a lot of hard work but really good fun. The kids have loved it and the students have been really helpful.”