Delivering hands-on science workshops, parties and planetarium experiences across North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, Hull and East Yorkshire since 2012.
Free STEM Equipment Loan Kits for Schools
Bring more hands-on STEM into your classroom
Lab Rascals is creating a STEM Equipment Library giving eligible schools access to full-class sets of practical science, technology and engineering equipment completely free of charge.
The equipment has been funded through our East Yorkshire & North East Lincolnshire – Sustainability for the Future Project Expansion, supported by Ørsted through GrantScape.
Our aim is simple: to give more children the opportunity to experience practical STEM without schools having to invest in expensive equipment that may only be used a few times each year.
Choose a STEM Kit
Electricity & Circuits
Get hands-on with electricity using our Clip Circuits equipment.
Pupils can build and investigate working electrical circuits while exploring components, conductors, switches, motors, lights and more.
Great for: Electricity, circuits, conductors and energy transfer.
Makey Makey – Computing & Circuits
Turn everyday objects into computer controls!
Using Makey Makey boards, pupils can explore electrical conductivity, circuits, inputs and creative computing through practical challenges.
Great for: Computing, electricity, conductivity and creative STEM projects.
Computer Science & AI LEGO
Develop computing, engineering and problem-solving skills through hands-on LEGO challenges.
Pupils can build, test and investigate while developing their understanding of coding, computer science and technology.
Great for: Computing, coding, engineering and problem solving.
Microscopy
Give pupils the opportunity to explore a world normally hidden from view.
Our classroom microscopy kit contains microscopes and supporting equipment for pupils to investigate a variety of specimens and develop practical scientific observation skills.
Great for: Cells, microorganisms, materials, observation and scientific enquiry.
Renewable Energy
Investigate how energy from our environment can be transformed into useful electrical energy.
Pupils can explore renewable technologies and investigate factors that affect energy generation through practical experiments.
Great for: Renewable energy, sustainability, electricity and energy transfer.
Molecular Modelling
Build molecules rather than simply looking at them on a worksheet.
Our molecular modelling equipment allows pupils to physically construct different molecules and explore atoms, bonds, molecular structures and how the arrangement of atoms affects the properties of substances.
Great for: Chemistry, atoms, molecules, bonding and molecular structure.
Geology
Bring rocks, minerals and Earth science into the classroom with a practical geology collection.
Pupils can observe, compare, classify and investigate different geological samples while developing their scientific enquiry skills.
Great for: Rocks, minerals, Earth science, classification and observation.
Designed for a Whole Class
These aren't small demonstration kits.
Where possible, our equipment library has been designed to provide enough equipment for a full class of up to 30 pupils to take an active part.
Depending on the kit, pupils may work individually, in pairs or in small teams.
We want pupils to be the scientists and engineers – not just watch someone else do the experiment.
More Than Just Equipment
We want teachers to be able to borrow a kit and actually use it.
Alongside the equipment, we're developing supporting resources including:
• Classroom activity ideas
• Teacher guidance
• Equipment inventories and packing lists
• Suggested investigations and challenges
• Relevant safety information
• Curriculum links where appropriate
You don't need to be a science specialist to make use of the equipment.
How Does the Loan Scheme Work?
1. Choose your kit
Explore the available equipment and decide which kit would best support your pupils.
2. Request the kit
Complete our short enquiry form with your school details, class size and preferred dates.
3. Get hands-on
Use the equipment with your pupils and explore the accompanying activities and resources.
4. Return the kit
Pack everything back into the kit using the supplied inventory, ready for another school to enjoy.
And the cost?
£0
Eligible schools can borrow the equipment free of charge thanks to funding provided through GrantScape.