Trick of the Light

Trick of the Light runs at Science Oxford Centre on Saturday 21 November, one of the monthly sessions in their Saturday Science Club for ages 5-9. This one is all about the science of illusion, and it's led by the club's expert leaders, so it's a proper hands-on morning for kids rather than just listening to someone talk.

The session works around a few different experiments. Children try 3D vision tricks using red and blue stereoscope glasses, and they make their own magic picture spinners to take home — things like a thaumatrope or a zoetrope, which are those old-school optical toys that create the illusion of movement when you spin them. It's the kind of thing that's easy to explain but still feels like a bit of magic when it actually works.

Beyond the main activity, a club ticket gets you access to the centre's woodland and the outdoor Water Lab, so there's plenty to do before or after the session. The visitor café is open from 10am to 4pm, which is handy if you're planning to make a full day of it. The club itself is part of a wider Saturday STEM programme for young people aged 5-14, with Science Club and Nature Club for the 5-9s and Creative Computing Club for the 9-14s, covering everything from coding to crafting, investigating and inventing. Science Oxford also works with schools and community groups to provide funded places and remove cost barriers.

There are three sessions to choose from on the day: 10.00-11.30am, 12.30-2.00pm and 3.00-4.30pm. Tickets are £15 per club ticket, which covers one child plus an accompanying adult, with additional adults £5 each. The centre is at Quarry Rd, Headington, OX3 8SB.