School Science Trip to Cologne

A science school trip to Cologne offers your students the opportunity to enjoy a wealth of science-themed visits within the city itself and the surrounding region!

Spend a day getting hands-on at the German Aerospace Centre School Lab, where your students can carry out experiments covering areas such as comet simulation, gravitation biology, solar water purification and microgravity with DLR scientists.

Other highlights include the Neanderthal Museum, Aquazoo-Löbbecke Museum, the Odysseum Science Adventure Park and the Eifel Volcano Park – home to the highest cold water geyser in the world. And don’t miss the opportunity to see physics in action at Phantasialand, Germany’s best theme park!

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Afternoon

Travel from the UK

Evening

Arrive in time for evening meal

Day 2

Morning

Full-day visit to German Aerospace Centre School Lab

Evening

Evening meal in accommodation followed by bowling

Day 3

Morning

Visit to Odysseum Science Adventure Park

Afternoon

Visit to Aquazoo-Löbbecke Museum in Düsseldorf or a boat trip up the Rhine to Bonn

Evening

Evening meal in accommodation

Day 4

Morning

Visit to Phantasialand and explore the physics of rollercoasters

Evening

Evening meal in accommodation followed by disco night

Day 5

Afternoon

Travel back to UK

4 nights' half-board accommodation
Detailed information pack
Free staff place ratio 1:8
Itinerary planning service
Motorway tolls and taxes
Return Channel crossings
Return executive coach travel
Vamoos travel app - giving you access to all your trip documents on your phone or tablet
VAT at current rate to tour operators

Curriculum

A Level

Ecosystems and biodiversity
Genetics and evolution
Mechanics
Sustainability
Electrical circuits
Particle theory

GCSE

Ecosystems
Inheritance, variation and evolution
Earth and atmospheric science
Forces and motion
Light and the electromagnetic spectrum
Electricity and circuits
Magnetism
Radioactivity
Global energy sources

Key Stage 3

Ecosystems
Genetics and evolution
Earth and the atmosphere
Motions and forces
Physics in outer space
Waves: sound, energy and light
Electricity and electromagnetism

Primary

Living things and their habitats
Animals: skeletons and systems
Evolution and inheritance
Earth and space
Light and shadows
Plants: form and function
Forces and magnets
Electricity

Accommodation

a&o Cologne Neumarkt

After a complete renovation this former office building welcomes you with its modern and friendly features. A&O hostel Cologne is well located in the southern part of the town, from here you can visit the Cologne Cathedral or enjoy a trip on the River Rhine. All the important sights are within easy reach. The hostel offers modern, comfortable rooms; students will be accommodated in multi-bedded rooms and staff in twins. There is an internet corner, souvenir shop, bar, tv area, games, table football etc. This hostel also offers access to a teachers' lounge.

DJH Köln Deutz

With its modern, fashionable décor, Köln-Deutz Youth Hostel welcomes increasing numbers of groups each year. Students are accommodated in multi-bedded rooms, and staff in twins (for single rooms, a supplement applies). All rooms are en-suite and WiFi is available in the reception area.Seminar rooms, games rooms, table tennis and a disco make this youth centre a favourite among school groups.

DJH Köln Riehl

The DJH Köln Riehl is located on the west bank of the river Rhine and this quiet, idyllic location is ideal for school groups. The city centre is just 10 minutes away by public transport. This accommodation has 116 rooms with a total of 369 beds. Students will be accommodated in multi-bedded rooms and staff in twins (single rooms are subject to availability and will incur a supplement). All rooms have a shower, WC and individual lockers. There are conference and seminar rooms available for hire (which are great for evening activities or as a rehearsal space for music groups), a bistro with television and a basketball court. The hostel can host a barbecue evening and holds a gluten-free certificate.

Meininger Cologne

Located in the heart of the Braunsfeld district of Western Cologne, next to the Technologiepark, the Meininger Cologne is the perfect base for your trip to the city. Housed in a modern building, the hotel boasts free WiFi throughout, as well as a lounge, restaurant and game zone. All guestrooms benefit from en-suite bathroom facilities and are offered as doubles, multi-bedded rooms and dormitory-style rooms (sleeping up to 6). A buffet breakfast is provided each morning to ensure your group are properly fuelled for a day of exploring Cologne.

Educational Activities

Andernach Geyser

The Andernach Geyser is the highest cold water geyser in the world, reaching up to 60 metres.

Aquazoo - Löbbecke Museum

The Löbbecke Museum and Aquarium is home to over 550 species of fish, reptiles, mammals and insects.

Arithmeum

The Arithmeum offers its visitors the chance to experience the learning and understanding of scientific and technical facts on the

Cologne Zoo

Cologne Zoo has more than 500 species of animalsfrom all continents and oceans of the world.

German Aerospace Center (DLR) School Lab Köln

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is one of Europe's largest and most modern research institutions.

Neanderthal Museum

One of the most popular and most modern museums of Europe is situated on the ground where the most famous

Odysseum Adventure Science Park

The Odysseum Cologne opens up a whole world of science adventures.

Phanomenta Lüdenscheid

How does electricity work.

Stellarium Erkrath

Who hasn't always wanted to fly to far-away galaxies in the Starship Enterprise like Captain Kirk.

Vulkanpark (Volcano Park)

Explore the explosive world of the Vulkaneifel, a volcanic region at the heart of Germany.

Cultural Activities

Chocolate Museum (Imhoff-Stollwerck)

Quite simply this is one of the best attractions in Cologne! The first part of the exhibition is a history

Cologne Cathedral

Köln Cathedral took more than six hundred years to build, but when it was finally completed in 1880 it was

Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) Boat Trip

Köln-Düsseldorfer Line’s river cruises offer a unique perspective on two of Germany’s most scenic river valleys. Most towns and villages

Phantasialand

As the number one German theme park for visitors from the UK, Phantasialand is a great way to have fun and use up your pupils' energy.

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect trip

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in the subject area and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a trip to suit your group’s needs and meet your learning objectives.

Launching your trip to parents and students

The next step is to get your trip approved and then get students signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. This is full of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the trip planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start work on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your trip (freeing you up to do what you do best – teach).

Support while you’re away

From lost property to properly lost, we’ll always be on the end of the phone while you’re out on the trip. You’ll get a final info pack before you go, as well as access to all your trip documents via the Vamoos app.

After your trip

We’ll ask you for feedback, so we can improve our service. Let’s start planning your next trip too, so parents have plenty of time to pay (and so it’s less stressful for you). And don’t forget to head to our resources hub to continue the learning back in the classroom.