From making fidget spinners out of copper and zinc to extracting DNA from wild berries, Emmanuel Wallace – known to his followers as Big Manny – is passionate about making science relevant to young people.
Manny has a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences and started making chemistry videos in 2021. A secondary school science technician, he wanted to help students with remote learning during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Now he has millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok, where he shares short videos based on England’s National Curriculum that he films in his back garden.
Manny’s passion for teaching science is what drew him to the 鶹ҳ micro:bit playground survey, which allows primary school pupils to use their micro:bits to measure the size, temperature and biodiversity of their playgrounds and the physical activity that happens in them.
"It allows pupils to become independent investigators and see how technology applies to their everyday lives."
Whether it’s through his own online content or his involvement in the playground survey, Manny aims to make science accessible for young people so that they consider it as a future career path. His own interest in science was sparked at age 12 by an enthusiastic teacher who passed on his passion.
He thinks the playground survey will introduce pupils to coding in a setting that is relevant to them: ‘It’s exciting to gather your own primary data and analyse it using the micro:bit. It allows pupils to become independent investigators and see how technology applies to their everyday lives.’
Manny’s favourite playground survey activity is measuring surface temperatures, because it shows how relevant science is to public safety.
‘Understanding how different surfaces are affected by the weather is extremely useful, particularly during the summertime when surfaces get hot,’ he explains. ‘Playground slides, seatbelt buckles and garden furniture heat up significantly and may pose a safety hazard. If children have this knowledge about different materials, they’ll exercise more caution.’
Manny believes the micro:bit can help teachers to inspire pupils both inside and outside the classroom. ‘The micro:bit can be useful in a whole range of different science experiments. It has a thermometer, a light sensor and a compass to measure magnetic fields, and it can be used as a timer or stopwatch too.’
‘It’s a really clever multifunctional tool,’ he explains. ‘It’s a constructive way for children to explore the endless possibilities of the digital world.’
The 鶹ҳ micro:bit playground survey was created to help children aged 7 - 11 get to grips with data science and digital skills in a fun and practical way. Find out more about the seven activities and get free resources on the playground survey site.
More from the 鶹ҳ micro:bit playground survey
鶹ҳ micro:bit playground survey
Discover seven cross-curricular activities to find out more about your playground.
Enjoy comparing surface temperatures in four areas of your school playground with the micro:bit Thermometer program.
Find out everything you need to know about the playground survey and download all of the learning resources available.
