<b>Science in Schools: combining language and microbiology engagement during a pandemic</b>

This data supports a publication presenting a public engagement pedagogy designed to engage Key Stage-one and -two students. The activities were developed for a British Council Science-in-Schools visit, allowing UK-based researchers to visit French territory schools, delivering activities in English. Focusing on infection transmission, our event aimed to enhance understanding of infection transmission concepts (coughing, sneezing, handwashing and surface contamination). Additionally, we hosted a "masterclass" session for teachers, demonstrating the activities and discussing their integration into classroom settings. In the manuscript we present lesson plans for both student- and teacher-focused sessions and detailed protocol and demonstration video for each activity. We also include vocabulary lists and flashcards which were used within the sessions to aid student comprehension of the activities and support further discussion around key concepts and findings. Finally, we present a brief reflective evaluation of the visit and offer considerations for others wishing to use the materials as part of their pedagogy practice. There was a positive reception to the activities among both students and teachers. Here the activities were used with French-speaking students developing English language skills, but we believe that these activities could be used with a wide range of ages, scientific literacy and event types. In conclusion, this paper underscores the significance of public engagement pedagogy in fostering health literacy and empowering young learners to make informed decisions regarding personal and community well-being. By combining interactive methodologies with targeted public health interventions, we aim to inspire a generation of proactive global citizens equipped to address contemporary health challenges. The data included here was generated by pupils during the lesson sessions. The first page of the data also includes a limited evaluation of the enjoyment of the activities.