|
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
01. CALLING ALL PARENTS!
 Providing resources to help parents understand their kids’ school science education is one of the main aims of Planet Science. And if you’re a parent, you may be interested in helping out with our latest project. Science Line have been commissioned to produce a booklet all about school science at Key Stage 3. The idea is that the booklet will give parents loads of information about what their children are learning at school. It’ll also include ideas about how to help with their child's homework, explain where to find out more about the actual science involved, and describe activities that can be used to tempt kids into taking more of an interest in science. Sounds good huh?! All we need though, to make sure that the booklet hits the spot, is some parental input and comments along the way. So if you’re a parent of a child who is currently at KS3 (ie 11-14 year old) and you would like to influence what finally makes it into the booklet, and what it looks like, then please get in touch. Science Line are looking for a wide range of people, with a diverse range of experience (don’t worry, you don't have to know anything about the National Curriculum). All that you’ll be asked to do is spend a short amount of time looking through each of the drafts and letting us know whether we're getting things right from the perspective of the parents. Interested? Please email your contact details to caitlin.watson@bss.org with a subject heading of 'parent power'. Once the first draft is ready, you’ll be emailed for your comments. Thank you for your attention!  |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02. PHYSICS ON STAGE: GOING DUTCH And so to news for science teachers. The Institute of Physics have been in touch to tell us about ‘Physics on Stage’. ‘Physics on Stage’, if you’ve not heard of it before, is a Europe-wide festival which involves over 300 science teachers from all over, and the idea is that everyone gets together to share ideas, experiences and to watch performances from biology and physics on the theme "Physics and Life". This year, the event’s taking place in the Netherlands in November, and you could be there. The UK has been invited to send 30 delegates and to contribute ideas for performances, presentations and workshops. The idea is to share the most exciting and inspirational teaching ideas from each nation, in order to support science teachers and create a strong united force that will, as they put it, “demonstrate to decision-makers and the media that physics and science teaching are worth their attention.” Kerry Parker is the UK co-ordinator, and, on behalf of the UK National Steering Committee she’s inviting teachers to dive in and get involved. Fancy it? You can: • Send her your name / school address to receive mailings from the organisers, including a free poster. • Apply to be one of the delegates • Suggest workshops, presentations and performances All you need to do is email Kerry on kerry.parker@physics.org by 1st April. ... once you’ve done that you’ll no doubt be a bit hungry. But that’s fine – this week’s activity will sort you out. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
03. ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK: GROW YOUR OWN FOOD No, not mustard and cress … but YOGURT. Yogurt is made by culturing some types of harmless (in fact very helpful) bacteria... Jamie Oliver does it, so why shouldn’t you? There are several methods but this is the one favoured by the staff in the Planet Science Diner You will need:
What to do:
What’s going on...? The yoghurt you added to the bowl of skimmed milk would have contained live bacteria. These bacteria feed on the lactose sugar present in the milk. The lactose is converted into lactic acid, which curdles the milk and gives it the firmer texture and distinct taste that is yoghurt. The acid also stops many nasty micro-organisms from growing. What to do next: Let your eyes and stomach guide you. Pour down drain or... eat! |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
04. THE SCIENCE AND ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY If you’re a secondary school teacher working in or around the London area, you should know about a very groovy – and FREE – schools’ lecture which is being held in the Royal Institution on the morning of Monday 7th April. It’s called ‘The Science and Art of Photography’ and it’s aimed at students at KS3, 4 and early A-level. The lecturers are Tim Hunkin (TV presenter, cartoonist and engineer by training – check out his site http://www.hunkinsexperiments.com for some good ideas) and Adam Goff (Picture Editor at the New Scientist and keen photographer himself). During the talk, Tim and Adam will explore and explain the science involved in photography, the history and workings of cameras and current forms of science imagery, including scanning electron microscopes, x-ray and other special photographic techniques. Of course it wouldn’t be an R.I. lecture if it didn’t feature a wodge of visual and hands-on practical illustrations. So, for example, Tim will be using a camera made of an old suitcase to show the basic principles of cameras and photographic chemistry, and Adam will show a series of images that demonstrate how photography aids the communication of science and he will explain the techniques used. For further information and to book free tickets, phone 020 7670 2969 or send an email to: schools@ri.ac.uk. P.S. This lecture has links with the Novartis and The Daily Telegraph Visions of Science Photographic Awards, which have a special award for students this year. To find out more about how to enter, or to download an entry form visit http://www.visions-of-science.co.uk. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05. PROGRAM YOUR WAY TO UNIVERSITY Opportunity knocks for anyone of a computing nature who’s looking for a free study place at a prestigious university … Dr Peter McOwan of Queen Mary University of London has been in touch to let you know about a competition they’re running, which could – literally - change your life! The prize is a place on their Computer Science course, ie. a free three years of study, plus a maintenance grant. Not something to be sniffed at. The competition is Peter says, “This is a unique and exciting nationwide Internet based Bursary competition primarily for school kids in conjunction with Microsoft. In addition to the course place, the winner will have a fast track to a years work placement with Microsoft, and also a fast track to a coveted full time Graduate position with Microsoft when they graduate.” Full details are available at http://www.comp.qmul.ac.uk. There are three stages in the competition, and Millionaire-style, they begin nice and easy so you feel dead chuffed with yourself… and if you’re the person they’re looking for you’ll have no problem writing a winning computer program in the final challenge too. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06. SCIENCE BEHIND THE NEWS Been watching that mesmerising guy, Derren Brown, on Channel 4 lately? If not, check it out, it’s MORE than intriguing … Although DB’s ostensibly dabbling with things beyond most people’s ken, his show falls safely within the guidelines of the Independent Television Commission. But this is not true of some other TV shows about spooky stuff… Here’s what Science Line have discovered: http://www.sciencenet.org.uk/slup/CuttingEdge/Mar03/spirit.html |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 07. RECOMMENDED WEBSITES OF THE WEEK Following last week’s green-legged amphibian websites, two frog-fans have been in touch to tell us about... FROGUTS http://www.froguts.com  Mike Ryan says, "On this site there is the chance to do a virtual dissection of a frog. At various stages there are explanations, questions etc. I found it fascinating and although perhaps not suitable for all, it is, I believe, a worthwhile activity". Clare Dudman is pretty well in agreement, saying it’s "not for the squeamish, but very educational." So – have a go, if you think you’re hard enough… Meanwhile, eyes up for the Hubble Telescope’s home on the web... HUBBLESITE http://hubblesite.org  Not only is it full of explanations and photos, as you might expect but there are news updates, activities and ‘learning adventures’ (e.g. you can program your own comet to try and hit Jupiter – gentle stuff like that…) Enjoy! |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
08. EVERYONE'S A WINNER (that's no lie...) The winners of the Shiver Me Timbers competition to win tickets to the National Aquarium in Plymouth were: Robert Vanden and Sara Rayner... The winner of the Lurve quiz was 10 year old Abigail Fox ... and the winners of the 15 free DNA posters were: Robyn Bogue, Phil Kinch, Richard Eason, Susan McBurney, Mark Langford, Denise Prosser, Jonathan Hunt, Michael Fergus, Pam Large, John Hartley, Tony Jarrow, Mike Mallalieu, Rupert Knapton, Lianne Cabuche and Jackie Dines. Congratulations to everyone... and everyone else look out for more freebie-geebies coming up for grabs soon. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
09. JOKE OF THE WEEK Weights and measure this week. And technology in the form of a truck. A man’s driving down the road behind an 18-wheeler. At every red light, the truck-driver gets out of his cab, runs back and bangs on the truck door. After seeing this at several sets of lights in a row, the car driver follows him until he pulls into a parking lot. When they’ve both come to a stop the truck driver once again jumps out, runs to the back and starts banging on the truck door. The motorist goes up to him and says, "I don’t mean to be nosey but why do you keep banging on that door?" To which the truck-driver replies, "Sorry mate, can't talk now, I have 20 tons of canaries and a 10 ton limit, so I have to keep half of them flying at all times." |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10. AOB And on that hilarious note... if you’ve any contributions to future newsletters, send them though to Anne McNaught on anne@planet-science.com. Have a great week! |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
