 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
1. Planet Science News – Salty Science
|
 |
|
New to the Planet Science site is a primary science (PDF) activity on the Aquapharm pagesSalty Science (pdf file) lets you explore what is so special about sea water. Why do we float better in the sea than in the swimming pool, and what’s left when you evaporate sea water?
The activity is all linked to the National Curriculum and has health and safety notes… so if you don’t live near the sea to get a sample, just add salt to water to make your own!
Anyway…more on Aquapharm later with our first Planet Science News getting to know you interview, also, and here’s a top tip, later is a ‘Mouses at the Ready’ which may be just up your street if you fancy this activity. And speaking of top tips…
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. West Midlands Science Learning Centre Resource Room
|
|
|
If you are teaching in the West Midlands, the Science Learning Centre have a great resource you might like to use!
Their resource room is free-of-charge for teachers to use and includes PCs, printers, internet access and a range of resources from various educational publishers. Teachers can use this facility for lesson planning, marking, meeting colleagues or trying out new resources. You just need to book a time on 01782 584429. It’s based at Keele University and to find out more information about this and other Science Learning Centres go to http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk
You’ll also find events on the site…such as Plate Tectonics, Evidence and Time: Teaching the Dynamic Earth at KS4 on 29th November.
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. Top Tips for Real Science
|
|
|
 Here’s some signals from the Planet Science Mothership, NESTA.
NESTA is producing a report featuring the science investigation projects it has awarded funding to over the last few years. Entitled 'Real Science – Encouraging experimentation and investigation in school learning' (or ‘Real Science’ to its friends), it argues for the benefits of hands-on science for the students involved in the short term, and therefore for the future health of the UK economy.
It'll be available for you to read from the Planet Science site later in November – watch this space – but in the meantime we'd like you to share your Top Tip for organising science enquiry/investigation experiences for your classes. These can be experiences you organise yourself if you're a teacher or a technician, or organising projects involving others from outside school. You can start your sentence with 'Make sure…' or 'Always….' or 'NEVER….' or anything else you like!
Please send your one sentence top tip to Katie.walsh@nesta.org.uk and please put Real Top Tips in the subject line.
We'll sort them and give you the Top Ten Tips on the 25th November. Thanks in advance, and if you need an extra incentive we'll supply a £20 book token to a randomly chosen entrant, so please include your school address!
And…would that address be anywhere near York?
Real Science Launch Event, National Science Learning Centre, York, 28th November
Yes, we're giving ‘Real Science’ a big launch, and NESTA is keen to attract a diverse audience to the event. That could mean you, if you're in the vicinity of York. If you are interested in attending please e–mail Maria Estevez to find out details. The afternoon will include opportunities for more formal discussions, which will feed into future policy work in this area and therefore your involvement is important and would be very much appreciated. Places are limited so please RSVP by 20th November.
|
|
|
|
|
4. Activity: What Happens When the Arctic Melts?
|
|
|
 We don’t often see frozen sea water, but, of course, that is what the north pole is! Ever wondered what would happen if the Arctic ice cap melts? Here is a clever demonstration from Planet Science’s Little Book of Experiments which shows you just that!
You will need:
- A drinking glass
- Ice
- Marker pen
- Ruler
What to do:
- Fill a glass three-quarters full with water and add ice. Mark with your marker pen a line along the water level and measure the height from the bottom of the glass to the line, then wait for the ice to melt…
- Once the ice melts, mark the new water level line and measure the new height from the bottom of the glass to the line. There should be a small drop in water level.
What’s happening?
Ice (unlike most other things) is actually bigger in its solid form than in its liquid form, and so it shrinks as it melts! The result of this experiment means the melting of sea ice has nothing to do with rising sea-levels - but global warming does lead to a rise in sea-level.
This is because even though water is unusual and expands when it freezes, it still expands when it warms up. The global rise in temperature has meant the water in our seas has got bigger, and so the overall global sea level has risen because of this.
Melting of land ice such as in the Antarctic also leads to a rise in sea-level!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. Mouses at the Ready for: Philip Harris – Separating Materials Kit
|
|
|
 How do you get your students to pick up all those different scientific terms? What’s the difference between a solute and a solvent? We have a solution for you!
Thanks to the fab generosity of the people at Philip Harris we have a Separating Materials Kit to give away this week! This is a kit to show how different mixtures of materials can be separated allowing children to understand terms such as evaporate, filter, insoluble and dissolve. Ideal, in fact, for the Aquapharm primary activity mentioned above. See, we think of everything….
To get into the draw send your name and address in an email to planet-science.news@nesta.org.uk, put “Solute, Solvent, Solution” in the subject heading. The winner will be picked at random from the entries next Thursday, 17th November at 5pm.
Philip Harris, http://www.philipharris.co.uk, is the largest supplier of science teaching resources in the UK. Browse their catalogue to see this and what else they have to offer! Call 0845 120 4520 or email info@philipharris.co.uk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
6. Xchange – Be a TV Star!
|
|
|
Xchange is The CBBC Channel's live, weekday magazine programme for 8 to 12 year olds, and they are looking for 8-12 year olds who are interested in fashion and/or technology!
Xchange have borrowed some of the latest clothes to hit the high street which have MP3 players, Bluetooth connectivity and mobile phones built into the fabric of the clothes. How cool is that? And they are looking for 2 children to come to the studio and model some clothes for a show about the future of fashion.
Anyone involved would need to be available (school permitting) to come to the studio between 8.30am and 11.30 on Thursday 24th November. The studio is in White City, West London. All expenses will be reimbursed. Trendy clothes AND you get to be on TV! Who could ask for more?
If you want to enter, or you know someone who does, then get their parent or guardian to email their name and address together with the name and age of the child to randomised.news@nesta.org.uk with 'Xchange' as the subject. We will forward the details on to Xchange and if you are picked they will contact you directly.
Remember - they MUST have their school's permission and they MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian!
|
|
|
|
|
|
7. Healthcare Science Week
|
|
|
 Healthcare Science Week starts next week, running from 14th to 20th November. It is supported by the Department of Health and there are a number of activities you can get involved in!
Measure for Measure is a snapshot survey of students’ BMI, peak flow expiry rates and rest and racing pulse measurements. Any schools or groups of young people with ages 11-20 can apply for a unique user code online at www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/brightfutures and from 1st December can enter their own results. Either a healthcare scientist can come along and do the measurements or the activity can be done within the school class.
Schools, groups, or anyone else for that matter, can request a school visit through the Healthcare Science Ambassador part of the site - there's a link on the main HCS page on Bright Futures.
If you have a primary school class there is a fun poster. It helps younger children understand a little more about being healthy, and how scientists look and learn from the body and what it can do. To look at the poster, order or download one visit the site and click on “Science in Health for Schools”
And of course there are events around the country throughout the week. Visit the site for details of events near you!
|
|
|
|
|
8. Getting to Know… Andrew Mearns Spragg
|
|
|
|
Have your students have ever wanted to know what other scientists really do, and what they really think? In the start of a new series Ian Francis interviews some innovative scientists to find out what makes them tick! This week Andrew Mearns Spragg, CEO of Aquapharm, tells us about an encounter with a Great Crested Newt and surfing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 What’s your job title, and what does it mean in plain English?
CEO or Chief Executive Officer i.e. “The Boss”.
How close is your work to the ‘1% inspiration, 99% perspiration’ model?
Like all small businesses, it’s a tough balancing act. But I would say 25% Inspiration & 75% Perspiration.
We’re testing the ‘mad scientist’ stereotype. Think of your maddest teacher at school, what subject did he or she teach?
I had quite a few, but I would say my History master was fairly mad.
What was your most memorable science lesson at school or Uni, and why?
At school I remember a project taking net samples from the local pond to identify various pond creatures. I remember being very lucky to have seen a Great Crested Newt, which sadly are now very rare and endangered.
If you ruled the world, what would you do to make school students want to become scientists of the future?
I would make science much more hands-on at schools – I would get kids learning science from a much earlier age and I guess find ways to target their imaginations. I would also market science.
Who do you reckon counts as a celebrity scientist at the moment? Do you have a fave scientist, past or present? If so, who?
Biologist past would have to be Darwin!
Scientist now would be Professor Baroness Susan Greenfield
Not that you do, but if you did, how would you ‘skive’ or waste 15 minutes while at work?
I used to go surfing, whilst at the same time going off collecting biological samples from the sea.
What’s your favourite piece of pseudo science? (note: pseudo science = trying to make out that stuff like crystal ‘healing’ has a scientific basis)
The Dogon Tribe and Sirius B
You’re on a hot date. How soon before you tell them you’re a scientist?
Straight away – if they don’t respect that, move on!
Besides the excellent PS site (of course) what science-y website would you suggest our readers visit?
New Scientist
NASA
National Science Teachers Association
And finally for classification purposes…
First record/CD ever bought? Now 4
Fave food? Chicken
Einstein or Newton? Newton
Monarchy or Republic? Monarchy
Cute puppy or cute kitten? Cute puppy
Simpsons or Little Britain? Simpsons
New Year resolutions: Keeping or breaking? Breaking
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
To find out more about Aquapharm have a look at Planet Science’s feature.
If you’d like the chance of some LAB STUFF from Aquapharm, signed by Andrew himself, as an inspiring featurette for your school lab cabinet or your careers room, then email Katie.walsh@nesta.org.uk
|
|
|
|
|
9. Website of the Week – Laboratory Design for Teaching and Learning
|
|
|
 If you are thinking of redesigning, or even designing from scratch, your new school lab then this is the tool to use. Laboratory Design for Teaching and Learning has been created to allow people to design a new lab without any humphing of furniture whatsoever.
First put in walls, doors and windows, then add your equipment and finally your class! You can view in 2D or 3D, from a teacher or pupil viewpoint.
Produced by Planet Science, the Royal Society and ASE (The Association for Science Education), the software was developed by 3T Productions and is available to download for free from http://www.ase.org.uk/ldtl/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10. The Winners’ Enclosure
|
|
|
 The two readers each winning a copy of the CD-ROM Mitosis and Meiosis: An Interactive Approach, Third Edition are…
Bob Granfield, Telford
Jane Deller, Watford
And the brave person who faced the Planet Science’s Haunted House and found out that an Egyptian peasant might have been mummified simply by flushing them with oil and throwing them in the sand was…
Rebekah Hargreaves, Moffat
She receive a £5 book token.
|
|
|
|
|
|
11. Joke of the week
|
|
|
 And finally, some thoughts to leave you smiling…
Last words of a chemist…
Oops, wrong beaker...
Should this be hot?
Now you can take the protection window away...
First the acid, then the water...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That’s all for another week! Thanks for reading and contributing and if you have know of any events, jokes, or activities please let us know at planet-science.news@nesta.org.uk
PS if you would like to unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time, just reply to this email with the word 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in the title.
|
|
|
|
