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01. JUMP TO IT: HEIGHT QUIZ
 Coming up on the planet science website over the next few weeks we have a triology of quizzes with related prizes. The themes are height, depth and length and the first one is waiting for you right now... and if you get all ten answers correct, you'll go into a prize draw to win both a giant sequoia growing kit and a sequoia sapling... Just click here to have a go.  |
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02. MOUSES AT THE READY: FREE IMAX TICKETS (SCIENCE MUSEUM) AND FROM TALL TREES TO VAST CINEMA SCREENS... The science museum imax cinema, london is offering you the chance to win tickets for any film in its season of extreme exploration films. Snap up one of tickets and you could be settling back into a comfortable seat to experience the depths of the ocean, the highest peak in the world or the vastness of outer space… The three films are as follows… ‘Ghosts of the abyss’: follow film director james cameron on a 3d journey to the wreck of the titanic. Shiver your timbers as the outline of the wreck hoves into sight for the first time, and enjoy the camerawork as the team explore inside the ship … ‘Everest’: this is a real-life adventure following a team of climbers who attempt to scale the famous peak. Plenty of nail-biting moments as they take you across creaking icefalls and gaping chasms, though a harrowing rescue and into the danger zone of oxygen-thin altitude. And thirdly, ‘space station 3d’: Shot in 3d, as the name suggests, and set largely onboard the international space station, this follows the iss astronauts as they go about their ordinary everyday work of setting up the first space station. Zero gravity gymnastics are a winner as always, but the team have serious work to do, and the views down from orbit on to the earth’s surface way way below will take your breath away. If you’re going to be around london sometime soon, how can you resist?! Family passes normally cost £28 but if you'd like one free, just send an email to anne@planet-science.com with the words i'm an imax fan! in the subject heading and a note of your name and your address. For more information on the science museum imax cinema call 0870 870 4868 or visit www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/imax |
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03. THE TEACHING AWARDS REGIONAL CEREMONIES... It's that time of year again, when the teaching awards 2003 regional ceremonies kick off around england, wales and northern ireland. The teaching awards staff have been even busier this year, having received a record 3,892 nominations from across england, wales and northern ireland. The nerve-wracking process of being assessed during lesson-time by a team of judges has now taken place, and the awards will be made over the next three weeks. The winning science teachers from each region will be presented with the teacher training agency award for science teaching and will take back to their schools a prize package worth over £3,000 (£2,000 in cash and over £1,000 worth of ict equipment). The criteria that were used by the judges were as follows: • Create stimulating learning environments for teaching science across the school • Encourage pupils and staff to use resources for experimentation and the delivery of complex concepts • Inspire colleagues to make teaching and learning of exciting for all Full information and details on where and when the ceremonies are taking place can be found on the teaching awards website. |
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04. ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK: SPRAYGUN! This week a physics demo that doubles as a good party trick (if the other guests don't mind getting a bit wet). Especially suitable for 7-14 year olds... and adults of a similar outlook. You will need: • Two straws • Glass of water What to do: 1. Hold one straw vertically in a glass of water with one hand. don't let the end of the straw touch the bottom of the glass of water (this might block the flow of water). 2. With your other hand, hold a second straw horizontally. one tip of the horizontal straw should be inserted into your mouth and the other end should be held right next to the tip of the vertical straw, at a 90 degree angle to it. 3. Now, blow, and blow hard! If your straws are set up properly, your blowing should raise the liquid up the vertical straw. when the liquid reaches the top, it sprays out in line with your direction of blow. Tip: If you can't get this to work, try cutting one straw in half and doing it again with the shorter pieces. Tip 2: It's best to start with a glass of water for this trick. if you work your way up to stickier, smellier or more colourful liquids such as cola or juice, be careful where you aim... What's happening Basically: Faster air creates lower air pressure. By blowing through the horizontal straw you create a low-pressure region at the top of the vertical straw. The air hanging around the surface of your drink is slightly higher pressure and so it pushes the water down, into and up the vertical straw. Once the water is high enough in the straw, the stream of air blowing horizontally carries it along in a fine mist. |
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05. SCIENCE BEHIND THE NEWS The biggest science story this week has to be the launch of the Mars Express, carrying the UK’s very famous ‘Beagle 2’ lander. The lander has attracted a huge amount of media fascination, as have the two Cool Britannia inclusions on the craft: a dot painting by Damien Hirst and a CDof music recorded by Blur. Are they just there to boost the artists’ profiles throughout the solar system? Of course not. It’s all happening in the name of science and technology… with just a bit of celebrity involvement thrown in on top. Science Line have been investigating and you can read more about it here: PS: If you’re into Martian artwork, the BBC would like your help. They’re looking to find the winners of a competition to create a picture of what a Martian base would look like. All you need to do is have a look at the pics, vote for your favourite, and then you’ll go into the draw to win a computer planetarium software package… Just click here |
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06. RECOMMENDED WEBSITE OF THE WEEK If all this talk of space has put a faraway look in your eye, check out the European Space Agency’s ‘International Space Station’ site. There are news stories on all things ISS related, and features on the building of the space station, daily life in space, and how to become an astronaut (full requirements are listed if you’re serious!) The site also has an online calculator which allows you to work out exactly when the ISS will be passing over your head, no matter where in the world you are. The direct link can be found here And if you’re into spotting things in the heavens, have a quick look at MOON VIEW FROM EARTH. It’s only a page, but it does what it says on the tin! Finally, a repeat mention for the marvellous FUNOLOGY site. Quite a contrast to the adult restraint of the ESA site, Funology is made for kids, and it jiggles about in full flashing colour before your eyes. It’s packed with games, activities and quizzes and even though most of them are sciencey… they do just look like FUN. |
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07. JOKE OF THE WEEK Two fantastic space-based jokes this week: Q: What is an astronaut's favorite meal? A: Launch Q: What's a martian's normal eyesight? A: 20-20-20 |
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| 08. AOB The winners of the passes to the Bodenham Aboretum were: Stuart Duke from Stourbridge; Christine Hodges from Falkirk; Sue Driver from Charlton; Nigel Bowen from Wolverhampton; Derek May from Bromsgrove; Lorna Thorne from Bournville. The winners of the Bug Quiz were: Charlotte Fellingham from Bishop's Stortford; Breanainn Roberson from Margate; and Wendy Norton from Cheshunt. The winners of the free Instant Egg Race packs were: Dr Bob Murray from Grantown on Spey; Dr C Pickup from Warwick; Neal Gupta from Nottingham; Sandie Dixon from Cumbria; Hane Hillyer from Exeter; and Denise Prosser from Coventry. The next newsletter will be along in seven days’ time. If you have any contributions (and that includes jokes) please send them to Anne McNaught on anne@planet-science.com by Thursday morning. Have a great week! |
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