|
 |
 |
||||
|
|||||
 |
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
01. HOT SPOTS FOR COOL TEACHERS
New on the Planet Science website this week is HOTSPOTS, a world of new resources for teachers. Scanning the globe, we've gathered together ideas for classroom activities and experiments based on riveting stories from history or modern day international science work. Subjects covered range from new ways to cut down on greenhouse gases, to Cleopatra's pearl-drinking seduction antics, to John Haigh's revolting body-dissolving exploits. And can you really be a burger-addict? Find out in HOTSPOTS! HOTSPOTS are aimed mainly at KS3 level, but you might find things to intrigue even for age groups outside this. Click here No spot was ever hotter.  |
|||||
|
|||||
| 02. NEWS JUST IN FROM SIBERIA A yeti walks into a bar, and says 'I'd like a pint of ...... ... ...... beer please'. "Certainly sir, but why the big pause?"* If you've not seen it yet, you must have a look at this week's biggest crypto-zoology story: the finding of a putative 'yeti paw' in Siberia. The bony, furry limb has been examined and pronounced new to modern science - but is it a Bigfoot or a big fake? The jury's out ... Read all about it, and have a look at the evidence for yourself at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3175926.stm. *PS If you enjoyed last fortnight's very similar joke about the polar bear, you no doubt be delighted - though you may also be surprised - to hear that Ian Duncan Smith said in the Evening Standard earlier this week that that is his FAVOURITE EVER joke. Yes, really... |
|||||
|
|||||
| 03. ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK: THE NAKED EGG And from hairy paws to naked eggs. Where would an egg be without its shell? Here's your chance to find out. Basically, what you're going to do is dissolve the shell off an egg, leaving only the clear membrane holding it all together... You will need: 1 small jar or glass 1 raw egg vinegar a bit of patience careful fingers a fondness for things of an icky nature What to do: 1. Gently place the egg in the bottom of the jar or glass - don't crack it! Pour enough vinegar over the egg to cover it completely. Leave the egg to sit overnight. 2. The next day, remove the egg from the jar or glass, and gently rinse it under a trickle of water in the sink while gently rubbing the shell with your fingers. You'll feel the shell schmushing under your fingers... If the shell does not come off completely, return the egg to the jar or glass, making sure the vinegar still covers the entire egg. 3. Try rinsing the egg again the next day and continue soaking overnight and rinsing until all the shell has gone. (You may need to replace the vinegar with a fresh lot along the way.) Eventually, you'll be left with one naked egg - eeeeuuuurgh. Hold it up to the light. Bet you never thought you'd be able to see inside an egg, did you?! What's going on: The bubbles that form on the surface of the egg are carbon dioxide gas, which are caused by a reaction between the vinegar (acetic acid) and the shell (calcium carbonate). After a day or so the reaction will have dissolved the shell, leaving the membrane of the egg. Chalk is also made up of calcium carbonate, and if you drop chalk into vinegar, you'll see the same carbon dioxide bubbles forming ... as before, the chalk will slowly disappear. NB. It goes without saying that once the egg has undergone this process, it should NOT be eaten - raw or otherwise!! |
|||||
|
|||||
| 04. OCEAN CURRENT ACTIVITY - AN ADDED TWIST... Two weeks ago, our featured activity was INVESTIGATING OCEAN CURRENTS, and Dave Hall, a recently retired science guru/teacher has been in touch to suggest one or two ideas for 'advanced users' which make the demo even more exciting... He says, "Starting from the point where the very salty water + blue ink or food colour (the sea) has sunk beneath a layer of fresh water, all you have to do then is cut out a boat-shaped slice of potato (use a slice maybe 5mm thick so the matchstick can stick in it firmly), add the matchstick and then drop it in. It sinks through the (less dense) fresh water and floats on the salty (more dense) sea. "Nothing is very critical, the boat can be any size, and the matchstick makes it look more of a boat and the less dense wood floats in the fresh-water, keeping the boat upright. "Rocking the jar/beaker causes waves to form on the 'sea' which look quite realistic as the similar densities of the interface reduces the speed of the waves." Thanks Dave! |
|||||
|
|||||
| 05. GATSBY TEACHER FELLOWSHIPS 2004-2205 If you're a science teacher with a great idea or three tucked up your sleeve, here's a newsflash that may be of interest to you. The Gatsby Foundation are going to be awarding a number of fellowships - and funding packages - to teachers with innovative ideas for enhancing school practices. Here's what they say: "Proposals are sought from teachers of mathematics, science or design and technology, for up to twelve Fellowships offered by Gatsby Technical Education Projects, beginning in September 2004. The Fellowships have been created to enable teachers to develop further their contribution to the effective and inspirational teaching of their subject." Proposals might include: * developing materials for projects or experiments * innovations in curriculum development * model lessons, analysis and advice for student teachers * case studies of original practice * in-service training - but this list is not exhaustive, so free your mind... More information: Each Fellowship will provide an honorarium to the teacher of £1000 and up to £3,000 to cover specific costs associated with the Fellowship; materials, supply cover etc. And applicants should be in full-time teaching in UK maintained primary or secondary schools or sixth form colleges. For further information and full details of how to apply, please contact: Lisa Page, Gatsby Technical Education Projects, Allington House (1st Floor), 150 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5AE, or email her on l.page@gtep.co.uk . |
|||||
|
|||||
| 06. VISIT OUR FREE EXPLORATIUM Meanwhile, if you're a primary teacher in the Chelmsford area, New Hall School are warmly inviting you to visit their Exploratorium. John Williams is the Head of Science at New Hall, says they set one up last year, and it was a big success, so they're doing it again. The interactive displays are related to topics like biology, astronomy, crystals, electricity, magnetism, mirrors, mechanics, sound, optical illusions and there's a host of other items of science grooviness on display, such as a zoetrope, a plasma ball, an optical fibre lamp and an air 'zooka' (which is a great word, whatever it means!). John says, "We have tried to make all the displays as interactive as possible and most importantly great fun. We have tested many of the activities on KS2 pupils and they loved it!" Furthermore, he says, "We would like to extend an invitation to all primary schools to bring groups of children to have an exciting and fun filled time learning about science." Visits are free of charge, and the Exploratorium will be open from 3rd November 2003 until the end of the school year. If you would like further information or to book a school visit, please contact Anne Sparrow at: New Hall School, Boreham, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 3HS or email her on: admin@newhallschool.co.uk . Thanks John! |
|||||
|
|||||
| 07. THIS WEEK IN SCIENCE HISTORY: THE BEGINNING OF TIME... WELL, GMT ANYWAY. It's an amazing feat of human cooperation that we all live in the same day. In 1884, things were not so straightforward. Until the late 19th Century, it didn't matter that every town had its own local time or that there was no standard length for an hour. But as the speed of travel and communications increased, the lack of a universal way of measuring time threatened to become a crisis... So, on 13 October 1884, at the International Meridian Conference in Washington DC, it was decided that there would be a single official, universal 'time' for everyone. In Washington, 22 out of the 25 nations present voted that Greenwich would be home to the Meridian because it simply made it easier for them. The majority of the world's shipping already used Greenwich as the Meridian and it was time for everyone else to catch up. The Meridian, at 0 degrees longitude, is the north-south line that divides east from west, like the equator divides north from south. It's Greenwich Mean Time that most affects us every day. GMT is Universal Time, and every nation adds or subtracts a few hours to give them their local time. At noon in Greenwich the whole world is living in the same day, towards the west it is early in the morning and in the east it is late at night, but at least everyone knows exactly what time it is, and everyone agrees. Who voted yes and who voted no in that historic vote? Find out who voted for each of the resolutions in 1884 at: http://greenwichmeantime.com/info/conference-finalact.htm Not all nations gave up their local meridians easily, find out how the French have celebrated theirs: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/380035.stm To find out about time, leap years, sundials, solstices and much more have a look at the National Maritime Museum's website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/380035.stm |
|||||
|
|||||
| 08. RECOMMENDED WEBSITES OF THE WEEK: BRAINS ON TOAST The mind boggles. And here's a website that investigates how. If you've not visited the YOUR AMAZING BRAIN website it's time to do so right now. Here's the address: http://www.youramazingbrain.org.uk As you'll see there are several different sections, such as 'Your Memory', 'Inside Your Brain' and 'Test Yourself'. In each one the idea is to try things for yourself and learn more about what's going on up there in your top ten centimetres... For instant gratification, check out the 'Upside Down Face' in the 'Super Senses' section. Oooh ah er... Eh??! Interesting, huh? Then you might try your hand at a quiz or two, perplex your pupils with a few optical illusions, and see how good - or otherwise - you are at deciphering people's body language... What are you waiting for, it's a no-brainer! |
|||||
|
|||||
| 09. PERFECT BLONDE WINNERS The answer to the question, 'In which year did Dolly the sheep hit the headlines?' was 1997, Dolly having been born in secret the previous year. The six winners selected from the draw to win a copy of 'How to Clone the Perfect Blonde' were: Anastasia Pappa of Leicester; Jez Steane of Cheltenham; Sheryl Galpin of Thame; Jan Bailey of Powys; John Waring of London and Elizabeth Welbourn of Rushmere St Andrew. |
|||||
|
|||||
| 10. JOKE OF THE WEEK Last week, we had more jokes than we knew what to do with, so here are a few of Phil Hall's extra ones. (Thanks again Phil!) (RADA acting tip: adopt Tommy Cooper stance before you begin.) Right: I said to this train driver I want to go to Paris - he said 'Eurostar' - I said 'well I've been on telly a couple of times but I'm no Robbie Williams!' My brother's got a new job in a blotting paper factory. He finds the work absorbing. My uncle's just bad this great idea for getting more pigs into a small space. He's built a sty-scraper. Did you know all male tennis players are witches? For example Goran, even he's a witch. My next door neighbour worships exhaust pipes, he's a catholic converter. That's all for this week, but as ever contributions are more than welcome for forthcoming editions of the newsletter - send them through to Anne McNaught . Have a great week! |
|||||
|
|||||
 |
|||||
