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01. DARE YOU VENTURE TO PLANET GOTH?
It's that time of year again. That day on which the inhabitants of the Planet Science Haunted House rise up from their not-so-final resting places and beckon wordlessly for you to come on, come on in, and spend a few hours within their mansion of TERRRRRRRORRRRR... No, don't scream - that's the worst thing you can do. Oh. Too late. You really should have listened. Now you're doomed to click here and take your chances... You may be spooked - but despite your fear you'll learn all about the science of vampiredom, blood, black clothing, ashen-white faces, garlic and much much more. (It's a very popular game you know - apparently even the ghosts enjoy playing it when there are no humans around.) And when you've finished there, why not rustle up a few scooby snacks? Anyone for Sticky Worm Balls, Fake Scabs & Scars, or Peppermint Scream Creams? The recipes are all there. And they're frightfully good - even if there is "something of the night" about them...  |
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| 02. BLACK HISTORY MONTH QUIZ URL Last week we flagged up our new additions to '10 Inspiring Lives' and gave you the url for the quiz associated with those inspiring lives. But unfortunately it was the wrong url - ahem. Many apologies, here's one that should actually get you there: BHM Quiz |
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| 03. ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK: EAT MY BRAIN! Ever wanted to hold a blood-covered brain in your hands? Yep thought so, and here's your chance. Ok, it's not the real thing, but some would say it's BETTER than the real thing because it's edible... You will need: A microwave oven and a conventional cooker Popping Corn Vegetable Oil Marshmallows Red food colouring A saucepan Paper Cases A tablespoon A large bowl A small bowl for microwave An adult to help What to Do: 1. Wash your hands and tie back your hair if it's long. 2. Pour a tablespoon of oil into the saucepan. 3. Add a handful of popping corn into the saucepan. Question: what's going to Happen when we apply some heat? 4. Place the saucepan on a medium heat and wait. Put the lid on the saucepan. What do you hear? 5. When the noise has stopped, pour the popped corn into a large bowl. Question: Is this a reversible change? 6. Melt some of the marshmallows in the microwave oven (30 seconds at a time). Question: Is this a reversible change? 7. Add a few drops of red food colouring to the marshmallow. Mix well to produce a right blood-like mess... 8. Pour the marshmallow mix onto the popcorn and mix in well. 9. Mould the popcorn into brain shapes and place into paper cups until set. 10. Now: eat your brains! Many thanks to Sue Williams who brewed up this activity up in her ideas-cauldron for her primary school pupils. Enjoy! PS Not totally sure what a brain looks like? Here's a fun - if slightly bonkers - webpage we came across that you might find instructive: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/alpha.html. |
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| 04. INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS CALL FOR TOP SCIENCE TEACHERS! Not everyone could come up with an idea for how to captive a class with a make-your-own-brain activity... but that's the kind of inspired science teaching the Institute of Physics are on the look out for. And nominations are now invited for the TEACHERS OF PRIMARY SCIENCE AND TEACHERS OF PHYSICS AWARDS 2004. Here's what they say: "Each year, the Institute of Physics rewards the excellence of primary science and secondary physics teachers nationwide. "The awards are for teachers who inspire and engage students in the classroom and through extra-curricular activities. They are for teachers who enrich science education because of their love for teaching and physics. The Institute is proud to recognise excellent and enthusiastic science teachers. An award like this can provide a real boost to the schools and communities concerned." More details are available at: http://education.iop.org/Schools/suptstu/teachawards.html. So if you know of a physics or primary science teacher in your region who you feel should be nominated for a Teachers Award this year, get yourself a nomination form from Ian Cuthbert in the Education Department at the Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London, W1B INT (or email him on: ian.cuthbert@iop.org). And if you want to be nominated yourself, well, you'd better get hinting! |
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| 05. DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE FOR ONCE! "Constructive" in the industrial sense of the word, that is. Here's news of competition for pupils, which could make a massive difference to your school in more ways than one... The competition is called 'Creative Spaces' and is open to groups of pupils aged 11-14 in schools across the UK. Teaching-wise, the activity supports the Key Stage 3 Design and Technology Curriculum and the Scottish equivalents, but as far as the pupils are concerned, it will hopefully just be absorbing and fun... The first prize is £50,000 of construction work for improving the school environment in innovative and groovy ways, and a further 12 runners-up will each win £3000 to be spent on the development of Design and Technology in their school. To help the creative process along, a free classroom resource, written by practicing Design and Technology teachers is available to support pupils through the competition process, ensuring no extra work for either teacher or pupil. For full details check the website: http://www.ncw.org.uk/creativespaces/, and to register interest in taking part, phone 01536-399009. Building work on the winning design is scheduled to begin next July. So what are you waiting for, that could be your school we're talking about!! Good luck! |
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| 06. I.C.T. INFORMATION TO GO And there's more more more for science teachers this week. Adrian Fenton of the Association for Science Education has been in touch to let you know that the ASE, together with BECTA have begun producing an electronic newsletter about 'ICT in Science'. It's designed for any teachers interested in getting bringing the fruits of the digital revolution into the classroom, and the idea is to provide information about thumbs-up technology, useful websites and events, Inset opportunities and best practice in the world of ICT and science. Check out the latest newsletter at: http://www.ictadvice.org.uk/index.php?section=il&cat=008003009 and sign up to receive future editions at: http://www.ictadvice.org.uk/index.php?section=il&cat=008003. Any questions or comments? If so, email Adrian on adrianfenton@ase.org.uk. Just to make sure they're giving you want you require, there will also be a 'Needs Analysis Day' on 10th January 2004 as part of the ASE Annual Meeting. This is free to register for and those attending will get a chance to explore the exhibitions at the event, develop their own ICT understanding, receive free relevant publications. What's more, their travel expenses will be covered. NB: This is not just for ICT 'enthusiasts' - anyone involved with science education are welcome to attend and share your views. For further information and an application form see http://www.ase.org.uk/htm/homepage/notes_news/october_2003/becta1.php or, again, you can email Adrian on adrianfenton@ase.org.uk if you have any enquiries.. |
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| 07. THIS WEEK IN SCIENCE HISTORY: THE TACOMA BRIDGE DISASTER It didn't exactly go bump in the night, but something sure went snap. It was on the 7th November 1940 that news hit the headlines around the world: the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington, USA, had collapsed. Science sleuth Alison Begley reports: It wasn't that the suspension wires of the first Tacoma Bridge weren't strong enough to take the weight, or that the steel was flawed. Instead it was all down to some unaccounted-for physics ... Even today scientists argue about the real cause of the bridge's collapse. Bridges at that time in history were not very streamlined and the wind billowed over and under the Tacoma Narrows bridge setting up forces. In the strong wind the bridge began to rock and twist and tear itself apart. But how did these forces come to cause the bridge's destruction? Was it simply down to 'resonance'? Everything has a natural frequency, from swings and pendulums to bridges. At 'resonance' the object in question is pushed or vibrated at its natural frequency and as a driving force is supplied, that vibration gets bigger and bigger. In the case of a swing in the park, the person on the swing gets higher as they beam their legs back and forward - or as their Mum or Dad pushes them - in both cases extra energy is supplied which amplifies the movement. In the case of the Tacoma Bridge, it was the wind that was the source of extra energy. But although it was theoretically possible, many scientists found it hard to imagine that in reality the wind could gust so perfectly that it would match the natural frequency of the bridge. So they came up with other theories... These involved whirlpools of air formed above and below the bridge or how the direction of the wind started a motion that increased as the position of the bridge changed. Whatever the reason for the collapse, many lessons were learned from this disaster. Bridge designs are now tested using computers and wind tunnels. This has ensured the safety of bridges in the future - including the third Tacoma Narrows bridge which is being constructed today. For great pictures of the original bridge in motion have a look at this: http://www.ketchum.org/bridgecollapse.html Loads of information on the Tacoma Narrows bridge can be found on this site: http://www.firebirdz.net/tnb/frames_Main.htm How about making your own wind tunnel? You can then test your own bridge. http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/flights/first/makesimple/index.asp |
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| 08. RECOMMENDED WEBSITES OF THE WEEK Test your knowledge of the Periodic Table in this activity from an American Education site called FUN BRAIN: http://www.funbrain.com/periodic/index.html As you can see, you can adjust the settings to make things easy or hard... and when you've learned them all, you can explore the rest of the site (most of it's a lot more colourful than the Periodic Table, it has to be said!) And then, of course, you may want to do some quick Hallowe'en style surfing, so why not start by refreshing your memory of that recent news story concerning one theory about why people believe houses to be haunted... It's at: http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s941414.htm |
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| 09. NURSERY RHYME CREATIVITY CHALLENGE A few weeks ago, we launched the challenge aimed at bringing science into the nursery school (well, you've got to grab their attention at a young age, right?) Suffice to say, the results knocked National Poetry Day into a cocked hat. Here are just a few of our favourites. From Dave Hart (from the Institute of Food Research in Norwich) Jack Sprat could eat no fat, His wife could eat no lean. Jack had impaired brain function, And his wife had a body mass index of 50. and Little Miss Muffett Sat on her tuffet Eating her curds and whey. Warm milk and calf enzymes Precipitate proteins. She makes a fresh batch every day. From Katy Hewis: Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold Thermal insulation is worth its weight in gold From Margaret Capper: Hey Diddle Diddle the Cat had a Riddle "Can a cow jump over the Moon?" The dog shook his head, said "It can't be Done" "But the Chinese will be up there soon." (NB apologies Margaret for printing your rhyme a few weeks late!) From Pinky, aged 11 I'm a little teapot short and stout, Here's my handle here's my spout, When the tea is boiled because the temperature is 100 degrees, Here me shout, Lift me up and pour me out. from Malene Head: Twinkle twinkle little star How I wonder what you are Up above the sky so high Like a diamond in the sky Twinkle twinkle little star You are a red dwarf from afar From Gill Russell The wheels of the bus are friction free, friction free, friction free The wheels of the bus are friction free, as far as they can be If the wheels of the bus weren't friction free, friction free, friction free If the wheels of the bus weren't friction free, as far as they can be What a very slow bus that this would be, this would be, this would be What a very slow bus that this would be, all day long. And finally, from Dale Robinson, a couple of classics: The Grand Old Duke of York He had 10,000 men He marched them up to the top of the hill Because he knew all about the value of Cardio Vascular activity and Mary Mary quite contrary how does your garden grow? With silver bells and Cockle shells And a fair amount of iron, nitrogen, potassium and such like. Thank you very, very much to everyone who sent in rhymes - you must all have been very gifted infants! |
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| 10. JOKE OF THE WEEK Ok, back to the spooky stuff. Cue: wind whistling through the trees on a dark night. Zoom in on isolated country building ... A ghost shimmies through the unopened door of a pub one night. Jaws drop. All chatter ceases. A mis-thrown dart clatters to the ground. The ghost glides up to the bar and says, "A pint of beer please." The landlord pours the beer with with a mock-casual air and decides this is a great opportunity to show off to his regulars. "That'll be £23.90," he says, winking at the onlookers as the ghost rummages in his robes for the money. "We don't get many ghosts in here..." he continues chattily. "I'm not surprised," replies the ghost, piercing him with a stare, "with beer at that price..." That's all for this week. Back again next Friday. Please send any contributions for future newsletters to Anne McNaught on anne@planet-science.com. Have a great week - and may the force be with you.... |
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