Education newsletter: Summer Term 2014

Summer Term 2014

Noel Jackson, Head of Education

newsletterEducation

On-Point Dancer Copyright: Gunther von Hagens'

BOD

Y W

ORL

DS, Institute for Plastination, Heidelberg, Germany, www.bodyworlds.com

Teacher Premiere

The Exhibition ofReal Human Bodies

Dear colleague,I am very excited for two reasons.

The first is that Mathstastic will now

be available on demand (see page

3). The next step for us will be to

look at specialist workshops for KS3

and the possibility of Mathstastic for

Lower KS2. As a subscriber to this

newsletter, you will be among the

first to hear of our progress.

I have been hoping that BODYWORLDS would come to Life

since I joined the Centre in 2002,

so I am delighted that we have

BODY WORLDS Vital as our

main summer exhibition. There

isn’t a better way of finding out

how the body works and how its

various systems fit together. But

the exhibition is more than a

study of anatomy and physiology.

The exhibits are presented with

great flair and anyone who has

marvelled at Leonardo’s

anatomical drawings will see that

it is a stimulus for art as well as a

springboard for ethical discussion.

I hope you will be able to attend

the Teacher Premiere to see for

yourself what BODY WORLDSVital has to offer your class.

Best wishes

Thursday 15 May 2014

Suitability: KS2 and above

Join us after school for a guided tour of BODY WORLDS Vital and our teachinglaboratories, led by our education staff,with a chance to ask questions aboutthe exhibition.

If you can’t make the Teacher Premiere,we’re happy to organise a show-round foryou on a date that suits - just let us know!

For more information and to reserve your free place, call (0191) 243 8223.

BODY WORLDS Vital is an awe-inspiringjourney through the human body,celebrating its complexity, beauty andpotential. It makes its UK debut at Life inMay 2014. BODY WORLDS Vital bringstogether a collection of real human bodies,specimens, organs and body slicespreserved through plastination, a ground-breaking preservation method invented byDr. Gunther von Hagens.

Students will learn about anatomy, health,lifestyle choices and the body’s fullpotential by viewing real human bodies.

BODY WORLDS Vital is also of interest toart and design students, and as a startingpoint for ethical debate.

Educational materials are available tosupport your class visit to BODY WORLDSVital, and we have developed curriculum-linked workshops on bodies and health forevery age group which can be bookedalone or in combination with an exhibitionvisit – see page 3 for details.

Included in your Science Centre visit.To book call (0191) 243 8223.

Bookings: (0191) 243 8223 Information: (0191) 243 8211 [email protected] life.org.uk/education

New exhibition

Workshops:Chromosomes & DNA UKS3Two practical experiments to extract and visualize chromosomes and DNA.

Forensic DNA KS3+DNA fingerprinting to solve a crime using gel electrophoresis.

Masterclasses:PCR: A Question of Taste 16+Our flagship DNA masterclass covering PCR, restriction digests and gel electrophoresis.

Mammoth DNA UKS3+DNA analysis to discover which elephant species would make the bestsurrogate mother if we were to clone a mammoth.

Genetic Engineering KS4+Students insert plasmids into real genes to modify bacterial DNA andobserve the results.

Bacterial Evolution KS4+Analysis of bacterial DNA by restriction digest and gel electrophoresis todetermine whether harmful strains cause mild or fatal symptoms.

WorkshopsWe offer an extensive selection of workshops andmasterclasses for KS2 to 16+ exploring DNA and cellbiology. We’ve picked out some highlights below:

Man or monkey? Girl or boy? Innocent orguilty? A little DNA can make a big difference!

Our new exhibition, Inside DNA, explores developments inthe fast-moving field of human genomics, and the ethicalissues they raise.

Included in your Science Centre visit.To book call (0191) 243 8223.

Inside DNA

Visit life.org.uk/dna-and-cell-biology to see all of our workshops on this topic.

Workshop only: £3 per pupil.Workshop and Science Centre visit: £7 per pupil. Masterclass only: £150 for a whole class, £75 for a half class.

Masterclass or workshop? Workshops are differentiated curriculum-linked practical sessions.They can be combined with a full Science Centre visit. Masterclassesare longer, in-depth sessions, generally aimed at older students.

Practical Assessments for KS4+Life has been working in partnership with teachers from several schools todeliver bespoke practical assessment days. We aim for the highest gradesand intersperse an intensive day of experiments and structured writing withchances to let off steam on the 4D Motion Ride and in the planetarium. Our most spectacular successes have come with groups who missed thecritical C grade in earlier assessments.

“The program was a massive success, with the average improvement upon theprevious controlled assessment grade being upwards of two full grades. Thehigher than predicted controlled assessment score meant that half of thesestudents ultimately went on to achieve a C grade or above when they re-sat the Gateway Science Core GCSE in Year 11.”Scott Hayes, Joseph Swam Academy

To find out more or to arrange a Practical Assessment Dayfor your class, contact our education department by calling (0191) 243 8211 or emailing [email protected]

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OutreachWe can come to you!If you are having difficulty bringing yourclass to Life, we can come to you; we’lltravel anywhere between the Tweed andthe Tees. Our most popular outreachworkshops are:

MathstasticNow available on demandWe are delighted to announce that we cannow offer Mathstastic sessions on demandat any time of the year. Mathstasticconsists of a circus of maths puzzles andgames, a maths show and a maths trail.The current show, Astronavigation, isdelivered in our planetarium, and themaths trail has indoor and outdoorversions to make the most of the weather.Mathstastic sessions can be combinedwith a full Science Centre visit in the sameway as other workshops.

Bookings: (0191) 243 8223 Information: (0191) 243 8211 [email protected] life.org.uk/education

Inflatable PlanetariumExplore the stars in our portableplanetarium, led by our graduate ScienceExplainers.Differentiated for all ages.

Stamp RocketsA ’design and make’ workshop in whichparticipants make air-powered rockets.Differentiated for KS2 - 4.

Animal AdaptationAn engaging participatory show exploringthe many ways animals are adapted totheir environments.Suitable for KS1 - 3.

MathstasticA circus of puzzles and activities and a morein-depth exploration of probability, symmetryor shape and pattern.Suitable for UKS2 and KS3.

Dino MathsAn extended workshop for a single class,using curiosity about dinosaurs to stimulateengagement in maths.Suitable for Year 5 and 6.

To discuss availability, or make abooking, please call our educationdepartment on (0191) 243 8211, oremail [email protected]

£300 per day.

£5 per pupil for Mathstastic only, or £10 per pupil combined with aScience Centre visit.

HumanBiologyWorkshopsHuman biology has always been central to the NationalCurriculum and Life offers a full complement of workshopssuitable for each key stage.

We’ve picked out some highlightsbelow:

• Your Body KS1

• Keeping Healthy LKS2 or UKS2

• Circulation and Movement KS2

• Cells KS3

• Food Tests and Digestion KS3+

• Hair & Skin KS4+

• Fluid Balance KS4+

To find out more about these andother workshops on human biology,visit life.org.uk/humans or contactour education department bycalling (0191) 243 8211 or [email protected]

The Exhibition of Real Human Bodies

Workshop only: £3 per pupil.Workshop and Science Centrevisit: £7 per pupil. To book, call (0191) 243 8223.

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Bookings: (0191) 243 8223Information: (0191) 243 8211 [email protected]/education

Times SquareNewcastle upon TyneNE1 4EP

Sign-up To receive a copy of our Education Newsletter, please email [email protected] your fullname, position and school (stating email or post as a preference). We like to save paper where possible, so if you would prefer to receive this newsletter electronically, please email [email protected] and let us know.

FSC Logo

Bring your schoolleavers’ prom to LifeIf you’re thinking of booking a school leavers’ prom,choose Life for a sophisticated celebration in a uniquevenue. Life is an educational charity and all revenuefrom events helps to ensure we can continue to engagepeople of all ages in science.

For more information and to book, please call the LifeConference and Banqueting team on (0191) 243 8216/(0191) 243 8284 or visit lifeconferencing.co.uk/proms

Your visit to LifeA school visit to Life typically includes time to explore theScience Centre (including current exhibitions) plus aworkshop of your choice. We can customise allworkshops to meet the needs of students, so if you can’tfind what you’re looking for, call (0191) 243 8211 oremail [email protected] and we’ll see what we cando.

To book a visit, call (0191) 243 8223.

For full details of what’s on at Life for schools, along withrisk assessments, visit life.org.uk/education

PricesScience Centre visit only: £5 per pupil

Workshop only: £3 per pupil

Playful Science (Early Years workshops): £5 per pupil

Workshop + Science Centre visit: £7 per pupil

DNA Masterclass: £150 (full class) or £75 (half class)

Mathstastic: £5 per pupil

Mathstastic + Science Centre visit: £10 per pupil

Outreach: £300 per day

Teachers: FREE

Follow@scienceatlifeon Twitter to getthe latest newsand updates.

PlanetariumWe have the largest planetarium in theNorth of England, offering a range ofshows which are differentiated for allkey stages from KS1 - 5. We also offera full programme of space, astronomyand astrophysics workshops to enableyou to create your own ‘Space Day’.

A planetarium film is included in mostScience Centre visits. Presenter-ledplanetarium shows are available for£3 per pupil, or £7 per pupil whencombined with a full Science Centre visit.

Visit our website for further details: life.org.uk/planetarium-workshops

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