Sci-Bono’s Teacher's Newsletter 1st Term 2014

Here are some interesting opportunities available at Sci-Bono, Johannesburg.

From: The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre <info@sci-bono.co.za>
Date: 28 January 2014 14:24
Subject: Teacher's Newsletter 1st Term 2014
To: ljoyclark@gmail.com

Facebook  |   Twitter |   Linkedin  | YouTube www.sci-bono.co.za Focus Weeks @ Sci-Bono this term Enquiring Minds Programme The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre warmly invites your school to participate in our Enquiring Minds Programme taking place at the centre from 20 January 2014 to 28 February 2014. The programme is suitable for Grade 1 to 3 learners. Learners will participate in various stimulating and enjoyable activities themed around: My first Chemistry Class, Space & the Solar System, Water, Insect Life Cycles or Recycling. The duration of the programme will be from 9:30 to 12:00. The programme links directly to the study area "Beginning Knowledge and Personal and Social Well-being" of the life skills curriculum for foundation phase. LEARN MORE >> Mathematics Focus Week (Grade 4 – 12) Mathematics is applicable everywhere from the natural world to the computers we use. This interactive programme will enhance learner's interest and understanding of mathematics and give them a new appreciation of its relevance in everyday life. The programme will run from March 10 to 14. For more information please email Dorothy Koka CALLING ALL SCIENTISTS Are you passionate about your science?   If you can excite, intrigue and entertain with a science, mathematics, engineering or technology concept in under three minutes then FameLab is for you. Improve your communication skills by entering and stand a chance to win a trip to the UK for the International Final!   WHO CAN ENTER? You can! ... if you are between the ages of 21 and 35 and currently registered, studying or working in science, technology, engineering or mathematics in South Africa. This includes private and public sector employees, teachers, technicians and anyone working in the fields of natural sciences and engineering ... including biology, biotechnology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, medicine, pharmacy, physics, psychology, robotics, astronomy and more. HOW CAN I ENTER? Register now and participate at a regional heat. Transport to heats from selected sites will be arranged. 1 Feb 2014 - Durban, KZN Science Centre, Gateway 6 Feb 2014 - University of Limpopo, Limpopo Science Centre 8 Feb 2014 - Johannesburg, Sci-Bono Discovery Centre 13 Feb 2014 - Mafikeng, North West University Science Centre 15 Feb 2014 - Bloemfontein, National Museum 22 Feb 2014 - Cape Town Science Centre1 March 2014 - Uitenhage (Eastern Cape), Nelson Mandela Bay Science & Technology Centre For full details and to register visit: www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab The International Year of Crystallography  The International Year of Crystallography 2014 (IYCr2014) commemorates not only the centennial of X-ray diffraction, which allowed the detailed study of crystalline material, but also the 400th anniversary of Kepler's observation in 1611 of the symmetrical form of ice crystals, which began the wider study of the role of symmetry in matter. Goals The major objectives of the IYCr2014 are: • to increase public awareness of the science of crystallography and how it underpins most    technological developments in our modern society • to inspire young people through public exhibitions, conferences and hands-on demonstrations in    schools • to illustrate the universality of science • to intensify the programme Crystallography in Africa and create similar programmes in Asia and      Latin America • to foster international collaboration between scientists worldwide, especially North–South           contributions • to promote education and research in crystallography and its links to other sciences • to involve the large synchrotron and neutron radiation facilities worldwide in the celebrations   of IYCr2014, including the SESAME project set up under UNESCO auspices LEARN MORE >> Electronics Club (Grade 10-11) The Electronics Club is aimed at improving Grade 10 & 11 learners technical and theoretical electronic skills through enjoyable, interactive and informal club sessions. Learners assemble and test various electronic circuits. The content for the sessions is selected according to Electrical Technology Curriculum. The sessions take place on Thursday afternoons at 14h30. Advanced Rocketry Course (Grade 11) Teams of Grade 11 students are trained to be rocket scientists … well at least amateur ones. The teams will construct and launch a rocket. They will learn about the history, applications, physics, chemistry, economics and mathematics of rocketry. The first term course will run from 31 March to 4 April. Space is limited and booking is essential. Meet the people behind the science with Sci-Bono's monthly Speak2aScientist programme: • Interact with local and  international scientists • Keep abreast of current  science and technology; • Participate in topical science debates. Speak2aScientist takes place on the last Thursday evening of the month, 18h00 for 18h30 and lasts until 20h30. LEARN MORE >>   Dow Laboratory.  The Dow Laboratory will guide your learners through various practical experiments that are aligned to the national curriculum.  The experiments that are on offer in the first quarter of 2014 are: Physical Sciences • Heating and Cooling Curve of water (Grade 10) Investigate the effect of heat on the phases of matter and determine the rate at which heat is absorbed or released from water. • Newton's Second law (Grade 11) The relationship between force, mass and acceleration are investigated to prove Newton's second law of motion, F= ma. Is force directly proportional to mass and acceleration?  We will find out. •  Preparation of Esters  (Grade 12) In this part of carbon chemistry, we will perform estirification reactions in which a carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol. Aromatic products are formed with various sweet smells. These esters are used as additives to flavor various foods. Life Sciences • Food tests (Grade 10) Explore the different food classes, namely arbohydrates, proteins and fats. Various food samples are analysed and tested for the different classes of foods. • Examining Microbial cultures and Flower structures (Grade 11) What do microorganisms look like? And what is inside a flower? Students use light microscopes to observe and examine various types of microorganisms. They will also dissect various flowers and observe their macroscopic parts, relating them to the type  of pollination strategy they use. • DNA Extraction (Grade 12) What is the recipe for life? In this practical,the DNA of various fruits is extracted from the nucleus of their tissue cells. For further information on DOW Laboratory Practicals please contact Zibusiso Nyoni on 011-639 8400. Life after school Workshops to inform Grade 12 learners about post-school options – further study and higher education, employment, gap year, learnerships. Dates: 27 Jan – 14 Feb Finding my way Workshops to prepare Grade 7 learners to cope with the transition from primary school to high school. Dates: 10 - 14 March 2014 Maritime Week Exhibition to showcase career opportunities in Maritime Industry, from  bursaries, learnerships, admissions into tertiary studies, interface with professionals & role models. Target group: Grades 8 - 12 Dates: 24 – 28 Feb 2014 Term Theme: Curious Chemistry  Journey with us into the wonderful world of chemistry by booking an interactive workshop and an exhilarating science show for your students. Interactive Workshops There are various interactive workshops on offer at Sci-Bono this term including: My first chemistry class (Grade 1-3) Enjoy this selection of fun and engaging chemistry experiments. You will learn about density, the properties of air, basic chemical reactions and more. Experience chemistry as it comes to life and discover the excitement of being a chemist. Peanut Power (Grade 4 – 6) How much energy is in a peanut? Discover how you can release the potential energy stored in a peanut to heat a container of water. It's all about energy conversion and transfer! How many peanuts does it take to boil a cup of water? The truth about vitamins (Grade 4-6) Do apples have more vitamin C than bananas? Test various fruits and compare their vitamin C content while exploring the importance of vitamins in our diet. Does matter matter? (Grade 5-7) Explore the properties of various materials to determine their usefulness for particular applications. Students will also investigate various methods to separate mixtures; such as how to separate a mixture of sand, water, marbles and paperclips. Acid Mine Drainage (Grade 8-9) Explore acids and bases using various indicators and learn about Acid Mine Drainage. What is it, how does it form and what impact does it have on our environment? Dissecting the periodic table (Grade 10-12) Explore different elements on the periodic table focusing on their reactivity and the compounds they form when reacting with other elements. Observe whether physical or chemical changes take place to the elements when reacting.       To make a booking for your learners, contact Cynthia Sithole or Siphokazi Ndzamela at 011 639 8400 or bookings@sci-bono.co.za. Miriam Makeba between Jeppe and  Dolly Rathebe St, Newtown, Johannesburg. www.sci-bono.co.za Science Show:  Astonishing alchemy to curious chemistry -  (Grade 4 -12) Chemistry is all around us and even inside us. It makes our cars move and muscles groove. Walk with us through time as we explore the science that resulted in many of our modern day conveniences. What makes a match burn and how did Robert Boyle discover it? How does a battery work and who was Alessandro Volta anyway? You will be enthralled by some of the world's most amazing and historic chemistry experiments. For further information on Workshops and Science Shows please contact Akash Dusrath on 011-639 8460 or email: akash.dusrath@sci-bono.co.za. Teacher Development: MST Teacher Training The invitations for these training workshops will be sent out from the respective district offices when the dates are finalized. Equip yourself for the 21st Century Free, accredited computer training for teachers and unemployed youth at the Dell ICT Centre @ Sci-Bono. Unemployed Youth: Register for the full time Microsoft and isco accredited Sci-Bono ICT Youth Development Programme Basic requirements: • Matric Certificate • Proficiency in English  • South African citizen • Between 18 - 25 years For more information please contact, Ezekiel on 011 639-8473 or ezekiel.shabe@sci-bono.co.za Sci-Bono Computer Clubhouse The Clubhouse is open to all children between the ages of 13 and 18 years. This after school computer programme fosters creativity through hands-on computer experience in:      • game design      • animation      • photoshop         • video      • music production      • robotics              • Drama   • Visual Art  • The Adobe Youth Voices – this allows the youth a platform to express their views on  issues     in creative media forms such as film, posters, etc Open every weekday afternoon 2-5pm and offers full day holiday programmes. Contact Matodzi on 011 649 8463 or email: matodzi.netshikhudini@sci-bono.co.za ICT Youth Development Programme Register for the full time Microsoft and Cisco accredited training and improve your chances of employability, self-employment, learnerships, internships and/or further studies.  The course is FREE to young people who are unemployed, under-resourced and experience financial or socio-economic challenges  Basic requirements: • Matric Certificate  • Proficiency in English • South African citizen •  Between 18 - 25 years  Programme: • IT Essentials • Microsoft Office Specialist  • Life Skills • Career Guidance • Entrepreneurship • CompTIA A+ Preparation & Examination • CompTIA Network+ & Examinations • CCNA  Apply before: 25 January 2014 For more information please contact: Ezekiel on 011 639-8473 / ezekiel.shabe@sci-bono.co.za  or Ashley on 011 639-8452/ ashley.adams@sci-bono.co.za This is a reconstruction of a gorgonopsian (terrible eye), a 255 million year old mammal ancestor, which is on display in the Kitching Gallery at the Origins Centre     Come Rock With The Dinosaurs at Wits by visiting The Evolutionary Studies Institute  and The Origins Centre The Wits University Evolutionary Studies Institute Outreach Programme has taught about fossils and prehistoric life to teachers and learners for many years. Wits Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI) is one of the largest palaeontological research institutes in the world, has a globally significant fossil collection, and the largest fossil preparation laboratories in South Africa.  Join us for tours, workshops, facilitated tours of Maropeng and Sterkfontein caves, Swartkrans and Tswaing crater and we have programmes aimed at younger learners ranging from four years and above. For more information please contact (phone, SMS or email): Ian McKay: Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, Wits, 2050Tel: 011 717 6667 Fax: 011 717 6694, Cell: 084 500 3902 Email: witsgeoutreach@gmail.com or ian.mckay@wits.ac.za Visit our website to download the latest resources available at www.sci-bono.co.za The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre Miriam Makeba between Jeppe and President Street, NewtownJohannesburg,  Johannesburg, 2001 Phone: +27116398400 | Fax: +27119323360 www.sci-bono.co.za

This email was sent to ljoyclark@gmail.com by info@sci-bono.co.za   | Privacy Policy Sci-Bono Discovery Centre - Miriam Makeba between Jeppe and President Street, Newtown, Johannesburg, 2001, South Africa

New Year, New Challenges

I know I’ve been lagging behind on my blog updates lately. Although we’ve scaled down on our field trips last year, we’ve still had quite a few as well as some other activities & I’ve lacked the energy to stay up late for blog entries.

This year we’ll focus a bit more on fitness & schoolwork. Jesse has taken it on himself to become our personal trainer & sees to it that we do exercise daily on top of going to gym twice a week. He is scheduled to finish 10th grade at the end of Jan after starting it on the 1st of May last year. He will also be doing his SAT exams during the course of this year. Of course he’s also counting the days until he can go for his learner’s licence in June. I’ll be rather happy to have my own private chauveur once the nervousness of teaching him to drive has subsided.

Clive insisted that Misha gets back to doing formal curricula this year, so he’s been doing placement tests the last 2 weeks in order for me to ascertain which grade curriculum I need to get him. He chose to learn Afrikaans this year too, so there’s another challenge. This time we’ll focus on learning to speak & understand the language rather than working through workbooks that merely produce rote memorisation. At least he has had a nice long break from “schoolwork” & is now more motivated to start learning again. I’m hoping that the Switched on Schoolhouse material will work as well with him as it does for Jesse, but I know I’ll need to find alternative resources in some areas to cater for his learning style to help him retain the material.

Last week marked the first of Honey Badgers for this year. Misha still enjoys these monthly zoo outings & we’ll keep them up until he gets tired of them. He seems to have lost interest in the drum lessons but we need to find him some alternative Robotics classes since the JEFA team will now be focusing on the schools & no longer offer the weekly lessons for homeschoolers, much to his disappointment.

Home is rather quiet this week without my big terrorist who’s visiting my sister for the week in order to go to work with Deon. From the sounds of it he enjoyed his first day & could see himself doing that job one day. Let’s see what he says after a whole week missing home & the WiFi.