News

Sept 2010

 Sheffield’s children aim for the stars!

In a nail biting Rocket Science launch event, Aimhigher South Yorkshire, Sheffield Children’s University and Sheffield International Venues brought hundreds of young scientists from 19 different Sheffield schools to the Don Valley Stadium to test and broaden their understanding of space technology.

Six weeks of science club activities provided the foundation for teams of junior school children to design their own water-powered pop bottle rockets which we launched along the athletics track in a race to see which could travel the furthest distance powered only by a hand-pump operated by the children.

 ‘Air pressure builds up inside and forces out the water which makes the rocket shoot up’ explained one child. 'We have learnt about velocity and aerodynamics, and that you need just the right amount of water.’

Trophies were presented by David E. Berry, Area Projects Manager for Aimhigher South Yorkshire. The winning team was St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School with a rocket that flew an amazing 73.1 metres along the track. Monteney Primary School came a close second with 70.5 metres with Dore Primary School in third place with 70 metres. Close behind was runner up Stradbroke Primary School with a creditable 67 metres.

 Youth Rocketry Challenge

Students from three Sheffield secondary schools also had their science skills tested when they were challenged with designing, constructing and successfully launching a solid fuel rocket in order to take part in the United Kingdom Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKAYRoC).

Students from Chaucer, Firth Park and Hinde House had to design a rocket that would carry one raw egg to an altitude of 825ft, then return the egg to earth safely and undamaged. After giving up their own time to attend science club after school to design and build their rockets, each school then took part in a regional heat, with students from Firth Park launching an extraordinary rocket that travelled over 900ft into the air! Though the schools didn’t reach the finals of the competition, they produced some fantastic rockets and deserve huge congratulations for their efforts.

 Sheffield children strike gold

As the summer term drew to an end, it was time to celebrate the achievements of the children and young people of Sheffield with another Children’s University Primary Gold Awards Ceremony.

This term, 74 excited children were invited along with their parents/carers to the Town Hall in order to receive their Gold Awards for committing over 100 hours of their own time to learning out of normal school hours. 17 children also received Special Achievement Awards for being the child with the highest number of credits in Y6 at their school.

The awards were presented by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Alan Law, Dee Desgrange, Assistant Director-Lifelong Learning and Skills, and Jane Golightly, Deputy Executive Director- Learning and Achievement. School staff also received Outstanding Contribution Awards for their commitment in ensuring children are rewarded and celebrated for their participation. The evening was concluded with a fantastic performance by Dobcroft Junior School Choir. Congratulations and well done to the schools and award winners.

Young archaeologists dig up the past

A group of pupils from the Learning Year schools, along with children from the Burngreave After School Study Support Project became young archaeologists this summer as they took part in the Sheffield Children’s University Time and Space adventure around the city.

Every day for a week the children travelled on public transport and visited different heritage centres across the city, where they had fun finding out how people used to live and work in different parts of the city, imagined how things might be in the future, and even helped process the finds of a real excavation!

Activities included learning about Tudor times at Bishop’s House, designing a hammer for the future at Kelham Island, building shelters and considering how the woods might have been used in Meersbrook Park, helping dig up the past at Manor Lodge Discovery Centre and taking part in an archaeological dig with university students at Heeley City Farm.

The final day of the project brought everyone together at the Millennium Galleries where Dr Roger Doonan from the University of Sheffield gave an inspirational talk to the budding archaeologists. The children also took part in a series of activities around the gallery, including making cutlery and creating a time capsule.

Living the dream for World Cup kids

Children from Bradway Primary School were celebrating recently as they won a once-in-a-lifetime trip to South Africa to see the World Cup live in action. The school football team entered an inter-schools competition organised by Sheffield Wednesday and won in the final to claim the sensational prize.

The children flew out to Johannesburg with their parents and staff from the school and saw two of the World Cup matches. They also got the opportunity to visit two schools and present children with football boots, as part of the Boots for Africa campaign. They planted trees in the area, and even went on safari!

The children had a fantastic experience and hope to keep in touch with the schools and arrange exchange visits in the future.

Our websites are now updated, please keep sending us in stories and photos. You can also find us at www.sheffield.gov.uk/cu

About us

Sheffield Children's University is managed by Sheffield City Council Children and Young People's Service. As part of the Lifelong Learning, Skills and Communities, we work closely with our partners across the city and have been affiliated to National Children's University since 2004.