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York parents explore the science of snow

Posted on 5 December 2012

Festive help is at hand for parents of curious York children asking difficult science questions.

The University of York’s Centre for Lifelong Learning is running a free session to help York primary school parents answer children’s tricky questions about the science of snow.

The one-hour event will look at how to predict a ‘White Christmas’ and how to keep things festive if the perfect wintery scene fails to materialise this year.

The session, which is supported by the Wellcome Trust, is offered twice - at the Tang Hall Community Centre on 12 December and the National Science Learning Centre on 13 December.

Lesley Booth, Director of Community Relations and Lifelong Learning, said: “The session is designed for parents who would like to catch up on the science they may have missed at school or who struggle to find an answer to a question from a child naturally curious about the world around them. Our aim through these and similar sessions is to raise parents’ understanding of science as they support their children in their schoolwork.”

Alex Brown, from the University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning, is running the taster sessions, and will teach parents some simple experiments to try out with their children in the kitchen.

He is also running a longer, free course for parents starting in February 2013, when he will help parents answer some more tricky questions such as: 

“Why is the sky blue?”

“Why don’t clouds fall from the sky?”

“Why do rubber balls bounce?”

“Why does ice float?”

The White Christmas taster session is held at Tang Hall, Community Centre, Fifth Avenue, York, on 12 December from 9.30-10.30am and at the National Science Learning Centre on the University of York campus on 13 December from 10-11am. To sign up for the free session, email Alex Brown at alex.brown@york.ac.uk or call the Centre for Lifelong Learning on 01904 328478.

Notes to editors:

  • For more information on the University of York’s Centre for Lifelong Learning visit www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/
  • The Wellcome Trust is a global charity dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health. It supports the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities. The Trust’s breadth of support includes public engagement, education and the application of research to improve health. It is independent of both political and commercial interests.

 

Contact details

Caron Lett
Press Officer

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