University offers science for parents
Posted on 18 January 2013
The University of York’s Centre for Lifelong Learning is running a free session on 29 January to help York parents of primary school and Year 7 children answer those tricky questions that keep coming up about science.
The session is designed for parents who would like to catch up on the science they may have missed at school.
Lesley Booth
The free session, supported by the Wellcome Trust, will look at why the sky is blue, why clouds don’t fall from the sky and how rainbows are made, with a focus on making learning fun.
Alex Brown, from the University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning, is running the taster session, and will also teach parents some simple experiments to try out with their children in the kitchen.
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 in a friendly environment designed especially for adults.”
Alex Brown is also running a longer, 10-week free course for parents starting in early February 2013, called ‘Science is for Parents Too’. As well as hands-on demonstrations and experiments, parents will take part in a range of site visits to see real-world science in action. No prior scientific knowledge is needed and there are no assessments – learning will be fun and informal.
The ‘Rainbows and Blue Skies’ taster session will take place at the National Science Learning Centre on the University of York campus on 29 January from 10-11am. The 10-week free ‘Science is for Parents Too’ course is offered on Mondays from 9.30-11.30am and 6.30-8.30pm, starting 4 February, and on Wednesdays from 9.30-11.30am from 6 February, also at the National Science Learning Centre.
To sign up for the free taster session or ‘Science is for Parents Too’, 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. http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/
Contact details
Keep up to date
Subscribe to news feeds
