Learning with Granny!
A Trip to the Sasol Science Festival
This month Granny shares with you a trip to the Sasol
Science Festival. Find out what you can do, see and take part in and don't miss
out on the FEST Planetarium!
WHAT IS THE SASOL SCIFEST?
Before continuing their trip in time, Granny and the
children visited the Sasol Science festival in Grahamstown, a university town in
the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
The festival has been running for 6 years, an annual
event which excites, enthralls and educates visitors to the wonders of
science.
It attracts thousands of learners of all ages and their
teachers from all around South Africa and neighbouring countries, while many
families come along to enjoy the exhibits together.A great number of scientists
from around the world spend valuable hours with visitors explaining their
particular subjects to enthralled audiences.
Scientists from abroad set aside a whole week to share
their love of science and their eagerness to stimulate the youth of our country
and create an interest in scientific careers.
Visitors are able to meet scientists and discuss
subjects like "Mrs. Ples", which is a fossil skull thought to be
a distant relative of us all. (You can found out more about Mrs Ples right here
at Science in Africa or go to this web-site
for an article in English or here
for an article in Xhosa.)
SEE, DO AND JOIN IN AT THE SASOL SCIFEST
The boys were pleased to see the steam cars being
demonstrated and to learn more about how to construct the drag racing car [Read
more about the cars here]
They all enjoyed talking to the astronomers and learning more about the sun and
the planets from a wonderful big model of the Solar System.
They were able to walk through a big museum and watch
how a huge fossil was being laboriously drilled out from an ancient rock where
it had been embedded for hundreds of thousands of years. This would enable
scientists to discover more about animal life at the time.
There were film shows which related to science and
science fiction and there was no shortage of music and flashing lights as
everyone thrilled to the futuristic light/sound shows.
Budding scientists were given a taste of chemistry
experiments right before their eyes and interesting lectures went on every day
where one could hear of the progress made in the field of DNA, brain study etc.
as well as South Africa's involvement in numerous scientific issues.
Everyone shrieked with delight when playing on the
brightly coloured hands-on models which FEST
provided to introduce people to a wide range of science and technology topics.
These educational puzzles and games come all the way from England to stimulate
both young and old and have been touring the country for some time now.
FUN IN THE INFLATABLE PLANETARIUM
The highlight of the Festival for Granny and the
children was the inflatable portable planetarium . Similar to the planetarium
Granny wrote earlier.
 Teachers
and children were given a short talk and introduced to some of the
constellations they would look for in the 'sky' when then entered the dome.
Enter the picture on the right to see the full image.
 Shoes
were removed to protect the planetarium and excited groups were led inside with
the help of a small light. Enter the picture on the right to see the full
image.
Unlike the brick structure, visitors had to crawl
through the entrance tunnel to get into the portable planetarium, which opens up
into a dome where the stars are projected on to the walls.
 For
those who had never been in a planetarium, it was a breathtaking experience. For
those who had, it was something very different. One could almost touch the stars
as they slowly rotate in the dark.
Everyone was thrilled to be able to recognize some of the different
constellations they saw and enjoyed the cool calm serenity if the interior.
Enter the picture to see the full image.
The whole museum rocked to the sound of happy voices
singing 'Twinkle Twinkle little star' as each session ended.
As they raced back through the tunnel, a number of children were overheard to
remark that they would definitely be looking up at the night sky when they got
home.
 By
special request from a number of interested teachers, we have included the page
of 'birthday constellations' name tags for you to print out.
This Month's Poem
A StarLab Experience
Everyone arrives and stops to stare
At the portable igloo filled with air
We wait to enter StarLab in anticipation
And learn something about each constellation
Our 'star-sign' is attached to our chest with a pin
And we take off our shoes before going in.
Through a dimly lit tunnel we have to crawl
But once inside we can stand up tall
We are then directed to sit on the floor
And told about what a planetarium's for
We close our eyes and count to five -
When we open them - WOW - the 'sky' is ALIVE!
Some recognize their star sign right away
But the 'sky' is moving so they don't stay
In real life it's the Earth that moves
You can watch the stars whenever you choose.
We find the Southern Cross and Orion as well
And so many others that it's too much to tell
At the end we close with a very loud noise -
"Twinkle Little Star' - sing the girls and boys.
******
Jenny Marais March 2002
Next month Granny [hopes] to introduce you to the very
first African to take part in a Space Project.
South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth is in training to see his dreams to
be an Astronaut. come true.
Keep looking up and learning more about the stars and you might be an Astronaut
too one day. If you would like to e-mail Granny
your questions and ideas please do so at granny@scienceinafrica.co.za
Until Next Month, Happy Reading!
Granny Jenny
|
