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As part of our continued commitment to work with schools and colleges, UCLan is engaged in a number of outreach projects, across a range of subject areas.
The School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences run several outreach activities, with more sessions under development. Currently we offer outreach projects focusing on physics and astronomy, which are suitable for a variety of audiences.
The ‘Telescopes as Time Machines’ session investigates astronomy and telescopes in an interactive manner. It was launched earlier this year in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy: 400 years of the telescope.
The session includes a presenter led, full dome video show (planetarium show) and interactive activities in the grounds of Alston Observatory. ‘Telescopes as Time Machines’ is suitable for school groups, aged 14-18, and general public audiences. Sessions run on Tuesdays and Thursdays during term time, starting at 10am and 1pm and last two hours.
For more information or to book your group onto this session email cepsoffice@uclan.ac.uk. Maximum group size is 25. For more information see the Alston Observatory website.
‘Rocket Physics’ is a portable, interactive science workshop designed for KS2 students, but is also adaptable for KS3 students. Using concepts from the KS2 science syllabus, the workshop aims to promote physics as exciting and interesting.
‘Rocket Physics’ can be presented in a lecture theatre, classroom or hall and benefits from extra space.
For more information or to book your group onto this session email cepsoffice@uclan.ac.uk.
The Solar Group at UCLan is involved with public outreach activities and organises events for schools and teachers. If you are interested, please contact us via email at SDOuclan@uclan.ac.uk.
The Solar Group utilises the knowledge and expertise of UCLan scientists within the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute to provide engaging educational activities for both children and teachers. Those who participate in our activities have the chance to learn more about the Sun and space weather through a range of experiments and videos.
In the past the Solar Group has exhibited at the Big Bang Exhibition in Manchester, with UCLan solar physicists presenting on the Sun and its effects on the Earth. We were able to showcase movies taken by dedicated space probes, showing the Sun and the aurora. We also demonstrated hands on magnetism and ultraviolet light experiments.
The UCLan Solar Group also provides outreach activities aimed exclusively at teachers. Previously we have hosted a solar physics teacher training day, at which 400 teachers attended the Alston Observatory.
Within the School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences, the Mathematics course team run outreach sessions for schools and colleges.
The sessions, which cover a number of topics, are delivered via lectures and workshops and aim to get students excited about mathematics and demonstrate real-world scenarios where mathematics is used.
Current topics offered include:
For more information or to book a session, email: dbewsher@uclan.ac.uk.
"...we know from employers that our young people must be equipped in language skills to compete in the global economy. "
Jim Knight, Schools Minister
Give your pupils a head start and start teaching Chinese today.
UCLan Confucius Institute is able to help you to introduce Chinese language and culture classes into your school. For example, we can help in the form of teacher conferences to improve the teaching style of current and prospective teachers, and to keep you up to date with the Chinese syllabus. We can arrange a Chinese language and culture workshop for teachers to attend, to introduce them to the subject before classes are introduced to their schools. Your language teachers may also like to attend our evening course 'Introduction to Chinese Language & Culture for MFL Teachers'. We can also offer Chinese culture classes and general advice on how to encourage students' interest in Chinese language and culture, including Chinese activity days.
If you would like help or advice about introducing Chinese language lessons at GCSE, AS/A2 level, please contact us. If your school isn’t ready to introduce Chinese at this level, you might want to consider introducing Languages Ladder, FCSE, or taster lessons. If you would like to create links with a Chinese school so that your institute is twinned with a school in China, we can advise you on the necessary steps. We can also help to arrange visits to China for staff and/or students. Primary schools might like to hold taster lessons for pupils, introducing language and culture, as well as holding Chinese culture days.
If you need any help, or would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
UCLan Confucius Institute
School of Languages and International Studies
University of Central Lancashire
Preston
PR1 2HE
Tel: +44 (0)1772 894242
Fax: +44 (0)1772 894940
Email: Confuciusinstitute@uclan.ac.uk
The award-winning UCLan Chamber Choir was formed in 2005. All the singers are BA(Hons) Music Theatre undergraduate students whose main passion is singing. The choir has a wide and varied repertoire that includes music from the Renaissance to the present day, as well as a range of styles from Classical to Swing. In 2009 the choir won the Good Housekeeping Choir of the Year and in 2010 won the adult category final in this competition, at Birmingham Symphony Hall.
Each year the choir invites local schools and colleges to join them in a concert held at the University, serving as positive role models for the younger children, and providing a focal point for choral singing across all ages in education in the local area. This concert also helps to raise funds for undergraduate bursaries for students who otherwise would not be able to afford higher education.
For more details please telephone +44 (0)1772 894106 or email TCallagher@uclan.ac.uk