Your ideas : Kids ideas
What happens to ochre and organic matter when it leaves the Earth's
atmosphere?
This is what a group of children from Murrumba District Schools
are trying to find out. Murrumba District Schools have been chosen
to become the first Australian schools to send small experiments
in a Space Shuttle flight into space! In February 2001 an inquiry
was received from Washington University, USA regarding the possible
interest by Australian schools to take part in the ARIA-3 program
of sending small space experiment modules (SEM's) along in a shuttle
mission later in the year.
The real challenge was that schools had only days to respond and
plan for what experiments they would conduct, under very tight limitations.
Murrumba District Schools will be the first Australian schools to
have the chance! There are strict limitations and considerations
involved and we are working thorugh the process in partnership with
Washington University, USA and USA schools and NASA. Sel Perans
from the Queensland Department of Education was kind enough to give
Ideas Online some more information:
"The experiments we are sending are small and we are doing
follow up with study whilst they are away and after they get back.
They include native plant and vegetable seeds, spanish moss type
fern, yeast, ochre, stick insect eggs, etc. The real fun will be
investigating the effects of space on them when they get back."
The children will be testing the items sent into space for molecular
change. The ochres, sourced from Uluru in Central Australia by Senior
Warlpiri artist, Michael Nelson Jagamara, were donated to the experiment
by Fire-Works Gallery in Brisbane. For more information about the
schools and the experiment: http://www.schools.ash.org.au/murrumba/inspace
Sel also told us about an online weather project for schools called
Project Atmosphere Australia Online. For more information visit:
http://www.schools.ash.org.au/paa
Young Scientists Association - For Young Adults
Recently, Ideas Online heard about the Young Scientists Association
and contacted the President of the Brisbane Branch, Helen Gray for
more information. Helen explained that the YSA is a volunteer organisation
that organises science shows and workshops for schools, scout groups
and Science Week. YSA is a group of young adults who share a deep
interest in science. YSA encompasses all aspects of life, intellectual,
social, emotional. With approximately 200 members in the Brisbane
chapter alone, YSA is growing into a dynamic and respected entity
that is becoming more and more known within the scientific community.
Membership is open for anyone from Year Nine to those who are twenty
five years of age. Unfortunately, we cannot take people outside
these age groups, however we can recommend other organisations you
may be interested in. So, if you're younger than 15, then contact
them to find out what is available for your age group.
As a member of YSA you participate in many of activities. These
range from social events, to ushering at lectures, to staffing science
schools. You can read more about these elsewhere on this website.
You also receive copies of our periodical, UNNILENNIUM, and copies
of the annual National Periodical. As well as this there are opportunities
to join our demonstrations team or other various committees. There
are various levels of commitment in YSA. There are those who simply
receive the periodical, there are those who come to the social events,
and there are those who take an active part in our management committees
and keep YSA running. Whatever you choose to do, we trust that you
will enjoy your experience with us.
More information and contact details are available on the web
for people who would like to organise events with YSA. Visit the
website at http://www.ysa.org.au/brisbane/
The Playground - ABC Online for Children
Submitted K.Jones, 21 June 2001
The Playground is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's gateway
to the internet for children. The site has been designed to provide
an entertaining environment for children, teenagers and grown-ups
to explore. It incorporates a range of well known characters and
programs from ABC Television as well as fun activities and games
for children of all ages. There are games to play online, as well
as a Games Download Zone with games to play when you are not connected
to the internet. Throughout The Playground, children have the opportunity
to interact with the people who make programs and programming decisions.
The 'Have Your Say' section is regularly updated to let you register
your opinions and preferences about TV programs and this web site.
Children and teenagers are able to chat online with each other and
with guests through our online forums. There are also tips for parents
about how to monitor your child's use of the internet.
http://www.abc.net.au/children/default.htm
 Australian SchoolHouse
Submitted by L.Bensen, 20 June 2001
This website has something for everyone: teachers, parents, schools
and children. The Aussie SchoolHouse is part of a larger movement
to provide a Global SchoolHouse Community. This is defined as a
global, multi-dimensional community, comprised of educators, businesses,
government and community organisations collaborating across time
and space to transform the way we interact and learn. Using the
Internet and the advanced communication technologies the Aussie
SchoolHouse provides its participants with opportunities for life-long
learning. The Aussie Schoolhouse is a virtual meeting place where
people of all ages and backgrounds can collaborate, interact, develop,
publish, and discover resources. Find out more about the ASH initiative
at http://www.ash.org.au
ASH hosts websites for over 650 primary and secondary schools.
You might find some information about a school or school project
by visiting the Schools on the Web at http://www.schools.ash.org.au/
ASH has also initiated several of its own projects such as the
Christmas Cards Around the Web project. Toshiba's Christmas Cards
Around the Web was an international internet project
for school students. Students created their own Multimedia Christmas
Card, or Holiday Greetings Card to send via the World Wide Web.
The project was open to all school students aged 5 to 18. All entries
were encouraged, from those containing still graphics to those containing
a range of multimedia elements such as sound, animation, video and
interactivity. The results of this project are online at http://www.ash.org.au/mmcard/
If you have any questions about Kids Ideas, please forward them
to info@ideasatthepowerhouse.com.au
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