Daily Archives: 21/11/2018

Science

Debate Chamber Summer Schools

Debate Chamber Summer Schools

Debate Chamber Science and Mathematics courses are for students who enjoy being intellectually challenged and who are curious about the ways in which their knowledge can be applied to help solve real-world problems. Our courses are challenging, with an emphasis on independent thinking and collaborative problem-solving, providing a valuable insight into university level education.

Our tutors are selected for their exceptional communication skills, their charismatic and inspiring classroom presence, and passion for their subject (generally they are Masters or Doctoral candidates, and so young enough to relate easily to school age students, but with excellent subject knowledge).

Group sizes for these courses are 12-14 students, and teaching involves a combination of lectures, group discussions, team games and practical activities. The comfortable and welcoming environment makes it easy for students to share ideas amongst their peers, and to progress from their existing knowledge toward more challenging material.

Young Scientists Summer School (ages 11-14) 

The Young Scientists Summer School is aimed at younger students, and focuses on developing intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. Covering a wide range of skills from the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Engineering, students will learn how to build bridges, design spaceships, search for life on distant planets, and trace the history of the universe all the way back to a trillionth of a second after the big bang.

‘It was a great experience with fun, engaging activities, lots of good advice from the teachers and they were very nice and welcoming.’

Physics Summer School (ages 15-18) 

The Physics Summer School provides an opportunity for bright students to explore some of the most exciting and challenging ideas in contemporary physics. The Summer School is split into two parts: Part 1 focuses on classical mechanics and astrophysics and is open to GCSE and A-level students. Part 2 focuses on quantum mechanics and relativity and is open to students who will have completed at least one year of A-level mathematics.

‘Challenging, but great fun, the Physics course was a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into some of the fundamental principles that govern our world, giving me a better idea of what Physics at University might be like. From learning about the abstract world of Quantum Mechanics to discussing black holes and teleportation, the course left me astounded by both the amount we already know, and how much we have yet to discover!’

Mathematics Summer School (ages 15-18)

The Mathematics Summer School explores a variety of advanced topics in pure and applied mathematics, including set theory; prime numbers; algorithms; infinites; multi-variable calculus; proofs; cryptography; probability theory and Turing machines. Part 1 focuses on number theory, algebra and geometry and is open to GCSE and A-level students. Part 2 focuses on calculus, proofs and infinities and is open to students who have completed at least one year of A-level mathematics.

‘It was a fantastic opportunity to discover new areas of maths that I would otherwise have not been introduced to through the A Level syllabus. I enjoyed the course and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in approaching more challenging maths problems.’

Medicine Summer School (ages 15-18)

The Medicine Summer School is split into five 2-day programmes, each covering a different area of medical practice. Students will be given the opportunity to work alongside practising medical students to develop the theoretical and applied skills necessary to become a doctor.

‘Debate Chamber’s Medicine Summer School was great! I learnt in great detail about medical topics such as oncology, paediatrics and epidemiology. Suturing bananas was a highlight for me and I would thoroughly recommend the course for anyone considering medicine as a career.’

We also have a Young Doctors Summer School, which covers some of the more accessible medical topics for students aged 11-14.

Bursaries

Debate Chamber is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent any student from attending our events. Students are able to apply for bursaries covering up to 90% of the course fee through our website.

How can my students attend?

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2019. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at www.debatechamber.com. There is a limited amount of bursary funding available for students who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending – please see our website for details.

To book a place please visit www.debatechamber.com, call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

School News

Making your garden an exciting classroom

Many children spend the majority of their time in front of an electronic screen, cooped up indoors. Getting them out for a spot of fresh air can be a challenge. But you needn’t struggle to get them to enjoy an expensive day out. In this article, ericaceous compost supplier Compost Direct will show you how all the fun of the outdoors can be found in your garden.

In the early-years stages

Early-years skills can be developed through playing in the garden. Messy play is a great way to improve sensory and cognitive development, whilst having fun. There is an abundance of research behind the advantages of messy play and how this unstructured form of activity can really help your child develop. This can be done in the garden with sand, water or even mud! It’s all about breaking down the usual rules that your child might face, such as being restricted to a play mat or not being too disruptive with toys. Encourage your child to draw shapes with different (child-friendly) tools and their fingers in various materials — this can help children to build up their finger and arm muscles, which is useful for when they come to hold a pen.

Your child can come into contact with so many new textures in the garden. They become used to handling solid objects, such as toys, and these are easy for children to learn because they don’t change shape. For example, letting your child come into contact with mud, a softer material, lets children broaden their knowledge and allows them to compare and understand new textures.

Overall learning experience

Doing homework out in the garden on a nice evening can be a great way to get some fresh air. Your child might have spent all day behind a desk at school doing their work and it’s nice to have a break from this when they come home. Make it easy for your child to work outdoors by purchasing a gazebo or having a table and chairs outdoors where homework can be done. 85% of teachers reported that they saw a positive impact on their pupils’ behaviour when they were taught outside. In addition to this, 92% of pupils said that they preferred their lessons to be outdoors. In a study between pupils who learnt indoors and those who learnt outdoors, those who were outside were found to have a better understanding of their responsibility to care for the environment.

Healthy diet

Research has revealed how children are more eager to eat fresh fruit and vegetables that they have had a hand in growing. This can be a great way to improve their diet and get them outdoors. Easy fruit and vegetables to grow include: strawberries, cabbage, radishes and potatoes. You can decide on the size of your patch and watch as your child runs outside to see what has grown that week.

Tasks for your children

Children like to have little tasks and jobs in order to feel responsible. Give them some tasks to do daily, or even weekly, and it’s likely that they’ll start to look forward to spending time in the garden. One simple task to get children outdoors could be to grow a sunflower. Each day your child can head outdoors to see how their plant is growing and practise some maths skills through measuring. This can be exciting for a child, as often the sunflower will grow taller than them!

If you are mowing the lawn or potting plants, why not get your child involved with keeping the garden tidy. Let them trim the edges of your garden, water the plants or do some de-weeding — it’s a nice way to spend time together, too.

Sources

http://www.peecworks.org/peec/peec_reports/01795CA8-001D0211.32/CYE_FactSheet3_Benefits%20of%20Gardening%20for%20Children_August%2020.pdf