Latest news
SAW Handbook for Teachers
The SAW Trust has had many requests for a workbook that teachers can use to run their own SAW projects. We are currently working with renowned education expert Rosemary Feasey on completing The SAW Handbook for Teachers. You can download a sample chapter here, and register your interest so we can let you know as soon as the book is available.
Rosemary comments:
“The SAW process is truly innovative in bringing together scientists, artist and writers to inspire both teachers and children to communicate their science imaginatively.”
Teachers Workshops
Throughout 2008-9 SAW founder Professor Anne Osbourn has been delivering a programme of SAW workshops for teachers at a series of Primary Science Conferences run by the Yorkshire and Humber Science Learning Centre.
Teachers taking part in the workshops commented:
The SAW project really excited me.
“The SAW project was fabulous. Very clear presentation by Anne Osbourn –
can see how it can be applied.”
“The SAW session was fantastic – I’d like to start a project in Rotherham.”
“I am not a poet – but I sat and wrote a poem inspired by image,
If I can do that, anyone can!”
SAW challenge event May 2009
Postgraduate students from across the Faculties of Science and the Arts at the University of East Anglia will take part in a one day SAW project in May 2009 designed to stimulate cross-disciplinary interactions and to equip the students to deliver SAW workshops in local schools.
Norfolk County Council SAW initiative 2009
Norfolk County Council will be running 20 SAW projects in schools across Norfolk over the coming year. If you would like to know more about this please contact the County Council’s Science Advisor, Kevin Blogg (Kevin.blogg@norfolk.gov.uk).
Alderman Peel High School runs more SAW
In June 2008 Year 7 students at AldermanPeel High School took part in a SAW project on the theme of microbes. In science they worked with students from the UEA and Dr Harriet Jones, observing ciliates feed on yeast cells and comparing feeding rates between different types of micro organisms. For art, the students used magnified images of bacteria as inspiration for working with print with local artist Marilyn Jeffries, with pastels and inks with ex Head of Art Robert Curtis, in 3D with art teacher Mrs Amelia Light and in textiles with Miss J Davies. In English they chose a period of history, again on the theme of microbes – the time of The Black Death. Gareth Calway – poet and novelist - led the writing and drama workshop.
Following the huge success of this project Alderman Peel have decided to run another bigger project this year, funded by Creative Partnerships. Year 7 students will work on the theme of Energy through Science, Art and Writing. The project will involve scientists from the region working with performance poets and visual artists. The project will culminate in a celebration event in June.
See what Nigel Youngman, a teacher at Alderman Peel who is organising the project says about the project.
Taking research science into schools
In 2008, the SAW Trust took research science from renowned institutes the John Innes Centre and the Institute of Food Research into schools. Funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, 15 projects took place, covering topics as diverse as soil bacteria, photosynthesis, natural products, fractals, DNA, genetic modification, emulsions and the human gut.
The children and teachers involved were delighted to be working with practising scientists on topical issues, and the scientists appreciated taking their science into the community and seeing it from a new angle.
The series culminated in a ‘SAW Showcase’ event where a selection of the work from each school was presented to an audience of over 250. Presentations included poetry, music and drama from children (including a dance inspired by nodulation of legumes!), science presentations, reports from scientists and teachers, and PowerPoint displays of artwork and activities.
David White, Chief Executive of Norfolk County Council, commented: “SAW is truly inspirational. The children’s work is really outstanding… I am very impressed by the quality of the poetry and artwork… As someone who has not specialised in science… I have learned a lot and quite simply had not previously been exposed to the beauty of science.”
Read local news coverage about the events
Read articles by Professor Osbourn about the events
SAW Showcase
The BBSRC project series resulted in a fantastic new book showcasing the best work from each of the schools, along with background about the event and comments from the participants. It gives an excellent overview of the science covered and the children’s response.
“The results… are inspirational… this collection shows how curious minds are harnessed to develop children’s creative potential in science.”
Rosemary Feasey Past Chair, Association for Science Education
“SAW is truly inspirational. The children’s work is really outstanding… I am very impressed by the quality of the poetry and artwork in this book. As someone who has not specialised in science… I have learned a lot and quite simply had not previously been exposed to the beauty of science.”
David White, Chief Executive of Norfolk County Council
International update
US interest in SAW continues to grow, with Professor Osbourn visiting Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Oak Ridge High School in Tennessee to discuss international projects, as well as delivering SAW workshops for children and trainee teachers at the Horace Mann Laboratory School and the School of Education, Salem State College, Boston. See pictures from the Maple Syrup workshop at the Horace Mann Laboratory School with 7-9 year olds.
Schools Poet 2008
SAW founder Anne Osbourn was invited to be the Schools Poet for the Poetry-next-the-sea 2008 literary festival.
She delivered six workshops in North Norfolk schools on the theme of ‘Under the microscope’ where children worked with images of dust mites, the inside of a leaf, diatoms, a finger-tip, nerve cells and salt crystals to inspire new poems.
Anne also judged the festival’s Children’s Poetry Competition and introduced the winners at a very lively event. Selected poems were published by the festival in a pamphlet called ‘A New Planet’. The winning poem was inspired by an image of intestinal bacteria.
Bayer Poetry Competition 2008
Professor Osbourn was invited to help judge the Bayer Sciences Children’s Poetry Competition 2008, run in association with the Eastern Daily Press. The scientific theme was ‘Outer Space’. See the winning entries here.
Genes and Identity
September 2008 brought together the SAW Trust and the Mobile Family Science Laboratory at Cells Alive! Held at The Forum, Norwich, this Wellcome-funded hands-on family day brought the world of cells to life through a variety of activities and events. Working with local artist Chris Hann and scientist and poet Anne Osbourn, children took part in workshops that brought science, art and poetry together around the theme of ‘Genes and identity’. Engaged throughout the session, the children produced work of startling perception. One 10 year old girl commented: ‘’I didn’t think I could do poetry but this has been brilliant!’’
Click here to see her poem, can you guess what she is describing?
