February Freebie is here!

Its that time of the year again!

Yes, the February Freebie is back, and better than ever! If you enjoy fun learning activities out of school time you can earn National Award Certificates and badges with a Children’s University Passport to Learning.

During the February half term 2013, all children and young people in Sheffield can use their Passport to Learning to access FREE exciting learning activities happening across the city. All activities are delivered by our fantastic Learning Destinations, and will happen in different venues across the city. This is a fantastic opportunity to try something new, have fun, learn something, and work towards a Children's University award, and all for FREE!

Below are a list of all the exciting activities happening. If you don’t yet have a Passport to Learning, don’t worry! Passports can be bought at any local library for £2 and then be used to collect credits at all our Learning Destinations during  the half term and beyond! Visit our website for a list of all the Learning Destinations.  For more information about Sheffield Children's University, and the Passport to Learning, check out our frequently asked questions!

Please note, some activities have limited space, and require booking. This will operate on a first come, first served basis. Booking info is included for these activities below.

Saturday 16^th February

Music taster with Concord All Stars Marching Band

Croft House settlement , Garden Street, S1 4BJ

Music taster sessions – try instruments and see a rehearsal in progress.

10am -12noon

Age 8 - 13 years

Green Top Circus

Winter Garden, Sheffield city centre

Ground based traditional circus activities e.g. juggling, Diablo, tightwire etc

10am-3pm

Age 8+

Monday 18th February

Adventures Are Us – Go Urban! Adventure in the Park

The Ponderosa, Bellefield Street, S3.

Outdoor activities: tree climbing and rope walks.

10am-4pm

Age 5 – 16 years

Art in the Park

Meet Colette outside Firth Park Library, 443 Firth Park Road, S5 6QQ.

Create a miniature, woodland village of hobbit-like homes. Use natural materials to build huts, nests, dens, and caves in and around the trees - and create an enchanted place in Firth Park.

10am-4pm

Age 8+

Tuesday 19th February

Imagination Gaming

Upperthorpe Library

Gaming activities – modern board and card games

10am -4pm

All ages

Adventures Are Us – Go Urban! Adventure in the Park

Fishponds, Richmond Road opposite the Co-op, S13.

Outdoor activities: tree climbing and rope walks.

10am - 4pm

Age 5 – 16 years

Art in the Park

Meet Michelle outside Graves Park Rose Gardens Café, S8.

Create your own secret hideout using shapes, colours, flowers and animals from the park as inspiration!

10am - 4pm

Age 8+

Wednesday 20th February

Self Defence class

Hillsborough Library

Self defence taster session with the Academy of Self Defence

10.30-11.30 am

Age 7+

Imagination Gaming

Darnall Library

Gaming activities – modern board and card games

10am -4pm

All ages

Adventures Are Us – Weaselling in Derbyshire

Transport provided to the site near Ringinglow. Details will be available on booking.

Places are limited and must be booked for this activity.  Please contact Toby Fisher on 0114 2813761.
Age 11-14

Thursday 21^st February

Self Defence class

Stocksbridge Library

Self defence taster session with the Academy of Self Defence

10.30-11.30 am

Age 7+

Adventures Are Us – Go Urban! Adventure in the Park

Phillimore Park, Phillimore Road next to Phillimore Primary School, S9.

Outdoor activities: tree climbing and rope walks.

10am - 4pm

Age 5 – 16 years

Imagination Gaming

Central Library

Gaming activities – modern board and card games

10am -4pm

All ages

Friday 22^nd February

Adventures Are Us – Go Urban! Adventure in the Park

Endcliffe Park, Rustlings Road entrance near the ‘gym’, S11.

Outdoor activities: tree climbing and rope walks.

10am - 4pm

Age 5 – 16 years

Wild Wood Activities – Forest School

Roe Wood, Norwood Drive, S5.

Outdoor activities: den building, woodland crafts, storytelling and more.

Age 8+

10am-3pm

Places are limited must be booked for this activity.  Please contact Toby Fisher on 0114 2813761.

Saturday 23^rd February

Green Top Circus

Winter Garden, Sheffield city centre

Ground based traditional circus activities e.g juggling,Diablo, tightwire etc

10am-3pm

Age 8+

Don't forget, you can follow us on Twitter: @SheffieldCU or visit our Facebook page

Email cu@sheffield.gov.uk to recommend your own favourite club or activity as a Children’s University Learning Destination

Learnfest Sheffield!

Learnfest Sheffield is nearly here!

In conjunction with the UK's biggest annual education conference, the city of Sheffield is hosting an exciting fringe festival which provides an opportunity for families to learn something new outside of the classroom!

Lots of fun and exciting learning opportunities will be taking place over the course of the week starting on Wednesday 16th January right up until Saturday 19th January. Activities are happening in local venues across the city including libraries, Museums Sheffield and the Winter Garden.

Many of our lovely Learning Destinations are also taking part, so its a fantastic opportunity to go along and sample some of their activities, all for FREE! We will be in the Winter Garden with the Sheffield Sharks Thin Tank at Snap Happy on Thursday 17th so do come and say hello if you can! 

Activities happening at our Learning Destinations throughout the week are listed below. For more information on Learnfest, and the other activities taking place, please visit: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/education/learnfest-sheffield

Wednesday 16th January

Learn How to Marble Paper

Date: 16 January
Time: 10.00am - 11.00am
Address:  Conservation Service, Central Library, Jackson Room, Surrey Street, Sheffield S1 1XZ
Website: Central Lending Library
Audience: Age 5 upwards

Marbling - Learn how to marble paper.  Drop in session.  This can be a bit messy! Aprons provided!

Force of Nature: Picturing Ruskins' Landscapes

Date: 16 January
Time: 10.00am - 5.00pm
Address:  Millennium Gallery, Arundel Gate, Sheffield S1 2PP
Website:  Museums Sheffield
Audience: All ages

Our planet, in all its contrasting power and fragility, has been a constant source of inspiration and wonder for artists. This brand new exhibition, curated by Museums Sheffield, takes on the huge theme of landscape, as reflected in the thoughts and opinions of John Ruskin.

Imagination Gaming - Mad Scientist Event

Date: 16 January
Time: 9.30am - 3.00pm
Address:  Central Library, Jackson Room, Surrey Street, Sheffield S1 1XZ
Website: Imagination Gaming
Audience: Pupils KS2 and above.

Six schools are invited to put forward a team of six players to take part in Imagination Gaming’s ‘Mad Scientist’ workshop. This highly inspirational activity is ideal for pushing creative thinking, problem solving and team work and results in an incredibly enjoyable and challenging activity for everyone involved. 
 
For more information on this activity, please contact Alison Digman (2735494) or alison.digman@sheffield.gov.uk

Wood Carving

Date: 16 January
Time: 9.30am - 3.00pm
Address:  Winter Gardens
Website:  Heeley City Farm
Audience: All ages

Come along and make some spoons, spatulas and other useful objects from wood.

Razzamataz Workshop

Date: 16 January
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Address: Winter Gardens
Audience: All Families

Street Dance/Pop Singing/Fun Drama Games!  

Thursday 17 January

Snap Happy!

Date: 17 January
Time: 9.30am - 3.00pm
Address:  Winter Gardens
Website:  Enriched Learning Centres (formally Playing for Success)
Audience: All ages

Creative photography session with a chance to photograph the One Health Sharks Basketball Players.  Please Note: participants under 18 will need parent/guardian consent for portrait shots.

Circus Skills

Date: 17 January
Time: 4.00pm - 6.00pm
Address: Greentop Community Circus Centre, Saint Thomas Building, 74 Holywell Road, Sheffield S4 8AS
Website: Greentop Community Circus Centre
Audience: All families

We will deliver a taster session in circus skills for the whole family.  The session will include a variety of skills including: juggling, diabolo, flower sticks, plate spinning, pedal-gos, stilts and tightwire.

Suitable for children aged 8+. Places are limited. Please email Lauren on Lauren@greentop.org to book your place.

The Little Library Vehicle

Date: 17 January
Time: 10.30am - 1.30pm
Address:  Peace Gardens
Website:  Central Lending Library
Audience: All families

Come along and visit us on our specially built young children's storytelling vehicle.  Learn how to share books and puppets with young children.

Friday 18th January

Family Craft - 'Sew in the City'

Date: 18 January
Time: 11.30am - 4.30pm (latest time to join the session is 4pm)
Address: The Nichols Building, Arts and Craft Centre, Shalesmoor, Sheffield S3 8JU
Website: Sew in the City
Audience: All Families

Visit the Sheffield Sewing Lounge for a family crafting session.  We have a selection of projects to choose from such as brooch making, cushion creation, Mr Pop the Pigeon and Ricky Kildare dog making.  All materials will be provided.

Music Tek & DJ Skills

Date: 18 January
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Address: Red Tape Central, 50 Shoreham Street, Sheffield S1 4SP
Website: Red Tape Central
Audience: Parents and Teenagers

A chance to see music technology and DJ skills in action in a top recording studio.  Up close and professional with an industry standard record producer and DJ. 

For enquiries and to book, please email: ianstanley@redtape.org

Imagination Gaming

Date: 18 January
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Address:  Winter Gardens
Website:  Imagination Gaming
Audience: All Families

Open and fun activity that shows how playing can be a key ingredient in a successful learning environment, using modern board and card games to engage and educate both children and adults (mini competition running Friday/Saturday)

Saturday 19 January

Learn in the Library Challenge

Date: 19 January
Time: 10.30am - 4.30pm
Address:  Central Children's Library, Surrey Street, Sheffield S1 1XZ
Website:  Children's Library
Audience: All families

Come along to the Central Children's Library to take part in our Learnfest Challenge. How many of the 3 challenges can you complete? 

Challenge 1 - Follow the instructions and attempt to make an origami bookmark!

Challenge 2 - Complete one of the book themed puzzles. 

Challenge 3 - Find the Learnfest Characters hidden around the library.

Complete at least one of the challenges to claim your free Library doodle bug.

Imagination Gaming

Date: 19 January
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Address:  Winter Gardens
Website:  Imagination Gaming
Audience: All Families

Open and fun activity that shows how playing can be a key ingredient in a successful learning environment, using modern board and card games to engage and educate both children and adults (mini competition running Friday/Saturday)

Zumbatonic

Date: 19 January
Time: 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Address:  Winter Gardens
Website: Activity Sheffield
Audience: All families

Kids love to crank up the music, shake, wiggle and have a blast with their friends therefore Zumbatomic is for every child ages 4 - 12 years.  

The classes are high-energy fitness-parties for kids that offer real results.  Packed with specially choreographed routines and the latest music, like hip-hop, reggaeton and cumbia, Zumbatomic classes increase focus and self-confidence, boosts metabolism and improves coordination.

Zumbatomic classes make getting fit a fun family experience too.

Come and Try an Instrument

Date: 19 Jan
Time: 10.30am - 2.30pm
Address: Winter Gardens
Audience: All Families

Have you ever fancied playing a trumpet? Wondered what it is like to play the saxophone? A mixture of instruments will be available for children to hear and try out.  

Safe Defence Workshop

Date: 19 January
Time: 10.00am - 1.00pm
Website: Academy of Self Defence
Address: Jackson Room, Central Library,Surrey Street
Audience: All Families

A drop in self defence workshop showcasing techniques to make oneself safer and a chance for people to ask questions.

Make Your Own Landscape Placemats

Date: 19 January
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Address: Museums Sheffield, Arundal Room
Website: Museums Sheffield
Audience: All families

Create a beautiful collage landscape of Sheffield. Capture your collage in laminate to make a placemat.