Science Alive!

What a fantastic February Freebie week we had! Lots of activities and lots of fun! We are busy collecting registers from all the activity providers so we can start awarding CU credits for all the fantastic activities you have been taking part in.

And it's not quite over yet! Head down to the Winter Garden on Saturday 28th February between 10am-4pm and take part in lots of fun FREE science themed activities delivered in partnership with Sheffield University Students Union and Sheffield Volunteering. Spark your imagination and bring science alive! Don't forget your Passport to Learning!

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Sheffield Dragons

Located at their new super centre in Handsworth, the Sheffield Dragons Martial Arts team runs a whole range of activities for people of all ages from dance, karate, fitness, boxing, fully equipped gym, and more – even children’s parties!

The Sheffield Dragons are often seen at public events, giving their eye opening, jaw dropping display of weapon wielding and martial arts combined! Certainly one not to be missed.


Find them at February Freebie…

Ahaaargh me ‘arties!

Sheffield Dragons are running a Pirate Activity Camp on Friday 20th February at their base on Orgreave Drive in Handsworth. Children aged 5 years+ will have a fab day full of fun and games, and pirate swashbuckling!

Places require booking, so please contact 0114 2880300 so secure your place and to find out more information.

February Freebie Spotlight on...

 Pyjama Drama

A Pyjama Drama class takes children on exciting adventures where their imagination has the starring role. They pretend, play drama games, sing songs, dance, role-play and have lots and lots of fun! Each session the children explore new, imaginary worlds; one week they might be visiting the king at the castle, the next digging for buried gold and the week after they could be jungle explorers!

Gemma manages the Sheffield South branch of Pyjama Drama and works with schools, nurseries, libraries, play centres and of course, Sheffield Children’s University!

Join Pyjama Drama at two libraries across Sheffield during our February Freebie week 2015…

Caterpillar Soup in Firth Park

There once lived a nasty old witch who loved nothing better than to make (and eat!) crunchy caterpillar soup, and every spring time she would search the gardens for her most favourite caterpillars of all – the fat, green, juicy ones!

But one fat, green juicy little caterpillar absolutely refuses to be eaten! He’s got bigger plans, and they start with finding somewhere for a nice, long sleep….

The Dancing Dragon in Tinsley

Once upon a time there was a King who wasn’t a very good dancer and this made him sad. There was someone who could help but he lived all the way over the other side of the jungle. Will you come with us to find the dancing dragon and bring a smile back to King two-left-feet’s face?

A fun filled drama session in which children create and are the star of their own story!


Find them at February Freebie…

Pyjama Drama will be delivering sessions for 5-7 years olds (approx.) and booking is required. Sessions are as follows…

Friday 20th February, 10.30am-11.30am, Firth Park Library, Firth Park Road

Friday 20th February, 2.00pm-3.00pm, Tinsley Library, Tinsley Shopping Centre

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Sheffield Music Hub

Their motto is ‘Learn, Sing, Play, Enjoy’ which certainly captures everything that the Sheffield Music Hub has to offer. Children and young people can learn to play an instrument through lessons, and even hire their instrument if they don’t already have one. 

Singing and playing opportunities are all about the huge range of choirs, groups, ensembles and performance opportunities on offer for learners to practice their skills and work alongside their friends to enjoy making fantastic music. The Music Hub also has many holiday clubs and activities available to learners too.

Find them at February Freebie…

The Music Hub are delivering a 2-day Singing Holiday Camp for children in Year 3 to Year 6. Children will have the opportunity to work with professionals on developing their singing voices throughout the two days before putting on a special performance for parents/carers and other guests of honour!

Sheffield Children’s University is providing a bursary for 25 places, to reduce the cost for both days to £5 per place. The camp will be held at Ballifield Primary School, Handsworth Grange Road.

Day 1: Thursday 19th February

Day 2: Friday 20th February…please note: BOTH days MUST be attended.

Booking is required, so please contact 0114 2506860 to find more information and to secure your place and make your payment of £5.

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust

You don't have to travel far to be inspired by the wonders of nature. Some of Europe's most beautiful and important wildlife is right here on our doorstep. Every year, Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust helps people get closer to nature.

They manage 12 nature reserves, from large moorland areas of international importance to small city centre nature parks. The education team works to engage children and young people in environmental issues by running outdoor play projects and providing education opportunities at our nature reserves and other green spaces across the city. Wildlife Watch gives children aged 8 to 12 a way to find out more about their local environment in a fun and exciting way. Activities include: tree planting, nest box building, art projects and wildlife surveys

Find them at February Freebie…

The Wildlife Trust will be running an outdoor activity as part of February Freebie, where children aged 5-19 will be able to try their hand at friction fire lighting, knot-tying and shelter building! Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing for being outdoors whatever the weather.

Thursday 19th February, 10.30am-12.30pm, Greno Woods. Meet at Forestry Commision Car Park, Woodhead Road.

Booking is required, so contact 0114 2634335 to book a place and to find out more information

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Tae Kwon-Do is a form of unarmed combat that has its origins in ancient Korea and has grown in popularity to become the most widely practiced martial art in the world. It is a great way to get fit and stay healthy, to learn how to defend yourself, to meet good friends and have great fun!

And that’s certainly what DS Taekwondo has on offer for all their members! Usually located at Wesley Hall Church in Crookes, DS Taekwondo have sessions for children aged 5 years+ and the first lesson is FREE!

Find them at February Freebie…

DS Taekwondo are delivering a session at the Central Children’s Library, Surrey Street on Thursday 19th February, 12.30pm-2.30pm. Booking is required, so contact 07833 463420 to book your place and for more information.

February Freebie Spotlight on...

The UK's First Rugby Related Educational Programme Specifically Designed for 3-9 Year Olds. Sessions are based around a strong ethos of lots of fun and promoting RuggerEds' core values of Good Manners, Respect, Teamwork and Fairplay. The games are high energy and designed to make the children work together to achieve common goals and the essence of teamwork. Delivered in a safe and structured rugby related play environment, by a team of qualified and experienced coaches.

Find them at February Freebie…

RuggerEds are delivering a number of INDOOR sessions as part of February Freebie 2015…

- Wednesday 18th Feb – 30 minute sessions between 10.00am and 1.00pm (stay as long as you like within those times!) – High Storrs School

- Thursday 19th Feb – 30 minute sessions between 10.00am and 1.00pm (Stay as long as you like within those times!) – Forge Valley School

Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for these activities and bring plenty of water to drink!

Contact 07748 632182 for more information.

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Hype Dance

Located close to the city centre, Hype Dance Academy is one of our longest established Learning Destinations.  They offer dance classes with lessons and workshops in Hiphop, street dance, break dance, ballet, jazz, creative dance, body conditioning, pilates, tap, modern and Zumba.

Students are taken from as young as 3 for some subjects, and there’s no upper age limit. Each tutor works to develop students, not just teach them!

They run open classes at various levels as well as exam classes. Open dance classes have no exams, and can be done purely for fun, exercise or personal development and a love of dance!

Exam classes are where students can work towards achieving qualifications through the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) or the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in our dance school.

There is an opportunity for Hype students to take part in many performances and events throughout the year and each class takes part in our annual show during December

Find them at February Freebie…

Hype Dance will be delivering dance workshops for children aged 7-12 years, at two libraries during the half term…

 

Wednesday 18^th Feb: 2.00pm-3.30pm, Southey Library, Moonshine Lane, S5 8RB

Friday 20^th Feb: 10.00am-11.30am, Newfield Green Library, Gleadless Road, S2 2BT

 

Contact them directly on 0114 2706757 for more information or to book your place. 

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Greentop Circus

Greentop is a hub for circus arts education in the North of England. With a circus school right here in Sheffield, Greentop provides a range of activities including professional training, school workshops, events entertainment, kids parties & team building.

Greentop’s vision is of: “A thriving circus arts sector in the North of England, where circus is an artform that touches everyone in the North, transforming lives and inspiring positive social and individual change”

Greentop leads the way in providing fun, accessible circus activities for children and young people. They have an incredible range of youth provision including regular classes during term times, general circus skills, trapeze and aerial, acrobatics or 'juggling and balancing.

Find them at February Freebie...

Have a go at a variety of circus skills including juggling, diabolo, flower sticks, plate spinning, poi and much more!

Suitable for ages 8+, booking required (ring 0114 2448828 to book your place or to find out more)

Weds 18th Feb, 2.00pm-4.00pm, Manor Library, Ridgeway Road

Thurs 19th Feb, 2.00pm-4.00pm, Chapeltown Library, Nether Ley Avenue

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Razzamataz Theatre School Sheffield

Razzamataz encourages all children and young people to try their hand at performing arts because as well as it being thoroughly enjoyable, it has also been shown to have a significant impact on the process of improving literacy levels in children.

Razzamataz Sheffield run classes for children in a number of age groups – Razz Tots (aged 2-3), Razz Minis (aged 4-5), Razz Juniors (aged 6-8), Razz Inters (9-11), and Razz Seniors (aged 12-18). They often give fantastic and professional performances across Sheffield, not least at our CU Gold Award Ceremonies!

Find them at February Freebie…

Razzamataz will be delivering 3 workshops in libraries across Sheffield as part of February Freebie 2015…

Tuesday 17th Feb – 145 Crookesmoor Road, S6 3FP, 10.30am-11.30am (Please note venue change!)

Wednesday 18th Feb – Jordanthorpe Library, Jordanthorpe Centre, 10.30am-11.30am

Thursday 19th Feb – Frecheville Library, Smalldale Road, 10.30am-11.30am

Activities are suitable for children aged between 4-9 years and places must be booked in advance. Contact 07979 189177 for more information and to book your place.

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Heeley City Farm

Heeley City Farm is a friendly farm and environmental visitor centre right in the heart of Sheffield. Why not pop along and meet their friendly animals, play in their under 8's playground, enjoy fresh, home cooked meals in their Café, The Farm Kitchen or stock up on plants from their peat-free Garden Centre? There’s always lots of events and activities happening too.


Heeley City Farm are delivering a course for children on Chicken Keeping! Yes, all you’ll need to know about keeping and caring for chickens can be learned here from health care and feeding to handling them.

Find them at February Freebie…

Tuesday 17th Feb, Heeley City Farm, Richards Road, 10.30am-1.30pm

The activities are suitable for children aged 8-16 years and places require booking. Contact 0114 2580482 option 5 to book your place or to find out more.

Planning your February half term fun?

The February Children's University Passport to Learning newsletter which includes details of activities across Sheffield happening during the February half term is now available! Click HERE or the link on the side of these page to start planning now!

Children and young people who take along a Passport to Learning will be able to earn additional CU credits at these activities. There's also a list and contact details of our validated Learning Destinations.

During February half term 2015, children and young people can also use their Passport to Learning to access FREE exciting and fun learning activities as part of our February Freebie. There are 50+ activities taking place right across the city, which are completely FREE to children and young people who have a Passport to Learning. Please see the newsletter for further details of these activities.

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Weston Park Museum

Museums Sheffield: Weston Park is an award-winning, family-friendly museum where the visitors come first. If visiting with children, simply wind up and release, but there is plenty of treasure here for adults too. Discover the real story of Sheffield, from its geological roots to the people, politics and music that shaped the modern city.

Alongside old favourites such as Snowy the Polar Bear and Spike the Woolly Rhino, Weston Park plays host to a series of temporary exhibitions. In there now is an exciting exhibition on Roman Britain – just how did the Roman invasion change our designs and decorations?


Find them at February Freebie…

Weston Park Museum will be running a Young Curator’s workshop during February Freebie 2015. Spend the day with them and learn all about the interesting job of a Museum Curator, including how they describe and display objects in an exhibition, then have a go at curating your own toy!

The activity is suitable for children aged 8-11 years. Booking is essential so call 0114 2782686 for more information and to secure your place.

- Monday 16th Feb, 10.30am-3.30pm

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Woodland Adventures on Wincobank Hill!

The prehistoric Wincobank HiIl Fort is a Scheduled Monument and is surrounded by ancient woodland of oak, beech and birch. From the top, you have a wonderful view overlooking the Lower Don Valley in Sheffield.

Nearby, runs the route of the Roman Ridge, an ancient earthwork. The history of this is still a mystery, but people used to think it was a Roman road. Some people now think this ridge which runs from Sheffield to Mexborough was created even before Roman times, possibly to mark ancient boundaries.

What a fantastic place to take part in Forest School-type activities, with all the wonderful history around you! The trees are some of the best for climbing in Sheffield, and your secret dens will surely never be found in this amazing environment.

Penny runs Forest School activities throughout the year, as part of the Upper Wincobank Chapel wider programme of activities for people of all ages, and Friends of Wincobank Hill are always looking for new members to join them in their activities to help preserve and celebrate the wonderful Wincobank Hill.


Find them at February Freebie…

Penny is running two activities each day as part of February Freebie 2015.

- Monday 16th Feb, 10.00am-12.30pm and 12.30pm-3.00pm. Practical woodland fun including arts and crafts and outdoor adventure (weather permitting!) Ages 8-12 years.

- Thursday 19th Feb, 10.00am-12.30pm and 12.30pm-3.00pm. Family woodland and craft adventures (depending on the weather!) All children to be accompanied by an adult.


For both activities, meet at Wincobank Chapel, Wincobank Avenue, Sheffield, S5 6BB. Contact Penny on 07980 143776 to book a place