News
PUPPETS Project gets educational praise in Singapore.
01-12-2009
After our visit to Singapore earlier this year, we are delighted with this article published on Singapore's Minisrty of Education website. The artcile features how puppet 'Amy' has had a positive impact on the classroom learning.
To read this article, click here.
Puppets back in Ireland - Dublin.
24-11-2009
Here they are, in Dublin this time. They seem to be steadily working their way round Ireland. On this occasion it was a teacher research conference at Dublin City University. The puppets were able to explain to the teachers about the research that they had done, and help the teachers to work on making their science lessons better.
click any image below to see a larger version.
News about puppets being used in other countries.
28-07-2009
Australia
Research into the use of puppets, and work with student teachers, is taking place at Edith Cowan and Monash Universities.
We have worked directly with teachers at the CONASTA World Congress in Perth, and the Science Teachers’ Association of Western Australia Annual Conference in the Swan Valley, near Perth.
Julie Belohlawek is continuing the Puppets Project work with teachers in Western Australia through the Ministry of Education. Mary Morris has been on of the main supporters of the Puppets Project at ECU.
We have arranged for Elizabeth Richards supply company to make puppets available to Australian teachers.
click any image below to see a larger version.
Iceland
Research into the use of puppets, and work with student teachers, is taking place at Reykjavik University.
We have worked directly with teachers at the Nordic Science Conference in Reykjavik.
New Zealand
Research into the use of puppets, and work with student teachers, is taking place at Auckland and Dunedin Universities.
We have worked directly with teachers at the NZ ASE Primary Science Conferences in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.
The main driving force for introducing puppets to teachers and student teachers is Ian Milne and his colleagues at Auckland.
We have arranged for Every Educaid supply company to make puppets available to New Zealand teachers.
click any image below to see a larger version.
Norway
Research into the use of puppets, and work with student teachers, is taking place at Nesna and Trondheim Universities.
Singapore
We organised a study tour in the UK for visitors from Singapore, including teachers and a team of people from the Ministry of Education.
We have worked directly with teachers at primary and secondary science conferences organised by the Ministry of Education.
click any image below to see a larger version.
Sweden
Research into the use of puppets, and work with student teachers, is taking place at Kristianstad and Stockholm Universities.
We have worked directly with teachers at an ongoing series of seminars organised by NTA, a national primary science project, in Stockholm, Linkoping and Sodertalje.
click any image below to see a larger version.
PUPPETS take part in the great Antarctica Adventure 2010!
24-06-2009
Lisa Wood, a primary science teacher, firmly believes in encouraging curiosity in children at an early age.
With the help of ‘Ricky’, the puppet, she will be working with schools prior to the expedition to help design, produce and test clothing and equipment that will be suitable for ‘Ricky’ to use whilst he is in the Antarctic:
- Which materials will keep him warmest?
- Will it be better for him to wear layers?
- Will colour of a coat make a difference?
- Is it better to wear new fancy materials or coats made from animal skins?
- Which materials will be hardest wearing?
Once in Antarctica, ‘Ricky’ will put their creations to the ultimate test to see how they fare under extreme conditions. Through daily blogs, ‘Ricky’ will feed back his findings for schools to analyse and compare with their own results and where necessary, he will also call on the assistance of his young team of scientists to help investigate and solve many of the day to day dilemmas which arise whilst he is in the Antarctic!
We wish all the very best to Lisa and the whole the team, included Ricky. We’re really looking forward to reading Ricky’s blog and finding out about all the exciting adventures which lie ahead of them all!
Read more by visiting Lisa’s website:http://www.freezingteachers.com/Home.html
click any image below to see a larger version.
PUPPETS on Tour!
20-05-2009
The Puppets have been on a global tour to Australia and New Zealand during April. Brenda and Stuart have worked with researchers, teacher educators and groups of teachers in Australia and New Zealand. They have presented keynotes and workshops at several primary science conferences, held meetings with professional organisations and been involved in research seminars.
Click here to read an article published about one of the keynotes Brenda and Stuart delivered at the University of Canterburyclick any image below to see a larger version.
PUPPETS in Ireland!
25-03-2009
Puppets have recently travelled to Ireland to work with student teachers at University College Cork. They are starting to feel quite at home in Ireland, having made two trips to Belfast recently as well.
Click here to read more about their trip to CorkPUPPETS Project Funding Extended!
16-02-2009
The PUPPETS Project: Talking Science - Engaging Science was initially funded until September 2009. We are pleased to announce that the funded courses will now be available until September 2010.
The project supports teachers in using puppets in their classroom as part of their science teaching. It is based on research funded by the Nuffield Foundation and carried out in the PUPPETS Project. The research explored the use of puppets to engage and motivate children and promote conversations that help their learning in science. Puppets were used with primary school children to capture their interest, stimulate their thinking about science, challenge their ideas and model learning conversations.
The PUPPETS Project: Talking Science - Engaging Science project has taken this research into thousands of classrooms in the UK and beyond. The use of puppets in the classroom is increasing as a result of the project. We have also extended the age range to secondary education and the subject area to mathematics teaching.
Puppets Spotted at Local Resort
20-05-2008
Proving that it’s not all work and no play for our PUPPETS project friends, these lovely photographs show Benny, Kim, Jasmin and Ruby taking a well earned break from the classroom.
This relaxing seaside scene was specially created for them by a group of 25 teachers from South Wales who were on an Inset course called ‘Making Special Places to Play’. This fun and informative course was aimed at teachers and practitioners working with children between 3 and 7.
Course tutor Gaynor Weavers, who is one of the PUPPETS project team members, explains further. ‘We were looking at habitats in the afternoon and I gave the teachers some ideas sheets that I'd prepared with some photos of set ups I'd made with and without the puppets. I allowed them (the teachers) only half an hour to build a set from the resources that I'd brought with me. We had a fantastic time with lots of giggles as you can imagine.’
click any image below to see a larger version.
Puppets in local schools
11-03-2008
Here are some photos of Ricky in the classroom wearing his school uniform. The children from a local school are engaging with puppets in their science lesson. The lesson was about what we find under our feet (Rocks and Soils). Ricky managed to come up with quite a list (with a bit of help!!).
click any image below to see a larger version.
More puppets in the classroom!
11-01-2008
More photos of puppets helping teachers with their science lessons. This time the puppets are helping teachers in Belfast, after the teachers had requested some support. As soon as the puppets arrived they were able to speak in Irish accents, so they felt quite at home. Thanks to Jim Beggs and Colette Murphy for arranging the puppets visit and taking the photos.
click any image below to see a larger version.
Our puppets are very widely traveled!
10-10-2007
They have recently been to Ireland, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, and even as far as Australia. They have worked in at least 7 universities outside the UK, so they must be pretty smart!
Two university researchers from Nesna University, Johannes Tveita and Siv Almendingen, are continuing Millgate House’s research into the use of puppets in science lessons. They will be visiting Millgate House in November 2007 to share data and plan further research.
ASE, Puppets and Teachers!
17-01-2007
Here's a bunch of lively puppets, making friends with a group of teachers at the Association for Science Education Annual Conference in Birmingham. Some of them made a date to meet again at next year's conference.
Peter Else at TTS took the photo.
http://www.nuffieldcurriculumcentre.org/go/News/Item_863.html
PUPPETS: Talking Science - Engaging Science: officially launched
02-09-2006
PUPPETS: Talking Science - Engaging Science: was officially launched at the British Association Festival of Science in Norwich in September 2006...
The PUPPETS Project team presented a workshop session to an audience of about 65 teachers, science advisers, teacher educators, researchers and science communicators.
This provided a backdrop for the launch of the next phase of the project, which sees the research implemented in thousands of classrooms.
Although the project is not about puppet show performances in schools, the audience saw another side of the puppets when they were treated to a light-hearted reconstruction of a conversation between Tony and Cherie Blair, Cherie’s mother and David Blunkett with his dog.
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Latest News
PUPPETS Project gets educational praise in Singapore.
After our visit to Singapore earlier this year, we are delighted with this article published on Singapore's Minisrty of Education website. The artcile features...
click here to read more