This week I have been working mainly at the RAF Cosford Museum. To be honest, I have been looking forward to this week ever since I started at this position. I love working within STEM anyway. But, to get a chance to work within a museum that I love personally is amazing! It doesn't feel like working sometimes. The RAF museum has a really strange influence on me as for one I really love planes. Especially the old planes such as the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lincoln. But also, I have such a large respect for the military with my some of family being heavy involved with them. The RAF in particular, is my personal favourite, just solely due to being a former air cadet which has framed most of my young teenage life.
My excitement wasn't misled. It was great fun working at the museum for the most of the week. The staff are lovely, always wanting to help and so easy to talk to. The location is ace with planes proudly placed everywhere along with an actual RAF base just metres from the fence. Plus, their workshops are just as interesting too. This means that it is really easy to work within them and you don't have to work hard to keep the children's attention. Which is good when that is your job. The workshops that Ryan and I have undertaken this week were; A Cold War Workshop and 2 Rocket Workshops. This week has had some exception, when I couldn't go to Cosford, such as Wednesday when I had an introduction to the university careers by the university HR department. And Thursday, when sadly there wasn't a workshop that we could help with.
Monday - The Cold War Workshop
On Monday, the day kicked off with an adventurous journey using the train network. Normally, Ryan and I have the luxury of our supervisor drive us to Cosford. Therefore, I was a little bit nervous about this. It was a train journey that I had never made before. Plus, I had no knowledge whether this part of the network is popular and the trains busy. Though I must say the journey was very enjoyable. The train was busy. But, there weren't any delays or cancellation which, in my experience, is amazing for Monday morning. We were there with an hour to spare. We were actually there so early that Ryan and I had a nice short time in a café close to the train stations.
Although, I wouldn't have minded being at RAF Cosford early. Mary, the lady who I helped out last time, was creating her events for over the Christmas period. When we arrived the staff were already busy cutting cloth into small strips or pictures out. Before long, Mary had us doing so of the preparation too. I just wish I could have been there earlier to help more.
The workshop that Ryan and I were shadowing today was for 3 groups of Year 11s. It was based on the cold war, about how certain governments would inform their nations on nuclear war. At first, Mary presented an interesting talk to set the mood of the workshop. She would ask how many countries currently had nuclear weapons (That number is 9), explain the term 'MAD - Mutual Assured Destruction' as well as show them a few videos on the subject. Mary would also talk about the nuclear attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to put more context into the workshop. After this, the class was spilt further into clusters of 5 for the four activities which Mary had creates. These activities (listed below) would test what they had learnt. Or, for some, highlight what they didn't know on the subject - in order to incise some discussion.
The four workshops were,
Tuesday - The Rocket Workshop
On Tuesday, Ryan and I did the most entertaining activity yet. This was the Rocket Workshop where the idea was to make the 'best' paper rocket. Then to test the idea, the groups compete with each other to see who's is top. And the term best with this workshop meant the rocket which went the furthest. This rocket workshop on Tuesday was catered for year 7's. So we were less general with the information and only spoke about the concept of Gravity along with air resistance. But, I'm pretty sure that this workshop could easily work on most age groups. All we would have to do is be more in depth with the explanations. Even the teachers (along with Ryan and I) were having a go at designing our paper rocket.
Got to say that the best part of this workshop is that majority of the equipment needed is relatively cheap. So, you could do this easily. All of the main equipment that were needed was some paper (Enough to go around), card, scissors and sticky tape... As well as an air canon, which I guess is the most expensive part of this workshop. If desired, the child could also use felt-tip pens, pencils, rulers and stickers to decorate their rockets - to give a personal touch to them.
But not only were Ryan and I were just shadowing the rocket workshop. By the very last workshop, we had the confidence to take the workshop. It was such an amazing experience. We spilt the chores between ourselves. Ryan introduced the workshop, talking about gravity and air resistance. Afterwards, I would instruct the year 7s on how to make a basic rocket. Then giving them ideas on how to customise using the bombs and planes around us.
This workshop was
Friday - Rockets Again!
Just like on Tuesday, Ryan and I were involved with a STEM workshop on rockets at the RAF museum at Cosford. It ran almost parallel to the previous workshop. Only the presenter was different which was Steve, a volunteer for Cosford. The beginning of the workshop was exactly the same. Steve spoke about gravity and air resistance in his only special way - be means of a tennis ball. He allowed two of the children to throw the tennis ball to show the effects of the forces in the air. To be honest, I found that to be the best way of explaining forces which the primary school kids couldn't see. But, the explanation of how to make the rockets never changed.
Although, this time we had younger children at the workshop. They were from a Key Stage 2 group (which means they were still primary school between 7 to 11 year olds). I found that they were well behaved most of the time. Though, had only minor problems when they got too excited. For example, running when they should have been walking in the hanger. This could have been solved by maybe stopping the exciting part, testing the rockets by the air cannon, slightly to remind them to be sensible or the workshop would have to stop.
Overall, I found the workshops at the RAF Cosford museum to be fun and really worth while seeing. The time there offered me a good chance to gain valuable experience. I just hope it is not the last time that I work with the STEM team at RAF Cosford museum.
My excitement wasn't misled. It was great fun working at the museum for the most of the week. The staff are lovely, always wanting to help and so easy to talk to. The location is ace with planes proudly placed everywhere along with an actual RAF base just metres from the fence. Plus, their workshops are just as interesting too. This means that it is really easy to work within them and you don't have to work hard to keep the children's attention. Which is good when that is your job. The workshops that Ryan and I have undertaken this week were; A Cold War Workshop and 2 Rocket Workshops. This week has had some exception, when I couldn't go to Cosford, such as Wednesday when I had an introduction to the university careers by the university HR department. And Thursday, when sadly there wasn't a workshop that we could help with.
Monday - The Cold War Workshop
 |
| The sign at the train station at Cosford |
Although, I wouldn't have minded being at RAF Cosford early. Mary, the lady who I helped out last time, was creating her events for over the Christmas period. When we arrived the staff were already busy cutting cloth into small strips or pictures out. Before long, Mary had us doing so of the preparation too. I just wish I could have been there earlier to help more.
The workshop that Ryan and I were shadowing today was for 3 groups of Year 11s. It was based on the cold war, about how certain governments would inform their nations on nuclear war. At first, Mary presented an interesting talk to set the mood of the workshop. She would ask how many countries currently had nuclear weapons (That number is 9), explain the term 'MAD - Mutual Assured Destruction' as well as show them a few videos on the subject. Mary would also talk about the nuclear attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to put more context into the workshop. After this, the class was spilt further into clusters of 5 for the four activities which Mary had creates. These activities (listed below) would test what they had learnt. Or, for some, highlight what they didn't know on the subject - in order to incise some discussion.
The four workshops were,
 |
| The lovely assistant of the Cold War Handing, Kevin He is wearing everything except the gas mask |
- Shelter Building - There was a shelter on one side of the room and a table full of items beside. On the table would anything from tins and boxes of biscuits to essential items like a first aid kit. The group of 5 would have 4 minutes to choose around 15 items before the bombs fell. Once their decision was made and the timer had gone, Mary would explain their faults to the entire class.
- Cold War Uniform Handing - The year 11s could look, touch and even wear some of the uniforms that where available during the cold war. This was to show how this gear has improved.
- Toxic Waste Removal - There was a bucket full of toxic waste (Small soft balls) and the group of 5 were tasked to move it onto a table. Nothing could fall out. But, they could not touch the bucket with any of their body. Instead, there were three pieces of rope which they had to use. It must be said that no-one actually completed this. Though there were 3 teams that came extremely close.
- A Worksheet on the Consequences of Atomic Wars - There was a table full of leaflets, photos before/after the Hiroshima attack and a worksheet with a task. That task was to label each of the effect with a letter. The letter would either say that the effect was Immediate, happened within seconds or centuries after the attack.
Tuesday - The Rocket Workshop
On Tuesday, Ryan and I did the most entertaining activity yet. This was the Rocket Workshop where the idea was to make the 'best' paper rocket. Then to test the idea, the groups compete with each other to see who's is top. And the term best with this workshop meant the rocket which went the furthest. This rocket workshop on Tuesday was catered for year 7's. So we were less general with the information and only spoke about the concept of Gravity along with air resistance. But, I'm pretty sure that this workshop could easily work on most age groups. All we would have to do is be more in depth with the explanations. Even the teachers (along with Ryan and I) were having a go at designing our paper rocket.
Got to say that the best part of this workshop is that majority of the equipment needed is relatively cheap. So, you could do this easily. All of the main equipment that were needed was some paper (Enough to go around), card, scissors and sticky tape... As well as an air canon, which I guess is the most expensive part of this workshop. If desired, the child could also use felt-tip pens, pencils, rulers and stickers to decorate their rockets - to give a personal touch to them.
But not only were Ryan and I were just shadowing the rocket workshop. By the very last workshop, we had the confidence to take the workshop. It was such an amazing experience. We spilt the chores between ourselves. Ryan introduced the workshop, talking about gravity and air resistance. Afterwards, I would instruct the year 7s on how to make a basic rocket. Then giving them ideas on how to customise using the bombs and planes around us.
 |
| Our Rockets that we used in our demonstrations. Top, Red nose cone: Ryan's rocket. Bottom, blue nose cone: That one is mine! Both flew well - hit the wall at the other side of Hangar 1 at RAF Cosford Museum. |
Friday - Rockets Again!
Just like on Tuesday, Ryan and I were involved with a STEM workshop on rockets at the RAF museum at Cosford. It ran almost parallel to the previous workshop. Only the presenter was different which was Steve, a volunteer for Cosford. The beginning of the workshop was exactly the same. Steve spoke about gravity and air resistance in his only special way - be means of a tennis ball. He allowed two of the children to throw the tennis ball to show the effects of the forces in the air. To be honest, I found that to be the best way of explaining forces which the primary school kids couldn't see. But, the explanation of how to make the rockets never changed.
Although, this time we had younger children at the workshop. They were from a Key Stage 2 group (which means they were still primary school between 7 to 11 year olds). I found that they were well behaved most of the time. Though, had only minor problems when they got too excited. For example, running when they should have been walking in the hanger. This could have been solved by maybe stopping the exciting part, testing the rockets by the air cannon, slightly to remind them to be sensible or the workshop would have to stop.
...
Overall, I found the workshops at the RAF Cosford museum to be fun and really worth while seeing. The time there offered me a good chance to gain valuable experience. I just hope it is not the last time that I work with the STEM team at RAF Cosford museum.
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