Diary Entry - February

 

We have been invited with enthusiasm by several schools around Torfaen and Newport. During these visits to schools our yr 12 pupils demonstrated and employed high degrees of team work. In fact, with very little rehearsals (timetable constraints disallowed us to spend enough time to rehears and plan the logistics of the play) and no time at all to get used to new environments, they could always put up a very sound and professional performance (although none of them was a Drama student). For example, we went to a school in Torfaen that made the wooden stage in their gym available to us. So, we started to set up the laser pen and receiver on stage, when we realised that the wooden blocks sagged considerably every time you would move on them disaligning the laser beam and light sensor, as the stage was very old! So, our pupils had to think on their feet and work together to move everything quickly to the best location off stage where it could still be visible. At the end they decided to use the stage for some parts of their show and the floor underneath for others, showing great initiative. Another example is when we went to a school in Newport and we were asked to perform in a Science lab (an environment completely different from the gym), and again our pupils worked well and creatively together in solving problems such as darkening the room and setting up all scenes successfully!

Most pupils from the audience told us they enjoyed the play and that it was a much more fun way to learn about Physics. They also liked the fact that older pupils, and not teachers, were showing them these concepts, as they could relate to them more.

The teachers' comments were very positive and the Head of Science in Caerleon School (Newport) said that although the Photoelectric Effect might have been too difficult for her Yr 9 class, they will remember that demonstration when they study it at A-level and that will become a memorable experience that could be very valuable in their development. Also, she was impressed by the enthusiasm for Physics that our Yr 12 demonstrated.

Alessio Bernardelli (Team Leader)

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