City Buzz: Scientific series of fun for little minds

The Sheffield Festival of Science and Engineering will have all kinds of activities for your family, kicking off on Friday with ‘Discovery Night.’

Discovery Night opens the University of Sheffield’s laboratories and lecture theatres for an evening of activities from science, engineering, medicine and dentistry.

Suitable for everyone aged five and over, there will be exciting science demonstrations, talks, lab tours and plenty of opportunities to put on a lab coat and have a go yourself with fun, hands-on science activities for younger visitors from 4pm to 8pm. Visit Discovery Night for details.

A Showcase of Future Healthcare will be at the Winter Garden from 10am to 3pm on Saturday. From robots to novel apps for your smartphone, come and see how new technology can help you and your family to live well and age well. Showcases will include a shoe insole that helps stroke survivors, a portal recommending apps for people living with dementia, companion robots, apps that can help people with speech therapy and much more.

Down the road at Sheffield Hallam University’s Owen Building, there will be a family-focused fun day getting under way on Saturday from noon to 4pm.

‘Discovery Make and Do’ gives everyone the chance to try some hands-on practical activities exploring science, technology, engineering and making.

Try your hand at robotics, circuit building and loads of other great activities for kids. Entry is free.

On Sunday, Kelham Island will be getting in on the fun, with a pop-up STEM centre hosting a variety of hands-on activities.

Those visiting the ‘Family Discovery STEM Workshop’ will be able to try some electrical engineering, learn how to use a 3D printer, get involved in organ dissections, and meet the museum’s scientifically amazing axolotls. Recommended for everyone aged five and over, the drop-in workshop will run from 12.30pm to 3.30pm.

Next Monday, and running all week, there will be a series of fun activities at the Sheffield Institute of Education, on Floor 2 of the Charles Street Building, at Sheffield Hallam University.

Each day’s activity will have a theme, such as defying gravity, building a creature and stretchy sweets. Join in lively daily discussions and peruse the displays showcasing the work of local students. Visit Sheffield Festival of Science and Engineering to book.

Terrific train times

Join Little Sheffield volunteers at Sheffield Central Library this Thursday - between 1pm and 2.30pm - for a train-tastic session! Will your train visit a windmill? Make it over the clickety-clackety bridge? Oodles of track, junctions and features to connect and play the afternoon away. Come and join in this free session.

Children’s show has trunks of love for Oona, the incredible elephant

A new show - described as ‘inspiring, evocative, imaginative and life-affirming’ is heading to Sheffield this week.

Running Wild, by Michael Morpurgo, will open at The Lyceum tomorrow, telling the tale of a girl named Lilly, who - while on holiday with her mother in Indonesia - takes an elephant ride. During the ride, Oona, the elephant, suddenly becomes anxious and runs from the beach into the jungle, escaping moments before the tsunami hits the island. Tree-top adventures turn to thoughts of her mother left behind on the beach, and Lilly must now learn to survive in the rainforest. And then the hunters come...

The show features spectacular life-size puppets, telling an emotional and moving story of love, loss and loyalty and of living for the moment.

Visit Running Wild for tickets for the show, which runs in the city until Saturday.

Suitable for children aged six and over. The show will open tomorrow and run until Saturday in Sheffield

The tales of Alice...

An production of the stories of Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through The Looking glass - complete with music and dance - is to be performed by young members of Girlguiding Sheffield this week.

Alice The Musical will open at The Montgomery Theatre, on Surrey Street, this Thursday and will run until Saturday.

The 90-minute show is the guides’ annual production and has been put together with the help of a team of volunteers, including voluntary musicians.

The Emperor’s New Clothes will also open at the theatre next month.

Opening on April 1, the show - produced by Stuff and Nonsense - is said to be populated with ‘puppets, music and song, unending energy and great storytelling.’

Visit www.themontgomery.org.uk to book for all upcoming family shows. Alice The Musical opens this week

Mummy workshop

Are you a mum currently on maternity leave?

Have you recently gone back to work and need some support? SheFest2017 is to host a workshop called ‘What Now? For Parents Returning to Work’ this Saturday at Theatre Delicatessen on The Moor.

The workshop, which runs from 1pm to 3pm, will help you explore what you want from work and how you can get it. The workshop is hosted by Jennifer McCanna, a professional leadership coach and learning and development professional. Visit SheFest Sheffield to book your free place.

Tippy Toes open day

There’ll be lots of messy play, soft play fun, and splashy, crafty activities at Tippy Toes Open Day this Friday.

The session, which runs from 9.30am to 11am at the Burton Street Foundation on Burton Street, is open to all toddlers and their parents or carers.

The session this Friday will kick off a new community group and everyone is welcome to bring their little ones along and get stuck in, play, and volunteer their ideas and suggestions about what would make the group a weekly occasion that everyone would look forward to.

Call 0114 2332908 for more details.

World Book Day celebration

Highfield Library

Today, 2pm-3pm

A special song and story session for children aged 0-18 months.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to vote in the Baby Book Awards. Places may be limited so call 0114 2930018 to book.

The Chimpanzees of Happy Town

Studio Theatre, Norfolk St

Saturday, 11am and 1.30pm

The much-loved story of Chutney the Chimp is brought to life in this hour-long production which is tremendous fun for little ones, featuring brilliant live music.

Pushabout Clumber

Clumber Park

Wednesday, 10am-11am

Perfect for those with a baby or toddler wanting to be more physically active. Meet at the Clock Tower for this free event.