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Live & Listaning

Live and Listening - Ham Radio Workshop for Kids

Group Members:

  • Kira
  • Lucía
  • Dzestina
  • Sam
  • Diego

Event Overview:

  • Name of the Event: Live and Listening
  • Number of Participants: 12 kids (aged 7-12)
  • Level of Experience: No prior knowledge of ham radio, but all participants speak English.
  • Duration: Half a day (approximately 4-5 hours)
  • Location/Space Needed:
    • A local club house with a ham radio station or a room where a station can be set up.
    • Create a "club room vibe" to keep the atmosphere friendly and engaging.
    • Comfortable seating and spaces for creative activities, like making QSL cards.

Food:

  • Meals:
    • Provide snacks like pizza, sweets, and drinks (coffee for adults, juice for kids).
    • Serve snacks when energy levels start dropping, to keep participants engaged and create a "party vibe."

Budget:

  • Do you need money for the event? Yes.
    • What for: Food and snacks (pizza, sweets, drinks).
    • Funding Source: Use the club fund for food and materials.
    • Additional Materials: Walkie-talkies (HTs) for hands-on practice.

Materials and Equipment Needed:

  • A working ham radio station.
  • Handheld radios (HTs) for kids to practice with.
  • Vertical/straight Morse keys and electronic keyers for CW practice.
  • QSL Cards or plain paper for kids to design their own QSL cards.
  • Colour pencils, markers, and writing materials for creating QSL cards.
  • Stationery for note-taking and participating in activities.

Organizer's Preparations:

  • Coordinate with club members to schedule on-air contacts (Rx) from the station during the event.
  • Ensure the radio station and all equipment are working properly (debugging, if necessary).
  • Prepare blank QSL cards or materials for kids to design their own.
  • Set up the station for interviews, and coordinate with club members to be on standby for on-air conversations with the kids.
  • Prepare the room to feel comfortable and kid-friendly.

What Participants Need to Bring:

  • Stationery (pens, pencils, etc.).
  • Enthusiasm and curiosity!

Workshop Content:

1. Introduction (15 mins):

  • Welcome the kids and introduce them to ham radio in simple terms.
  • Explain what ham radio is and why it's exciting. Highlight how people use it to communicate across the world, even in emergencies.
  • Briefly go over the day's schedule and activities.

2. ICAO Phonetic Alphabet (20 mins):

  • Teach the kids the ICAO Phonetic Alphabet using fun examples.
  • Have them practice saying their names using the ICAO alphabet.
  • Activity: Let them introduce themselves on-air using the phonetic alphabet.

3. How to Say Your Name & Callsign in ICAO (20 mins):

  • Teach kids how to say a basic callsign using the phonetic alphabet.
  • Practice calling out a mock callsign over the station or handheld radio (HT).

4. Prepare QSL Cards (30 mins):

  • Explain what a QSL card is and why it's important in ham radio.
  • Let the kids design and create their own QSL cards using paper, markers, and colour pencils.
  • Encourage creativity in their designs and have fun with it!

5. Interview with Club Members (30 mins):

  • Schedule club members to be available on the air to speak with the kids.
  • Have the kids prepare simple interview questions for club members:
    • Callsign: ________
    • Date/time: ________
    • Name: ________
    • QTH (location): _________
    • WX (weather): _________
    • Why do you like ham radio? ________________
    • What is your favorite part of ham radio? _______________
    • What is your most embarrassing moment in ham radio? _______________
    • Tell me about a friend you made in ham radio. _______________

6. Hands-On Communication with HTs (25 mins):

  • Let the kids try handheld radios (HTs) to communicate with each other using what they've learned.
  • Guide them through a simple off-air QSO using proper radio etiquette.

7. Introduction to CW (Morse Code) (25 mins):

  • Teach the basics of Morse Code (CW), explaining how it was used for long-distance communication.
  • Practice sending simple messages like SOS and CQ using vertical or straight keys.
  • Let the kids practice with Morse code oscillators or keyers to try out basic letters and phrases.

8. Picnic Break (30 mins):

  • Take a break for snacks and drinks (pizza, sweets, and juice).
  • Use this time to socialize and chat about what they've learned so far.

9. Exchange QSL Cards (15 mins):

  • Have the kids exchange their personalized QSL cards with each other or with the club members they spoke to during the interviews.
  • Celebrate their accomplishments by discussing their designs and radio conversations.

10. Wrap-Up & Follow-Up Event Planning (15 mins):

  • Recap the key takeaways of the day and encourage the kids to explore ham radio further.
  • Mention upcoming events or workshops where they can continue learning about ham radio.
  • Thank the participants for their enthusiasm and participation, and invite them to a potential follow-up event.

Learning Objectives:

  • Get kids excited about ham radio by introducing them to the basics of communication and radio technology in a fun, hands-on way.
  • Teach the ICAO phonetic alphabet and how to make a basic call using radio protocols.
  • Show them how to use handheld radios and Morse code to communicate.
  • Engage them creatively with QSL card design and real on-air interviews with experienced operators.
  • Spark their curiosity to continue exploring ham radio as a hobby or future pursuit.
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