The ‘Learning about the Aurora’ repeat intervention program is targeted at year 8 students in local WP schools.
Going forward from 2019 we are delivering a themed program which includes an astrodome visit first, and then follow up workshops on the Aurora Zoo citizen science project and an aurora themed scientific poster lesson.
Then the same year 8 students experience a SEPnet workshop called Connect Physics.
In the final part of the program the year 8 students who make scientific posters about the aurora research will receive a Discovery Level CREST STEM Award.
If you are a local school with a year 8 cohort that might be interested in signing up for this program, or at least 2 parts of it, then please do email Sadie for more information. Lessons plans for each part of the program are available.
If you are a primary school that wants a mobile planetarium or if you think that your school does not fit with our new remit then please note that there are several other mobile planetarium across the South of England that offer school visits, please go onto the website, linked below, and type in your school postcode to find local planetaria
STRATEGIC AIM FOR LEARNING ABOUT THE AURORA :
To encourage and enable Year 8 Students to contribute to cutting edge research into the aurora.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
For KS3 Science students to: have their understanding of the earth’s position in the solar system and our galaxy reinforced; to be able to explain the difference between a star and planet; define the aurora; understand how the aurora is produced; classify different auroral shapes in terms of morphology and dynamism; understand why research into the aurora and space weather is important and to be inspired to observe the night sky with their curiosity in space stimulated; have a more positive attitude toward science and scientists making them more likely see themselves as scientists and to want to study science further and consider a career in science.
