Education and astro Socs

You asked for a thread - here we go.

We are a new AS with a strong education/outreach clause in the
constitution and a strong desire to achieve something but no real firm
idea of how to achieve it.

Education - yes: but probably not like school lessons - they get
enough of them. How to be different - that's the question. Ratio
adults to children springs to mind - 3 or 4 per adult would be good.
(Not less: all sorts of child - and adult - protection issues come up.
1 to 1 is to be avoided at all costs)

When is another question. The usual evening meeting time is usually
too late and too far away. Who is available to do an after school club
at 3.45 or 4pm? And can ensure the kids can get home afterwards (and
avoid 1 to 1s getting them home).

Who is yet another question. It takes some confidence to face the fact
that sometimes the kids will be right and the adult wrong and it takes
some flexibility to be able to capitalise on what the kids bring to
the session as much as what the adult brings.

Observing is great with young people but desperately hard to arrange -
3 times out of 4 its going to be cloudy - so other activities have to
be in place.

So lots of questions, precious few answers. A great pooling of ideas
and suggestions, specially ideas that have worked.

First contribution: I made a crude 2 planet orrery out of a bike wheel
from the tip. 2 handles to wind and two planets go round the Sun at an
angle to each other. Used it for the transit of Mercury on groups of
20 to 60 for 45 minute lessons. Am about to dig it out again with
Mercury magically transformed into Venus.

Your turn.

--
Martin Frey
http://www.hadastro.org.uk
N 51 02 E 0 47

"Martin Frey" wrote in message
...
You asked for a thread - here we go.

We are a new AS with a strong education/outreach clause in the
constitution and a strong desire to achieve something but no real firm
idea of how to achieve it.

Education - yes: but probably not like school lessons - they get
enough of them. How to be different - that's the question. Ratio
adults to children springs to mind - 3 or 4 per adult would be good.
(Not less: all sorts of child - and adult - protection issues come up.
1 to 1 is to be avoided at all costs)


I have just done an extensive module on the solar system and stars in my
science lessons. It's part of the National Curriculum (which we,
fortunately, don't necessarily follow at this school) - but I've managed to
make it so exciting that they all want to find out more. The floor model
of the planets in our solar system lit only with a 60W desk lamp had the
most amazing effect - it was in an empty room 45' by 25' and used variously
sized balls and pieces of fruit!

I am fortunate in being in a small boarding school in the middle of the
countryside, so it is fairly easy for me to show the various constellations
off to children before their bedtimes. There have been some wonderful
starlit nights here (all be they fairly parky) in Suffolk - especially with
Mars, Saturn and Jupiter so easy to see.

My only problem is being able to afford a decent telescope - I'm looking for
something with autostar to keep them (and me) amused and interested - but
they aren't cheap. Perhaps my wife will authorise a second-hand ETX-105 or
LX200 in the near future?

Let me know if there's anyone generous enough to bequeath to us something
which might help the cause - I've got a dozen or more 11/12 year old girls
and boys champing at the bit!!

Sincerely

StJohn