Astronomy and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) is the main focus of the project activities. Scientific and technological innovations have become more and more important in the 21st century and it is necessary to raise students' skills of STEM higher and higher. As a result of all activities in the project student will gain: methods of workshops, researching, producing and examining and frontal results are creativity, cooperation, critical thinking and solving problems. The participants will take part into practical applications of robotic technologies and space researches. Teachers will have their professional abilities improved as a result of exchanging knowledge with their colleagues in European partner schools. The project is conected with Erasmus+ project.
Curiosities about Astronomy
I leave here some links with videos, songs and games about Astronomy:
The binary alphabet-activity manual
Some robotic activities
Mad science
Building bridges
Experimenting with ozobots
Making electric circuits in 4th grade
Autumn moon observations in Polish School
October was the month in which we implemented the educational project "Autumn Moon Phase Observations" at our school. The project is a part of the pedagogical innovation entitled "Elements of astronomy in Physics lessons as a part of the Astro Stem Club tasks from the Erasmus + project" implemented in grades 7th and 8th. Students were supposed to observe how the appearance of our satellite changes in the following days of the month between the full moon. They recorded the results of their research in the observation journal, and when the Moon was invisible due to weather conditions, they used the Stellarium- web application. The project allowed students to understand the phenomenon of the moon phases and deepen their knowledge of astronomy. An additional attraction was the opportunity to observe a rare astronomical phenomenon at that time - the Blue Moon, which was last visible on such a scale 76 years ago. Thanks to the commitment and persistence of young people, we can now admire the effects of their months of efforts in the form of beautiful posters and presentations. It is an interesting and innovative project carried out in our school under the supervision of Mrs. Iwona Błądkowska and Anna Szydloch, who in an innovative way encourage students to discover the secrets of Astronomy.
ASTRO DAY
Space games
Class 8 played with self made flashcards about space, solar system and sky.....in English lesson.
What do we know about the Solar System?
Class 7 and 8 in English lessons explored The Milky Way, our Solar system, planets, stars. They checked their knowledge in quizes and tests about space: word searching, crosswords,"true and false". Maybe someone will become a rocket man? What planet do aliens live on? Had fun time and praciced movement of planets around the Sun...
Solar System
The Solar System in children's drawings.
Rocket and spacecraft design.
Who has not dreamed of traveling in space? And what if you can design your own space ship for such an amazing journey. The third grade showed ingenuity and creativity and here are the results. Colorful rockets ready for a journey of their dreams, a journey into the space. Are you ready? 🙂
ASTRONOMIC PHENOMENON
Next December 21st, what is known as a great conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn will occur, an astronomic phenomenon that can be seen at a simple view in a southwest direction over the horizon at low height. Between December 16th and 21st, you will be able to observe an photograph this phenomenon which has not occured since Middle Ages. During those nights, the two planets will be aligned in such a way that it will seem that the form a "double" planet. This phenomenon will not be observed again for 80 years because it takes a year for the Earth to turn the sun, Jupiter takes 12 years and Saturn 30 years.
DECEMBER MOON PHASES OBSERVATION
As our Polish colleagues did in October, we have chosen December for the students to observe the Moon. After that they did fantastic works that we have use to decorate our "AstroStem Club"
THE GEMINIDS WILL BE VISIBLE NEXT SUNDAY
Up to 70 meteors per hour could be seen next Sunday, December 13th, as there will be no Moon in the sky to interfere with the view.
Meteorites are small fragments of interplanetary debris that burn up in Earth's atmosphere. They come at high speeds, in the case of the Geminids 130,000 kilometers per hour. Friction with the upper atmosphere rapidly heats incoming debris, the air around it glows brightly, and the particles are rapidly destroyed. The resulting ray of light is what we see from the ground as a meteor or "shooting star."
Meteors in the next shower can appear anywhere in the sky, but their trails appear to originate in the constellation Gemini, hence the name Geminids. These meteors appear to move quite slowly and can be intense in color.
"ASTRONOMY WORKSHOPS"
We have dedicated the last week before Christmas to participate in four on-line Astronomy Workshops organized by the "Astronomical Observatory of Valencia University". Children from 3rd and 4th Primary did the workshop "Discover your Solar System - Astrocircle". They learnt many interesting things about the Sun and the Planets and they built an Astrocirle.
Children from 5th and 6th Primary did the workshop "Learning about your sky.Orientation and Constellations". They have learnt to orient themselves by looking at the sky, they have also built the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor with the Pole Star, and they have discovered many others constellations.
"CROC&PLAY"
Our children from 1st Primary have been playing the piano using spoons with "Croc&Play" and they have also built ukeles. A fantastic combination of fun, music and technology.
"SCIENCE WEEK"
Our children from 5th and 6th grade have been participating in a "virtual scape-room". Science Week is considered the largest social communication event of science and technology held in Spain (November 2nd-15th). From the Science and Technology Park in Albacete they organized a “Escape STEM” activity, fostering interest and sensitivity around science, technology and innovation. Due to exceptional circumstances this year, marked by COVID-19, all activities have been developed in virtual format: "virtual escape-room" through a platform that allows students to work in an interdisciplinary way and offer them an exciting approach to the world of knowledge. Every day children had to work with various topics related to Science Week, STEM Challenges and ODS (Sustainable Development Goals). The challenges contain questions, secret and coded messages and puzzles of visual acuity that took them to the resolution of the great enigma of the mission.
"ATMOSPHERE LAYERS" (4th Primary)
Children build rockets at the same time that they are revising Geometry.
"A BIG ROCKET"
(2nd course Pre-Primary)
"BUILDING ROCKETS"
(3rd course Pre-Primary)
Children build rockets at the same time that they are revising Geometry.
OUR BIG BOOK "THE PLANETS"
(2nd course Primary)
PLAYING WITH "CROC&PLAY"
(2nd course Primary)
Children have created a piano using spoons with „Croc&Play” and a laptop.
BLUBOTS AND BEEBOTS
(3rd course Pre-Primary)
BOOKMARKS
(5th PRIMARY)
DISCOVERING DAY AND NIGHT
(2nd course Pre-Primary)
Children have made a model of The Earth to see day and night.
ASTRO-CARNIVAL
(Pre-Primary and 1st cycle Primary)
BUILDING CONSTELLATIONS
(5th Primary)
Children have searched their Zodiac Sign Constellation to build them.
AstroSTEM CAREER DAY
February 13th was a special day in our school. The Association of Astronomy and Astrophoto from Almansa "@astroalmansa" were with us, first to give a lesson about The Sun to each class and then we could observe it through the solar telescope that members of this association installed in our playground. It was a wonderful experience and everybody really enjoyed it. The Sun was spectacular through the telescope.
OUR PHOTOCALL
Thanks to our second level of Pre-Primary kids and their teacher we have a fabolous photocall where anybody can be an astronaut or fly a spaceship. THANKS SONIA AND YOUR KIDS!!!!!
MODELS OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
(5th PRIMARY and 2nd Pre-PRIMARY)
After studying the Solar System in Geography, children in groups of three or four had to make a model of it. They could use whatever the wanted and they had to do it at home with the help of their parents in order to involve families in this project.
Then at school, each group had to present their model first to the class and then to the rest of the classes explaining how they made the models, the materials they uses and a short presentation of The Solar System.
Our four years old children have also done models of the Solar System with plasticine.
MAKING ROBOTS WITH REUSED MATERIALS
(1st PRIMARY)
At the same time that children are learning about the importance of reusing materials to care for our Planet they are going to create robots. They bring from home materials such as plastic bottles, boxes, papers, plastic containers, caps, tetrabriks... Then in groups of three or four, taking into account their materials, first they design their robots and then they build them.
MAKING SOLAR OVENS
(4th PRIMARY)
With just a cardboard box, some aluminum foil and black paint you can create a solar oven!!!!!!!! You only have to paint the box in black and then put aluminum foil on the inside of the box lid.
MAKING SOLAR CARS
(5th PRIMARY)
At the same time that the children are learning about the different kinds of energy sources, they have built solar cars.
ASTRO STEAM DAY PORTUGAL
The objective of this STEAM day was essentially to discover and share concepts and new apprentices with the children, parents and teachers of the institution . We had the opportunity to observe , experiment and discussideas and themes in the areas of science, thecnology , engineering, translating throught art and explaining trhought mathematics. Some exemples:
SCIENCE
TECHNOLOGY
ENGINEERING
ARTS
