[AstroNet] Primary Matters - promotion of Atronomy [January Edition 2009]

Tue Dec 30 03:56:55 SAST 2008

Dear Thandi and Team

I have just subscribed so this is my maiden message. Well, it is
absolutely wonderful to know that our Astronomical Fundies out there
are rising to the challenge posed to all of us in Education in 2009
and Beyond.

I have used Primary Matters and I have been promoting it amongst the
schools I visit.
Know this - your hard work now is an investment that I will grow in
the schools falling in the District which I currently serve.

Two questions:
1) Have you consulted the WCED NS Learning Area "Work schedules" GRADE 4 - 6 ?
2) Do the articles/activities have links attached for educators to
research the topic in greater detail ?

In my recent experience I have discovered that a large majority of
educators have hardly been adequately exposed to the core concepts and
knowledge relating to this field of the Sciences.  Personally I was
reminded often with a home and community belief system which teaches
that "man should not dabble with the heavens". In this way many a
childhood interest had been squashed. How many educators my age fall
into this category?  It would be interesting to get a response.  Links
would provide quick references for educators to do some catch up
self-study and develop confidence and enthusiasm for something as
intriguing as ASTRONOMY, which may have been denied to them at some
stage.  Most now have access to the Internet but do not have the time
to do round-a-bout searches.

Many schools in the Western Cape Province will be consulting the
Natural Sciences "Work schedules" which are now available on the
website. Some schools will be requested to implement them as a pilot
from July 2009. It would be a great asset to those schools who will be
implementing to have the content and activities featured in the
PRIMARY MATTERS aligned with those activities/content/assessment
standards prescribed in the provincial "work schedules".  Having been
involved in the meetings of the work schedule writing teams it was
mentioned openly that when the "work schedules" are accepted it may be
offered for use nationally. Whether this is still the case I do not
know but education is for sharing and good sense should prevail.

Hoping that you will accept this personal story and to have encouraged
you a bit at this exciting time in our HISTORY OF EDUCATION - it is so
good to be a functioning part of it, just like you.
HAPPY NEW YEAR - wish I were in Sutherland right now with all the
lucky ones enjoying the night sky. I also envy the the Wilderness
Hiking Groups right now- happy trudging. [Catch a shooting star and
put it in ur pocket....never let it fade away].

Regards

Joelene Juries
Natural Sciences Curriculum Adviser GET
Metro Central Education District - Mowbray Cape Town South Africa
w- 021 659 4325 fax 021 659 4335  [Back on 19/01/09]
joelene.juries at gmail.com
jjuries at pgwc.gov.za

On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 12:00 PM,  <astronet-request at mail.saasta.ac.za> wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. Opportunity to promote International Year of Astronomy
>      (Thandi O-Hagan)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:23:56 +0200
> From: "Thandi O-Hagan" <thandi at sci-bono.co.za>
> Subject: [AstroNet] Opportunity to promote International Year of
>        Astronomy
> To: <astronet at saasta.ac.za>
> Cc: Michael Peter <Michael.Peter at sci-bono.co.za>,       Claire Flanagan
>        <eclipse at planetarium.co.za>
> Message-ID:
>        <331BB73DCB37BD4AA68B4D4E7B84B8BD1DB92E at WINSERV1.SCI-Bono.local>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Dear all,
> The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre is sponsoring an edition of Primary
> Matters (the Grade R - 7) publication that is inserted into all the
> major Independent Newspapers e.g. The Star, Pretoria News, Cape Argus,
> Daily News.  This is also then distributed to an additional 30 000
> schools across the country to use as a classroom resource.
> The edition is due out on the 26 January 2009 - so we are going to use
> the edition to promote the International Year of Astronomy and to talk
> about the solar eclipse.  The front page, will use the theme: "The
> universe - yours to discover".
> We, Sci-bono and Claire Flanagan of the planetarium met for a
> brainstorming session this morning with the editing team.  Claire has
> agreed to do final proofing of the content to ensure it's accuracy.
> Primary matters hires an editor/design team who come up with the
> activities.  See below a list of some of the content we aim to cover.
> As this is a national edition: I am writing to invite those of you who
> might be interested in purchasing a strip that will be included in the
> 12 page supplement with your logo, website and contact numbers. This
> will be a block that advertises additional resources or places to
> explore the universe.  Please contact me (Thandi) by Monday 12 January
> to discuss advertising options.
> The list of content to be included in the edition:
> *       The Year of Astronomy - The universe yours to explore
> *       What is a solar eclipse/ the difference between solar and lunar
> eclipses
> *       An astronomy dictionary: what is astronomy, what is astrology,
> what is a star, what is a meteor, what is a shooting star
> *       Making a constellation with paper and a torch
> *       The Southern cross and finding direction using the stars
> *       The planets in our solar system
> *       The Tswaing Crater
> *       A centre page board game - exploring the universe - a game
> through the milky way with information about the planets in our solar
> system
> *       Cultural exploration of the stars: Greek mythology & an
> indigenous story about Orion
> *       Create your own constellation story
> Looking forward to hearing from you.
>
> Thandi
>
> Thandi O'Hagan
> Education Officer
> SCI-BONO DISCOVERY CENTRE
> thandi at sci-bono.co.za
> direct line: 011 639 8428
> fax: 011 832 3360
> switchboard: 011 639 8400
> Cnr Miriam Makeba/ President St, Newtown, Johannesburg
> www.sci-bono.co.za <http://www.sci-bono.co.za/>
>
>
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