[AstroNet] UNAWE & the 100 Hours of Astronomy get together

["Dr. Carolina Ödman"]

Dear Friends and Colleagues,
(Full announcement here:  http://tinyurl.com/auhqtc )

The 100 Hours of Astronomy cornerstone project (100HA) is a round-the- 
clock, worldwide event with 100 continuous hours of a wide range of  
public outreach activities including live web casts, observing events  
and more. 100HA will take place from 2-5 April when the Moon goes from  
first quarter to gibbous, good phases for early evening observing.

To make the 100 Hours of Astronomy available to the youngest around  
the world,Universe Awareness (UNAWE) is teaming up with 100HA, and  
call upon you to participate.

Why a specific 100HA JUNIOR?
Most of the events are planned for a wide audience and the language  
used will often be unsuitable for very young children. We propose to  
connect astronomers and children on a one-to-one basis to ensure that  
the youngest (and often most enthusiastic) are given the attention  
they deserve.

How can I join?
First, join our 100HA JUNIOR Google Group email list on:

http://groups.google.com/group/unawe-100h

If you are an astronomer (amateur or professional), please introduce  
yourself: Give your name, location, languages spoken, interest in  
astronomy, and availability between April 2 and 5, 2009.

If you are a teacher or a parent, please introduce yourself or your  
school by giving your name, location, age of the children you wish to  
involve, language spoken and what you wish to get out of this event.  
Please be careful not to post any personal information about children,  
as this is a public forum.

After that, read the other messages. You will probably find an  
astronomer or a school that you would like to organise something with.  
Just contact each other and take it from there!

Always feel free to post the information in your own language –  
someone who understands it will be able to reply to you. If you are  
comfortable translating a conversation between an astronomer and  
children feel free to do so too.

What happens next?
You have found an astronomer, a school or a group of children you wish  
to share the 100HA astronomical experience with. Contact them  
individually by email to set a schedule together. Set a date at which  
you can bring the kids together and have a conversation with your  
astronomer. It does not need to be fancy – even a text chat can do.  
Half an hour is often a good length of time for such young kids.

It can be interesting to talk to someone in a completely different  
time zone, such that your school day is your astronomer’s observing  
night!

If you wish to talk to more than one astronomer or more than one  
school, we encourage you to do so!

Please let us know when you intend to chat. There will be a list of  
participants and of scheduled 100HA JUNIOR chats on the UNAWE website.

Can I get support?
Yes! The 100HA and UNAWE people are there to help you if you have any  
questions about how to get this to work. Post your questions to the  
Google group and we’ll get you an answer.

More information:
Files are available on the Google Group to give you some advice on how  
to carry out such an event. These cover topics like ‘engaging young  
children’ to ‘what to observe in the sky in April’.

We will also prepare feedback and evaluation forms for you to fill in  
if you wish. This is not mandatory but would be highly appreciated.

Meanwhile, feel free to look at the online UNAWE educational materials  
database for inspiration:

http://www.unawe.org/materials

Thank you, good luck and we look forward to seeing you on the 100HA  
JUNIOR Google group!


Carolina Ödman
UNAWE Project Manager


Terry Bridges
100HA of Astronomy Online Coordinator






-- 
Dr. Carolina Ödman
Universe Awareness
carolina.odman at unawe.org
http://www.unawe.org/
IYA2009 Netherlands
http://www.jaarvandesterrenkunde.nl/
tel +31 (0)71 527 58 16
fax +31 (0)71 527 57 43
mob +31 641 275 298
skype carolune_





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