Greetings Everyone<div><br></div><div>I have an amateur interest in astronomy and am a parent at a local school and thought some practical input that may be of some interest to this discussion. </div><div><br></div><div>Im sure someone may have thought this through, but here are some of my observations</div>
<div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Background</span></div><div><br></div><div>>Schools are essentially divided into Junior and High schools, with learners usually in age appropriate bands per grade, eg Grade 1 = 7yrs, Grade 4 = 9-10yrs, Grade 7 = 12-13yrs, and similar with high schools - the point here is that activites should be age appropriate </div>
<div>>not all schools have a science department with some disadvantaged schools having almost nil or limited science resources.</div><div>>Due to security, lack of after hours transport and day time available mostly, stargazing is not practical </div>
<div>>In the Cape, schools close 11am on 3rd April so practically only 2 April is available for them to participate in '100 Hours of Astronomy'</div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Suggestion</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>>Whomever is co-ordinating the school outreach needs to contact a teacher who can assit with a worksheet applicable to grades or even two generic age appropriate worksheets for Junior and High School. </div>
<div>>this roll out can be done via the Department of Education as im sure they have a system to communicate with schools and a distribution network. Another idea is for someone to call up the HOD of Science at each school and once the kit is ready for it to be couriered. Im sure the Department of Science and Technology has resources for this</div>
<div>>Kids love building things, so if someone can design a telescope kit made up of recycalable or inexpensive carboard tubes like SAAO used to have would be excellant. Most Post-nets and post offices sell the carboard cylinders in various sizes, all one needs is a set of instructions, materials to purchase and more importantly 2 lenses will have to be supplied.</div>
<div>>the easiest way to get the roll-out to schools is for someone to call up the HOD of Science at each school and once the kit is ready for it to be couriered. Im sure the Department of Science and Technology has resources for this</div>
<div>>Lastly, from my own experience one needs the buy-in from the Headmaster and the HOD of Science</div><div><br></div><div>My personal view is that it would be great for each school to be equipped/supplied with a proper telescope, but considering that most schools would do a day time activity a powerful telescope is not requried as the objective is not so much what is being viewed, but how it works and anything that has to be constructed or put together is a fun activity. If we cant make 2nd April event with schools, its still worthy to consider for later in the year embracing the Astronomy 2009 theme.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Anyway, I hope my 2 cents on the matter gives some perspective. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; ">Space exploration and Astronomy is at the forefront to innovation in science and technology and anything to do with the subject fascinates children which is a fantastic medium to inspire them to increase their love for mathematics and science. </span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Thanks guys for promoting this wonderful initiative</span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Best Wishes</span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Bipin</span></div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2009/3/11 <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:astronet-request@mail.saasta.ac.za">astronet-request@mail.saasta.ac.za</a>></span><br>
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Today's Topics:<br>
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1. Re: Galileoscope discussion (Maciej Soltynski)<br>
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Message: 1<br>
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:08:32 +0200<br>
From: "Maciej Soltynski" <<a href="mailto:Maciej@telkomsa.net">Maciej@telkomsa.net</a>><br>
To: <<a href="mailto:astronet@mail.saasta.ac.za">astronet@mail.saasta.ac.za</a>><br>
Subject: Re: [AstroNet] Galileoscope discussion<br>
Message-ID: <C688E6C11DE342D28A75CE7973390F7C@mgsp428g><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"<br>
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I strongly agree with Rupert. All that is necessary is the objective lens and the eyepiece lens. The rest should be a project for the kids / educator / interested amateur.<br>
<br>
If money is to be spent for a complete optical system, then surely binoculars should be considered?<br>
<br>
Maciej<br>
....<br>
<br>
I think there is far greater reward in being able to "create" a<br>
telescope then to be handed it on a plate. Not only will kids learn<br>
about technical problems and that they are capable of solving it<br>
themselves but they may be inspired to go further, instead of<br>
believing that every thing comes from some far off land. Give them a<br>
lesson in the alignment of the optics and the only thing not readily<br>
available- the optics.<br>
I am sure their are capable people in this mailing list who could<br>
build a telescope out of some cardboard or sticks and sticky tape! A<br>
tripod can be made from a string hanging from a tree, or three<br>
broomsticks tied together? ...<br>
<br>
Rupert<br>
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