ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOLS
Here are some activities I helped develop as part of the GalileoMobile team that organised the Constellation Project.
The Constellation Project aimed to establish a South American network of schools committed to the long-term organisation of astronomical outreach activities amongst their pupils and local communities.
These activities allow students to discover fundamental aspects of our solar system by actually carrying out famous experiments themselves!
Activity 1: The size of the Earth:
Have you ever wondered how big the Earth is? This may seem like a very complicated problem that requires complicated instruments and methods, but it's not! You only need a few minutes, some simple material, and friends from another school to get an accurate answer!
Activity 2: The motion of the Earth, Sun, and Moon:
Why do we have days and nights? Why do the seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) last for as long as they do? The common answer to these questions (and many more) is the motion of the Sun and Moon relative to Earth.
Activity 3: The rotation of the Sun:
The temperature across most of the surface of the Sun is incredibly high! But there are some small regions that are colder, called sunspots. Their number increases and decreases with time, over an 11 year cycle, and we can use them to directly estimate how quickly the Sun is rotating.
Activity 4: Create your own solar system:
Each solar system can be very different from the next, but there are key properties that scientists look for when deciding if one is capable of hosting life! Design your own solar system, and see if life could form there!
MY WORK IN THE MEDIA