Our Stage 3 students are continuing to investigate the physical attributes of space and, in library lessons, the technological aspects that supported – and continues to support – the exploration of the solar system.
What Galileo saw with his telescope
Galileo – mini biography
History of human spaceflight
Partners in space: CSIRO and NASA celebrates its 50th anniversary
Our Stage 3 students are investigating the physical attributes of space and, in library lessons, the technological aspects that supported – and continues to support – the exploration of the solar system. We are commencing with the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing and then looking both back and forth on the timeline.
(HD footage) Restored Apollo 11 moon landing video – via PRC media
In his own words: Buzz Aldrin 40 years later
Aryabhata | Father of Indian Astronomy | Pride Of India
Copernicus – mini biography
Class 4-6S is back from an excursion to the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. Here are some video clips we used to sum up our term’s learning about space.
Ride the Vomit Comet: try life in zero gravity
Powerhouse Museum Mars Yard
NASA TV is HERE, with weekly updates!
Over the weekend, was the 44th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. Penrith Public School’s then-fledgling magazine was named after NASA’s Apollo program.
“The ‘Apollo’ magazine blast off is taking place. Like its big brother at Cape Kennedy this vehicle is one of adventure and discovery… This is our magazine’s beginning. Who knows to what heights our ‘Apollo’ may climb?” – A.K. Allan, Principal (1968).
“We cannot thank the Department enough (that poor old lady so often criticised for her many shortcomings) for its assistance in transforming a once useless area into a lovely place [a new assembly hall] where the WHOLE SCHOOL can experience together matters of such earth-shattering importance as the T.V. viewing of the initial landing of man on another world, and the visit of Miss Australia to our school…” – A.K. Allan, Principal (1969). Artwork by Mrs Casey.
Apollo 11 restored Moon footage
Apollo display at the Smithsonian Institute’s Air & Space Museum, 1984
The same display at the Smithsonian Institute’s Air & Space Museum, 2013
Lunar rover at the Smithsonian Institute’s Air & Space Museum, 2013. Identical vehicles were used in the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions.
Our Stage 2 students have commenced a unit of work in science & technology, “Space”. These Youtube video clips will be useful in our initial brainstorming activities.
The Solar System – Space School
Space School – The Sun
Star size comparison HD
Space School – The Moon
Day and night on Earth
First Moon landing 1969
Here are two websites for online research, Planets for kids and The nine (8) planets: just for kids (now updated to reflect Pluto’s change of status)
Evidence of water, which was once flowing on Mars, recently found: HERE.
Wow!
I’ve spent the last few weeks demonstrating some of the joys of my school’s new interactive whiteboard (IWB), and browsing on Google Earth has been addictive for most of the school’s population.
But, in similar vein, NASA has just released some very cool pictures from their Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (or LRO), which has returned its first imagery of the Apollo moon landing sites, just in time for the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. “The pictures show the Apollo missions’ lunar module descent stages sitting on the moon’s surface, as long shadows from a low sun angle make the modules’ locations evident.”
The online comments added by moon hoax conspiracy theorists are hilarious.
I really liked the appended comment from a NASA Moderator: “This is just the first glimpse of many more images to come. When we’re in the operational orbit of only 31 miles, resolution should be two to three times better, and we should be able to get the right lighting conditions to identify the rovers.”
All images credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University.
Boy, sitting in the school hall watching a fuzzy black and white television in 1969 (Year 5) at Arncliffe Primary School seems sooooooo long ago, but it also seems like it was only yesterday. It’s frustrating we are currently on vacation and unable to make use of the anniversary with students this week.
Also worth checking out: The Moon in Google Earth
This $2.00 packet of metallic gold, adhesive letters (from a $2 shop, of course) provided inspiration for the past weekend’s project. I had decided that a version of our school badge – perhaps in three dimensions and in colours of white and burgundy ? – might be the most suitable design piece for the large blank, burgundy space above the windows of the library office, and a counter balance for the big “READ” sign in the far corner. When I saw these letters, I realised that “P E N R I T H” would actually be perfect scale to the photocopy of the school badge I’d enlarged to A3 earlier in the day.
On Saturday morning, I noticed that I’d left my A3 pattern at work/school, so out came the trusty ruler and pencil and I enlarged the small photocopy I did have.
I still had a spare Officeworks‘ plastic and cork “bulletin bar” (at $1.99), so I painted this burgundy and incorporated the shape so it would support the two main sections of shield and scroll, and might even give the illusion of a three-dimensional shaft section of the rocket which blasts off from our school badge (originally designed in the late 60s inspired by the 1969 NASA moon landing, I understand). The first version of the badge was in yellow and brown, the old school uniform colours, but it’s been red, white and blue for many years now, and simply black and white on letterheads, etc. I wasn’t changing the school colours here, but a rendition of the b/w badge using white and burgundy as the contrasting colours.
From Eckersley’s art supply store, I bought an A2 sheet of layered 5mm foamboard (@ $4.95), but I still have a lot, equivalent to A3 size, left over. These foamboards are more sturdy and resilient than cardboard, and come in numerous colours. I found a distinctively off-white variety, and a pure white one. Since the white lettering I’d been painting these past few weeks is lacquered, and isn’t really a stark white, the off-white foamboard seemed the best choice.
A Stanley knife was used to cut out the shapes I needed. The rocket became a cut-out hole, while the scroll had extra shapes to bring some parts into the foreground. The letters, plus two spare magnetic letters (ie. in the same font as the URL signage), were painted burgundy, lacquered with matt varnish, and glued into place. The school motto is a print-out from the computer. Essentially, the finished design is in four layers, and should cast some interesting little shadows.
My main concern was that it had to look classy, but it also had to be cheaper than a commissioned styrofoam sign from a professional signwriter.
This morning, I used nails to secure the three plastic strips to the wall. In case we ever get a new library built one day, I’m planning to take all my handiwork with me! Because the library’s closed for stocktake this week, there has been very few visitors and I’m anxious to show off my latest handiwork.
The grey, soft-covered piping that emerges from the air-conditioner and connects to conduit is still giving me grief. I’m not game to paint it, in case the plastic-like material repels the paint. Maybe I’ll try wrapping it in burgundy ribbon? Happily, the ugly grey conduit disappears against the wall when covered in the burgundy paint.
The more we do to improve the look of this end of the school library, the more we reveal of the huge windows… and the mess beyond. My clerical assistant has been extremely busy removing my untidy “piles of stuff” from the tops of each vertical filing cabinet. Thanks Louise!
Total cost of this makeover: Add another $8.94 to last week’s $39.96 and you’ll get $48.90. I think. 😉