Bath Astronomers have been visiting schools for many years now to help encourage science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through an interest in space and astronomy. Previous invitations have come from individual classes, year groups, or entire schools and we’ve been more than happy to flex our offerings or bespoke new content and activities depending on the individual needs of the group whether in Primary or Secondary school.
Our most popular activity is after school stargazing where we bring binoculars, telescopes, and our amateur astronomer as guides to your playground or playing field to have a look at the night sky.
Our evening stargazing events are usually designed around a carousel of activities with one stop being stargazing. Other stops can include making things to help understanding of the sky, making paper rockets, making rovers, investigating craters on the Moon, or playing with gravity. The carousel of several groups means manageable numbers at the telescopes and help keep people warm when its a bit parky outside.
To find out more simply contact us using outreach@bathastronomers.org.uk
We can also visit during the school day to compliment to individual class or year group projects or subject of study whether in Primary or Secondary schools.
Primary School activities
| Activity | Pre-School | Yrs 1 & 2 | Yrs 3 & 4 | Yrs 5 & 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evening Stargazing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Daytime Skywatching | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Paper Rocket Making | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Egg Launch Challenge | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Make a Planisphere | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Make a Martian Rover | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Gravity Well Orbits | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Making Telescopes | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Making Craters | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Make a Spectroscope | ✔ | ✔ |
Activities last between 30 minutes to 1 hour and can be run in series for a morning or afternoon of space and astronomy.
| Projects | Pre-School | Yrs 1 & 2 | Yrs 3 & 4 | Yrs 5 & 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living on the Moon | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| The Planets | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Astro Pi – Mission Zero | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Astro Pi – Mission Space Lab | ✔ |
Projects can run over several days or weeks.
Secondary School Activities
| Activity | Yrs 7 & 8 | Yrs 9 & 10 | Yr 11 | Sixth Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evening Stargazing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Using Remote Telescopes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Projects | Yrs 7 & 8 | Yrs 9 & 10 | Yr 11 | Sixth Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space Weather Monitoring | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Astro Pi – Mission Space Lab | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Build a Rover | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |