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Curriculum Development in Northern Ireland
Robert Hill
Director
Northern Ireland Space Office
Possibilities for HOU activities
New curriculum• New curriculum for 11 – 14 year olds (Key stage 3)
• Joined up approach to learning
• Project based activities
• Core Science, Technology , Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) base
New resources
• Astronomy and Space science to be one of the key units for Key Stage 3
• All schools connected to the Classroom 2000 C2K network
• elearning environments for teacher and pupil resources
Key problems
• Need to address the decline of pupils taking up STEM activities at higher level
• 11-14 year olds decide on which subjects to take at 14 years old
• Science inspiring but time too short in class to grasp basic concepts
Art & Design
Key questions
•What might extra-terrestrial life forms look like? How have artists and illustrators visualised other worlds?What adaptations to extreme environments might alien life need to survive? Are there similarities with the possibilities for life on Earth? How can imagination work to form a picture of alien life? What sort of ideas, images and activities help when working imaginatively?
Technology and Design
Key questions:•How can we travel away from Earth?What technology is required?Has the exploration of Space changed our lives?What is the future for Space Travel?
Science/Geography
Key questions:
•Where do we find extreme environments on Earth?What kind of life do we find there?Can these conditions be found elsewhere in the Solar System?Is there a way to guess how many planets may harbour life?Are we creating environmental extremes on
our own world?
Is there life out there?
About these units
One of the biggest questions asked by humanity is the possibility of life on other worlds. Through these units, pupils will learn about the great distances involved by posing this question, how life on Earth can survive in extreme conditions and if these conditions can be found elsewhere.
The individual components can be taught separately within each discipline. However, parallel learning should be encouraged were possible so that pupils can build up their knowledge through cross curricular discovery
Is there life…? ScienceThe aim of this unit is to create an environment for pupils to explore the question of life on our own planet and how our current understanding of life on Earth allows us to estimate the possibilities of life in the universe.
• Key questions:
• Where do we find extreme environments on Earth?• What kind of life do we find there?• Can these conditions be found elsewhere in the Solar System?• Is there a way to guess how many planets may harbour life? (Drake equation)• Are we creating environmental extremes on our own world?• .
Is there life…? Science
• In this unit pupils will:• Develop researching skills using different
formats of media.• Learn how life can thrive in environments totally
alien to human beings• Explore the Solar system and create/develop
projects to disseminate knowledge gained.• Learn how exploration of other worlds is helping us to better understand our own Planet Earth
Project based approach
• Astronomy and Space science now part of accredited schemes of work
• New resources such as robotic telescopes become integrated into curriculum
• Pupils have real chance to discover the excitement of science
• Promotes science in the wider societal context
Possibilities?
• Teacher access new resources via eLearning portal
• HOU type activities embedded in learning environments and textbooks
• Pupils from different regions can work together within safe learning environments
• Teacher training and staff development utilising resources becomes a reality
www.armaghplanet.com
www.spaceconnections.net
