Free Telescopes for Schools in Northern Ireland
Robert Hill of NI Space Office at the Armagh Planetarium has arranged that every school in Northern Ireland can receive a free telescope, provided that they submit an application form before Tuesday 23 December 2008.
The Society for Popular Astronomy is leading a project to give 1000 telescopes to secondary schools, with support from the Science and Technology Facilities Council and the Royal Astronomical Society, to encourage schools to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy.
The idea is to encourage schools to develop an interest in astronomy and to engage young people in discovering the wonders of exploring the night sky. To receive a telescope, each school has to download and complete an application form from the SPA web site www.popastro.com/moonwatch/schools3.php and send it with a submission of not more than 500 words about how the telescope will be used to promote astronomy in the school and community.
This has been arranged through the good offices of Robert Hill of NI Space Office at the Armagh Planetarium. Robert has also put together some suggestions for the submission to help the drafting of the form (see below). As you will see from the web site, telescopes are given on a first come first served basis, however we have been assured that any post primary school or special school with a post primary department that applies from NI has a very good chance of receiving a telescope, provided application is made within the next week to ten days.
You will note that one of the conditions for acceptance is to link with a local astronomer. Armagh Planetarium has agreed to act as the local resource with support from astronomers at the Armagh Observatory. To contact Armagh Observatory telephone: 028-3752-2928; or e-mail: Mrs Aileen McKee. Email your submission to Alyson at the Armagh Planetarium.
Project Possibilities for the 500 Word Outline
Curriculum: link to Key Stage 3. Underneath the stars and Is there life out there..? thematic units
ТЗ Start or enhance astronomy club activities
ТЗ Sign up to the free Astrogazers Ireland astronomy schools network in Northern Ireland run by Armagh Planetarium and encourage joint school activities (plus get lots of other free astronomy and space related material throughout the year!)
ТЗ Use the telescope to encourage and mentor local primary school (feeder) schools
ТЗ Propose a project for the BT Young Scientist and Technology exhibition
ТЗ Propose a project for the Seagate Young Innovators exhibition
ТЗ School display on astronomy
ТЗ Register with a free UK based robotic schools observatory. Either Faulkes Telescope project or the National Schools Observatory.
Register with all Ireland astronomy schools competition 2009.