13th and 15 – 19th May 2023

Includes

International Day of Light 16th May

Active Learners:

Make a Bush Clock and learn how to use the stars to find South and to estimate the passage of time when out in the bush.

Move outside to observe the night sky and count the stars in the Southern Cross – Crux and contribute valuable data to the Globe at Night Project.

Motivate to care about the environment and our place in it and how we can reduce wasted energy to keep the night dark.

Our Education Week activities include our Bush Clock downloadable activity and a practical night time activity to work through in the day time in the class room and then take home to fill out on the first clear night then load their data at home with their parents or return with the data sheet filled and load their results at school, so that everyone can participate. All of their data points can be checked online later. This is a good activity to use digital maps to locate their home or if the school wants to hold an event in the school grounds first then the students can follow up with another data point at their own home.

These activities can be done with students from Years 4-6 or Secondary School Years 7 -8, in the school grounds or with parents at home to help with finding the Southern Cross and then counting the stars they can see according to their level of light pollution. Discussion in the class room can help to identify ways in which each student can help to reduce energy wasted and the level of light pollution and why we need to protect our night sky so that we can still see the stars and help to protect the environment for the health of ourselves and the wildlife.

A daytime online tutorial is offered which includes the Bush Clock, the Southern Cross is at its’ highest elevation in May and so it is a good time to look for it and the Southern Cross is also the constellation for the Globe at Night Activity during May and it can be booked for each individual school so that a Q & A is possible. Evening activities onsite at the Observatory will be available as well. These activities can be tailored for each school that would like to take up the offer.

Bookings can be arranged by email at education@ballaratobservatory.org.au or phoning on 0429 199 312.  Files will be sent out after contact is made for Zoom session. There is no cost for school groups for this week.