Astronomy workshop for schoolchildren of regional and national physical and mathematical schools “Astronomy for Everybody”
03.02.2017
To develop space education of schoolchildren, support talented children in Kazakhstan, and to implement the work plan of “Bobek”, approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2016, on the basis of the Observatory “Bobek” astronomical workshops for students of regional and national physical and mathematical schools “Astronomy for Everybody” devoted to the 25th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan were carried out.
The astronomy workshop includes lectures, practical, laboratory classes and observation of the autumn sky objects. The program includes new Astro workshop topics related to programming, designing and robotics. The proposed topics cause genuine interest of schoolchildren: the starry sky, the celestial sphere, celestial coordinate system, methods of measurement of coordinates and time; the solar system, planets, stars and galaxies; distances in the universe, telescopes and their characteristics; introduction into space robotics; work with microcontrollers; project AVR-Studio; creation of devices of one’s own design; solution of problems in astronomy, astrophysics, programming and robotics; observation of the starry sky.
In the Planetarium students studied constellations, the basics of spherical astronomy, watched non-fiction films. For observations small telescopes were used.
At the end of Astro workshops, in order to test pupils’ knowledge in the field of astronomy and space physics, the test was carried out (the first level). Students (Group A and Group B) had to solve eight problems within three hours. Finally there was a observational competition. At the end of two levels the rating protocol was compiled.
In the framework of the event there were educational courses in astronomy and physics for teachers – supervisors of teams from the regions of Kazakhstan
Upon completion of the workshop schoolchildren and heads of the teams were awarded certificates on successful completion of the Astronomy workshop for schoolchildren of regional and national physical and mathematical schools “Astronomy for Everybody”.