pedagogical file
BE A STAR
Atomium - 26.11
2010
> 25.04
2011
Welcome to the « Cosmos. Be a star » exhibition Hippopotamuses might not wonder how it all began, why life exists, why the sun shines, why the sky is black at night, but men have always asked where they come from and talked about the creation of the world. The aim of this exhibition is to help you think about the questions that you might sometimes ask yourself. Scientists try to understand how the Universe works. They tell us the hows and whys of all known and measurable things. They learn more every day. But the more we know, the more there is to know ! So, philosophers step in. They try to answer all the questions that the scientists don’t ask. Artists, painters, musicians, photographers, dancers, film directors… they have all looked at these complex issues and tried to interpret their feelings about them, their joys and their concerns. Here, you can see what they’ve come up with.
And where are You in all of this? What are your thoughts? How do you feel about it?
TASK 1 : Look up !
Look at the sky, by graphic designer, Nathalie.
> Which
are your favourite 3 figures. • • •
> What
does this imaginary sky remind you of ? • • •
> Meet
... ... ...
an African landscape the signs of the zodiac a porcelain shop
the Little Prince and Darth Vader
> The word “zodiac” comes from the Greek word, zodiakos [kyklos]. Does this word mean : • • •
a “circle of little animals” a mint sweet that you can buy at the zoo the colour “orange” in Spanish
> Now
draw the sky for yourself.
TASK 2 : When you look at the sky…
> What
do you think of? What do you feel ? Circle the feelings that you have. Fear - Melancholy - Wonder - Fascination - Boredom - Sadness - Impatience Pride - Pleasure - Chagrin - Excitement - Jealousy - Solitude - ...
> Write
>
a list of all the “why” questions that still need to be answered. •
...
•
...
•
...
Compare your list with the ones your friends have written.
Why do you think human beings have always looked up at the sky ? • • • •
To forecast the weather To find out whether to put sugar in their coffee Because they like telling stories Because they’re afraid
And does your cat look at the sky?
> Think about the famous statement uttered by the philosopher, Descartes, “I think therefore I am”, could you say this about : • • • • •
Your dog Your schoolbag Your cousin A grain of sand The president of the United States
TASK 3 : BIG BANG ?
Look carefully. There are three key moments in the “Known Universe” ! > A
very very long time ago, why didn’t the light reach us ? • • •
> The
Because the Universe was pink Because the Universe was a very hot, very dense soup Because the Universe was a very cold lemonade
Big Bang - True / False • • •
Was noisy. T / F Was a shooting star exploding. T / F Is the expansion of the Universe that happened everywhere at the same time. T / F
I don’t have time ! > Which
words sum up passing time ? Sweets - Past - Notebook - End - Orange - Today - Garden - Present - Infinite Yesterday - Joke - Future - Bike - Tomorrow - Basketball - Laughing - Future Minute - Sing - Clock - Age - Lorry - Hippopotamus - ...
> And
how do you see time passing ? E.g. > the trees losing their leaves in autumn. • •
> Time ?
- True / False • • •
> The
The present lasts forever. T / F It’s what changes things and people. T / F Nobody can relive the past. T / F
Universe, God(s) or no God(s) ? We’d like to know what you think ! • • • •
... ...
For Antoine, God exists, He is real, with a personality and a history; For Léa, God is an idea used to explain the origins of the world and mysteries like life and death; For Colline, it’s a waste of time to believe in God, accepting that someone who doesn’t exist tells us what’s right and wrong; For Sam, there are lots of Gods, and people believe what they want.
How about you?
TASK 4 : Immensely big, and still unknown !
> The
Universe - True / False • • •
> Why
Is shrinking. T / F Is still growing. T / F Isn’t moving. T / F
do people say that the Gods left the Universe ? •
Because they were too hot Because men trusted their intelligence to try to explain the world, it’s the “Greek miracle” • Because they preferred heaven •
> Who
am I ?
> Finite
•
I am located in the “suburbs” of the Universe. I orbit a star with 7 others.
I am : ...
•
I am a galaxy. I can be seen with the naked eye. I look like a white cloud, and I contain 200 billion stars.
I am : ...
or infinite ? • • • •
My glass of milk Time passing The moon The Universe
> “Knowing” and “Believing” ? We have to accept that we are going to grow old, that water makes things wet, that autumn follows summer. But in your head, all alone, you can think absolutely anything you want. To help you: deciding to believe, that happens within each person!
> So,
do you know or do you believe ? • • • • • •
That That That That That That
men have walked on the moon. (know or believe) all grown-ups have been babies. (know or believe) you’re going to get a present at Christmas. (know or believe) the Atomium has nine spheres. (know or believe) God exists. (know or believe) 2 + 2 = 4. (know or believe)