UNAWE Newsletter, September 2008

Universe Awareness for Young Children – Newsletter

September 2008

INTERNATIONAL NEWS The world of UNAWE We would like to thank all the volunteers, professionals, amateurs and enthusiasts who make UNAWE happen around the world. From the heart of the International Office in Leiden, thank you all.

Site visits The UNAWE website http://www.unawe.org/ has become a very popular destination.

In the last year (since the nomination of UNAWE as a cornerstone project of the International Year of Astornomy2009) we have received almost 13,000 visitors from over 130 countries. The image below illustrates those visits.

Despite so many visitors from the United States, there is still no U.S. UNAWE programme.

Visits to the UNAWE website in the last 12 months. Source: Google analytics.

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Universe Awareness for Young Children – Newsletter

September 2008

This should not stop us though. If you feel like joining, if you know someone who is interested, or does something you think fits in with the UNAWE vision, please pass on the word. The more we are, the better.

New tools website As part of the continuous development and dissemination of UNAWE resources, a new website with online astronomy tools has been launched: http://www.uanwe.org/unawe_tools/ These are small useful reference items such as scaling the Solar System to any reference (distance or diameter), calculating telescopic magnification, observing the libration of the moon, etc. intended for all kinds of astronomy outreach. The idea is to complement reference sheets like the Astroguide http://astronomy2009.saao.ac.za/projects/astroguide/ with something dynamic.

Feel free to use these and send us any feedback, bugs, feature requests, etc. You can send us an e-mail directly at carolina.odman@unawe.org or use the online feedback form on the website.

If you wish to translate those tools, feel free to do that too and we will be happy to make them available online.

Presenting UNAWE The International Office has prepared a PowerPoint presentation for all of those who wish to present UNAWE. The slideshow gives an overview of the UNAWE programme and explains how to join it. Feel free to read it and use it.

And please let us know any remarks you may have about it. If you feel like translating it, please send us your translation so that we can also make it available.

The presentation can be found here:

http://unawe.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=284&Itemid=1

Other resources New educational materials are continuously being added to the UNAWE website. It is crucial that those resources benefit from the experience of the UNAWE communities around the world. When something is published online, we invite everyone to try them out and to send us comments and feedback. We will also be glad to publish any translations of those resources in any language.

A “trailer” for UNAWE called “What do you see in the sky?” Illustrates one of the games that can be played with young children. Astronomical images are beautiful

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Universe Awareness for Young Children – Newsletter

September 2008

yet abstract. Like looking at clouds and imagining animals and objects, astronomical images stimulate children’s imagination.

In this short film, astronomical images are seen with an interpretation laid over them. This interpretation fades out leaving only the beauty of the universe for everyone to interpret in his or her own way. The trailer is available here http://tinyurl.com/unawe-cosmic-zoo on Google video and can be embedded in your websites using the code provided.

INDIA – NETHERLANDS Following the UNAWE 3rd Multidisciplinary workshop held at the Lorentz Center Leiden, several of the Indian participants continued working, fully maximizing their stay in Holland.

Jayshree Mane and Neel Pathak, members of the Science Program Team, Pratham Mumbai Education Initiative, visited one of the Dutch schools taking part in the Holland – India project overseen by Pratham and Oxfam.

Besides exchanging knowledge, games and customs, the students also shared in one of the latest UNAWE activities that had been presented at the workshop; UNAWE Chile's Cosmovision activity.

SKIES ABOVE CHINA – UNAWE ITALY A video documentary about the “Skies above China” programme set up by Arcetri Observatory has been released. Florence is a city with a large number of immigrants of Chinese origin. Arcetri have developed a programme where school children in Florence explore astronomical mythologies in Europe and China and illustrate them with Chinese shadow puppets, plays and other stories.

The yearlong programme enables children to learn about interpretations of the sky, take part in them with hands-on puppetmaking experience and performance, and in the process, develop a number of skills.

A clip from the documentary film "Il Cielo Sopra la Cina" is available here:

http://unawe.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=302&Itemid=101

Credits: Arcetri Observatory, Istituto comprensivo statale Gandhi, Consiglio Regionale della Toscana, Assessorato alla Pubblica Istruzione, Centro di alfabetizazione Gandhi.

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Universe Awareness for Young Children – Newsletter

September 2008

CUENTOS DE ESTRELLAS – A BOOK BY UNAWE EN ESPANOL "Cuentos de Estrellas", (Tales of Stars) is the first children's book of the UNAWE family. It contains 13 astronomical legends originating from North Africa to South America, blending cultures and interpretations of the night sky. Each story is beautifully illustrated and accompanied by a scientific explanation of the astronomical object featured in the story. From variable stars to cosmology, legends from the past and present reveal the intimate relationship between the people of the Earth and the sky.

In this book, young children from the Spanish-speaking world will grow up aware of what we see in the sky, and hopefully see something new in it themselves.

"Cuentos de Estrellas" was conceived, compiled and edited by Rosa Ma Ros. Illustration and Layout was by Maria Vidal. The stories were collected by Naoufel Ben Maaouia, Antonio Bernal, Paola Caponni, Marcos Carías, Antonio Claret, Jorge Colorado, Julieta Fierro, Max Finger, Sergio López Borgoñoz, Abdelkader Oueslati, M.Cristina Pineda de Carías, Germán Puerta, Llorenç Puig, and Rosa Ma Ros UNAWE en ESPANOL, the Spanish-speaking UNAWE branch is supported by the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC).

GIANT ASTRONOMY GAMES IN INDONESIA UNAWE Indonesia have produced one of their games, the Astronomy Snakes and Ladders, on a giant scale. The 25 square metre game provides fun and science in many villages. Oleh Nggieng writes “It is a great experience to join another adventure of UNAWE Indonesia. What is so interesting about this adventure is that we always bring joy & fun for the kids, and like this time, yet another innovation came into play, that was ... The Giant Snakes and Ladders!! (Of UNAWE Indonesia).

On a 25 square-meter board, it is fun for lot of children who participate in the game. Basically, the game is another snakes & ladders, but instead of ordinary snakes & ladders picture, the board is full of astronomical pictures, and the ladder & snakes replaced by rockets & wormholes.

Gee, I am landing on the moon! Maybe that’s what a kid thought.”

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Universe Awareness for Young Children – Newsletter

September 2008

A CARTOON IN TUNISIA The children and teachers at El Ain Children's Club in Sfax, Tunisia have put together a cartoon. In the cartoon, a young girl, Fulla, gets a visit from her friend Falakon the space robot who takes her on a journey of discovery in the solar system and beyond.

They are now preparing a second cartoon as well as an explanation on how such a cartoon can be made. We look forward to both and hope to see more Astronomy cartoons from many other countries!

Congratulations to Nejib Kharroubi and all the children involved!

UNAWE Tunisia has also sent us the report of their activities for the 1st semester 2008.

Some highlights include: 6000 children reached with the Astro-Bus, a new cartoon, three training sessions for teachers and educators and a Day of the Sun celebration of the summer solstice at the Science City in Tunis.

The report is available online at the following address: http://unawe.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=283&Itemid=104

A PLANETARIUM FOR VENEZUELA This message was posted on July 1, 2008 by radaelli - member of the UNAWEVenezuela email list Y qué pedazo e balón, digo, qué ENORME domo inflable (Ø9m) “MADE IN VENEZUELA” «Ciencia para el pueblo: apropiación social de los saberes científicos» Estamos super contentos, nos consta la voooluntad que le han puesto a este proyecto tanto Enrique como Gonzalo, héroes del empeño, la constancia y la capacidad, sobreponiéndose a múltiples contratiempos y dificultades... Y al fin los frutos del tesonero esfuerzo.

No se inaugura un artefacto más, SE INAUGURA UNA NUEVA ETAPA NACIONAL EN LO QUE A DIVULGACIÓN DE LA ASTRONOMÍA SE REFIERE. EL IMPULSO DEFINITIVO QUE HACÍA FALTA Habrá sin duda un antes y un después de esta fecha. Un tunguskazo que ha de sacudir las telarañas de la apatía. Han comprobado lo que es posible lograr cuando se pone el CORAZÓN. Estan haciendo HISTORIA de la bonita Y las nuevas generaciones de niñas y niños de nuestra VENEZUELA contarán con la CIENCIA -GRACIAS A USTEDES Felicidades a todos !!!

Congratulations UNAWE Venezuela! May the planetarium entertain and inspire thousands of kids for many years!

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Universe Awareness for Young Children – Newsletter

September 2008

UNAWE IRELAND IS TAKING OFF New UNAWE project in Ireland at Blackrock Castle Observatory Blackrock Castle Observatory houses an award winning astronomy exhibition called Cosmos at the Castle in a 16th century castle located about 2km from the heart of Cork city on the banks of the river Lee. BCO and UNAWE have teamed up with Cork City Council and the Cork Printmakers to reach some of the less privileged young children in and around Cork. This project called the Bed of Stars will combine the knowledge of astronomers, the facilities of Blackrock Castle Observatory and the insight of artists, to unlock the wonders of the Universe and help young school children to explore it further.

Ireland's 'Deadly Moons' programme joins UNAWE Deadly Moons is an art/ astronomy workshop for children developed by Deirdre Kelleghan Children from the age of 4 upwards take a look at some unusual moons. Our moon is featured amongst the exotic beauties.

The children choose the deadliest moon.

Deadly is an expression to say "Cool" or "Awesome" not dangerous !:-) Having fun at the Deadly Moon workshop in Clondalkin Refugees and Migrants group Once the deadliest moon is chosen we all draw that moon with energy and interest. Children , parents , teachers, Deirdre, everyone joins in. All pay attention to detail. It is a lot of fun. Observation is a skill common to both astronomy and drawing.

Welcome to UNAWE Deadly-Moon-Drawers!

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