The Hermanus Astronomy Centre is able and very keen to support Overstrand Schools by supplying teachers with materials relevant to the curriculum:
CORE KNOWLEDGE AND CONCEPTS OF PLANET EARTH AND BEYOND,”Our Place in Space”
This support includes:
Posters
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
YOUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE
THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
ASSA Astronomy Starter CD
Contains information and pictures of astronomy, spaceflight and sky watching. Includes images of planets, comets, galaxies, nebulae, star clusters and much more.
SAAO AstroCD
The CD contains a large amount of interesting information spanning a wide range of topics suitable for learners, from preschool to Grade 12, as well as for adults. The contents include beginners and advanced material presented in different formats that include theory, practical exercises, images, comic strip type information, mathematical calculations, background on telescopes and some philosophy.
Powerpoint Presentation
This focuses on our Solar System and is used for presentations in the classroom
Stargazing
Several members of the Hermanus Astronomy Centre have their own telescopes that they make available on occasion and by prior arrangement. These events are published in The Hermanus Times and advised to members of The Hermanus Astronomy Centre.
Monthly sidewalk stargazing from Gearings Point in Hermanus will be introduced from July 2011 and will be advertised locally. This affords members of the public, including children, an opportunity to look at a few selected celestial objects under guidance of the local amateur astronomers.
Monet North Telescope, Austin, Texas, USA
This is an exciting opportunity for learners to participate in a live link up via computer with this 1.2m telescope. Several objects are chosen beforehand for viewing, the telescope is guided to these objects through the computer, photographs taken and the images processed therafter.
Several of these events have taken place from Hermanus Hoërskool and are generally scheduled once per month on a Sunday morning when the time difference allows for nighttime viewing near Austin.
Interested schools and learners can contact Pierre de Villiers( pierredev@hermanus.co.za ) for further information if they wish to participate in this event.
Recent Educational Events
By request, a presentation on the Solar System was done on 1 June 2011 by Pierre de Villiers at the Hermanus Christian Academy in Sandbaai. Learners from grade 2 to grade 8 attended the presentation which included a question and answer session.
Should you be interested in obtaining some of these resources to support learners please contact:
Lynette Geldenhuys
Education Outreach Coordinator
Hermanus Astronomy Centre
028 316 2428