Year 6 Astronomy Main Lesson & Star Gazing
By Jane Fisher - Primary School Teacher
This year, because Year 6 has astronomy for our first Main Lesson of the term, we combined our learning journey with a half hour of observing the night sky. We had a wonderful turnout of parents and students. Thank you to all who came along.
Before sharing their work with their parents, Class 6 gave an energising performance of ‘Rona and The Moon’, the traditional Maori waiata (song) that sings about the moon and it’s gravitational pull. They also presented hand signs accompanying some of the 30 phases of the moon in the Maramataka (Maori Moon calendar).
The stargazing experience was intoxicating!
We had a perfectly clear sky, and the moon was not too full. Thanks to Glenn Loughton’s telescope and engaging instruction we were able to see the surface of the moon, it’s craters and hills in clear detail.
Laying on our backs, we observed ourselves travelling through space on the ‘Earth bus’ as we slowly repositioned to new angles of viewing stars and constellations such as Venus, Scorpius and Crux (Southern Cross). It was a wonderful way to be together, sharing the experience of unfathomable distances and floating through space.
Jane Fisher
Primary School Teacher
