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'discover…
space' is based upon two lectures;
Stardust Memories by Professor
Gerry Gilmore, and Strangers from Space
by Dr Monica Grady, both of which are lectures
held at the Royal Institution. The aim of the
site is to provide an interactive resource for
young people which complements GCSE coursework
and enhances your school's visit to the
Royal Institution. It covers specific topics in
the GCSE science syllabus, notably Double science
KS4 SC4 Physical Processes, and GCSE
Science Double Award: The Earth and Beyond.
The specific educational targets are detailed
below.
'discover… space'
is divided into 4 main areas: the science,
quiz, big questions
and discussion forum.
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| the science
is intended as a resource area for pupils to access
from school or at home, and can be used either
for learning prior to attending the lecture, or
for further study and exploration after attending
the lecture. the science is where
the majority of the GCSE content lies, and it
serves to complement topics raised in the lecture,
whilst reinforcing curriculum and GCSE specifications.
It covers the origins of the universe and the
Big Bang theory, the life-cycle of stars and our
Solar System, and then goes beyond that to explore
the future of the universe, the hazards which
are in space, and whether humans will ever find
other life, or travel to other galaxies. Each
topic has an interactive activity which is intended
to explain the more complex areas of the science,
and there are did you know…?
facts scattered throughout the site.
The 4 areas of the science are as follows:
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origins:
How did our universe evolve? What is the
Big Bang theory? This section discusses
the theories behind how stars are formed
and how they evolve.
This section includes the following activity:
- the life-cycle of a star
– an interactive activity exploring
the life-cycle of a star using visually-rich
animations and clear explanations at each
stage.
National Curriculum / GCSE syllabus
- Double Science KS4: Sc4 Physical
Processes; The Earth and Beyond, 4c)
- GCSE Science: Double Award;The Earth
and Beyond, 12.15 The Universe
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our
space: What does our Solar System
consist of? What's in space? This
section details what's out there:
e.g. black holes, meteorites and gravity.
This section includes the following activity:
- orbitiser –
this activity provides educational information
about the orbital paths of different planets
in our Solar System. It covers the inner
and outer planets, comets and also contains
a special feature on Kepler's Law.
National Curriculum / GCSE syllabus
- Double Science KS4: Sc4 Physical
Processes;The Earth and Beyond,
4a) the relative positions and sizes of
planets, stars and other bodies in the
universe [for example, comets, meteors,
galaxies, black holes] and b) that gravity
acts as a force throughout the universe.
- GCSE Science: Double Award; The
Earth and Beyond 12.14 The Solar
System
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beyond:
What is beyond our solar system? This section
covers issues such as life on other planets,
other galaxies and our motivation to travel
into orbit. It also includes information
about satellites.
This section includes the following activity:
- planet X - A mythical
planet, planet x, is the focus of this
activity. It aims to demonstrate the effect
that altering various states has on a
planet and its potential to sustain life.
National Curriculum / GSCE syllabus
- Double Science KS4: Sc4 Physical
Processes; The Earth and Beyond,
4e) the search for evidence of life elsewhere
in the universe
- GCSE Science: Double Award; The
Earth and Beyond, 11.9 Changes
to the Earth and Atmosphere and 12.15
The Universe
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future:
What is the bigger picture in terms of the
future of the universe, and existence on
Earth? This section raises issues about
our future: could the human race leave Earth,
for instance?
This section includes the following activity:
- operation asteroid
– an informative, but fun, shoot-em-up
style game in which the user must protect
planet Earth by deflecting asteroids which
are headed towards it. Information about
asteroids is displayed between each level.
National Curriculum / GCSE syllabus
- Double Science KS4: Sc4 Physical Processes;
The Earth and Beyond
- GCSE Science: Double Award; The
Earth and Beyond, 12.15 The Universe
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The quiz is intended to be a
follow-up activity, for students to test their
absorption of the information in the science
area, or after attending one of the lectures.
All of the answers can be found in the
science or big questions,
but it is assumed that by taking on the quiz challenge
the science student is already prepared. The aim
is to answer all of the questions in the shortest
possible time, and the fastest will receive a
prize from the Ri.
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big questions are intended
as a 'further research' resource for
use at home or at school. It is aimed to stimulate
current research about space. You may wish to
use these questions in the classroom to start
wider discussion or individual study. The topic
areas covered are:
- How close do meteors and asteroids come to
the Earth?
- Will we ever be able to travel through time,
as well as through space?
- Will we travel to Mars?
- Is there life in outer space?
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| The discussion forum
is intended to create an online community of learning,
where pupils can discuss the topics that have
been raised in the site with other science students.
The discussion forum can be accessed by clicking
on any of the 'discuss it…'
links in the science, or via the discussion
forum link on the menu bar.
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Your experiences, both
good and bad, will help us to plan future events
for Schools: contact us in feedback.
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discover...
is designed to provoke discussion. If you found
a science topic that engaged an audience share
it with InsideOut.
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