Children explore the final frontier

As part of a special Space Challenge Day, children in L5 blasted off into the stratosphere and beyond to learn more about the solar system.  

First year PhD students from the University of St Andrews got the cosmic adventure underway by welcoming the pupils into their mobile planetarium. Inside the inflatable dome, which featured a simulation of the night sky, the youngsters were shown how to locate stars, planets and constellations.

Next, with the help of Dr Duncan Brown of the Senior Years’ Physics Department, the pupils charted a course for Deep Space to learn more about the ‘Goldilocks Zone’ – the habitable zone around a star where life could potentially be supported – and the search for any exoplanets that may exist within it. 

Finally, the eager astral explorers had the stars firmly in their sights when they took part in a contest to launch rockets, which they’d designed and constructed in the classroom, as far as possible using compressed air.

L5 teacher Niall Joss, said, “The pupils really enjoyed having the chance to find out more about Space by taking part in a series of fun activities.

“It was a really engaging way for them to enhance what they’ve been learning in the classroom.”