Curriculum Development in Northern Ireland Robert Hill Director Northern Ireland Space Office Possibilities for HOU activities

New curriculum New curriculum for 11 – 14 year olds (Key stage 3) Joined up approach to learning Project based activities Core Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) base

New resources Astronomy and Space science to be one of the key units for Key Stage 3 All schools connected to the Classroom 2000 C2K network elearning environments for teacher and pupil resources

Key problems Need to address the decline of pupils taking up STEM activities at higher level year olds decide on which subjects to take at 14 years old Science inspiring but time too short in class to grasp basic concepts

Art & Design Key questions What might extra-terrestrial life forms look like? How have artists and illustrators visualised other worlds? What adaptations to extreme environments might alien life need to survive? Are there similarities with the possibilities for life on Earth? How can imagination work to form a picture of alien life? What sort of ideas, images and activities help when working imaginatively? Technology and Design Key questions: How can we travel away from Earth? What technology is required? Has the exploration of Space changed our lives? What is the future for Space Travel? Science/Geography Key questions: Where do we find extreme environments on Earth? What kind of life do we find there? Can these conditions be found elsewhere in the Solar System? Is there a way to guess how many planets may harbour life? Are we creating environmental extremes on our own world? Is there life out there? About these units One of the biggest questions asked by humanity is the possibility of life on other worlds. Through these units, pupils will learn about the great distances involved by posing this question, how life on Earth can survive in extreme conditions and if these conditions can be found elsewhere. The individual components can be taught separately within each discipline. However, parallel learning should be encouraged were possible so that pupils can build up their knowledge through cross curricular discovery

Is there life…? Science The aim of this unit is to create an environment for pupils to explore the question of life on our own planet and how our current understanding of life on Earth allows us to estimate the possibilities of life in the universe. Key questions: Where do we find extreme environments on Earth? What kind of life do we find there? Can these conditions be found elsewhere in the Solar System? Is there a way to guess how many planets may harbour life? (Drake equation) Are we creating environmental extremes on our own world?.

Is there life…? Science In this unit pupils will: Develop researching skills using different formats of media. Learn how life can thrive in environments totally alien to human beings Explore the Solar system and create/develop projects to disseminate knowledge gained. Learn how exploration of other worlds is helping us to better understand our own Planet Earth

Project based approach Astronomy and Space science now part of accredited schemes of work New resources such as robotic telescopes become integrated into curriculum Pupils have real chance to discover the excitement of science Promotes science in the wider societal context

Possibilities? Teacher access new resources via eLearning portal HOU type activities embedded in learning environments and textbooks Pupils from different regions can work together within safe learning environments Teacher training and staff development utilising resources becomes a reality