never mind the optics

We’ve been told that the new S1 will experience the CfE outcomes when they join us after the summer holidays.  In most cases, there are strong links to existing materials used in the context of the 5-14 guidelines that we can draw upon.  However, there are clear gaps in our resources.  Draft outcome SCN 307E is one example;

I can use my knowledge of the basic needs of humans, and the bodies of our solar system, to put together a reasoned report on whether we can colonise space.

My S2 class will start work on this topic on Monday.  The question I have is where this sits in terms of the sciences.  I can see the topic develop in terms of physics or biology.  Either way, we’ll spend Monday’s lesson exploring the solar system and getting to know the names of our planets.  I’m going to use a package called Celestia for this.  There’s also OSXPlanet for apple users, this runs the simulation as a desktop background.  It looks really nice but I just can’t work with a clean desktop on my macbook and that spoils the view!

Here’s a screenshot of Saturn as seen on Celestia.

Cool, eh?

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