Short description

      This year we created the project “Start a star-chat: Myths, Magic, and Science for Curious Minds!

Our pupils will be divided into crews of starships and ground explorers and we will deal with the impact that celestial bodies and the universe have had on the everyday life and religious beliefs of people from primitive times to the scientific approach to Astronomy. We will explore the divine and magical properties that ignorance has given to the stars, the impact of constellations as celestial guides and navigators in travel, myths and science, utilizing digital tools. 

• All tasks will be captured as follows:
•  1. Composing a promotional message 
  2. Create short videos, e-books
  3. Create a poster
  4. Upload the products to
  cloud on the internet
  
  5. Generate qr code for all tasks
  6. Post the codes to all partner schools but also in central parts of our cities (diffusion)

Work process

• Program duration: December-June

1. December-January: 

In General: Intended Collaboration and Shared Responsibilities

• Oversee the overall project, ensure smooth communication, manage the timeline.
  • Create and share lesson plans and teaching materials.
  • Collect and analyze feedback to improve the project.
  • Assist in the creation of lesson plans and activities.
  • Lead specific activities and events.
  • Offer feedback and suggestions for project improvement.
• Languages:English
• Number of pupils:30-50
• Ages taught :from 6to 12
•  Pupil Involvement

After the project is presented and the proposals and interventions of the partners are included, the division of the pupils into ground and starship crews is agreed upon: groups of  historians, natural scientists, researchers, etc. are created with the aim of working together for the expected results of the project. 

• Project Teams: Form mixed teams of pupils from different schools to foster collaboration and cultural exchange.
• Student Roles: Assign specific roles (e.g., team leaders, researchers, presenters) to enhance engagement and responsibility.
• Interactive Activities: Plan activities that require active participation, such as debates, joint experiments, and creative workshops.
•  Collaboration Tools: Use platforms to facilitate communication and collaboration.
• Joint Projects: Develop projects that require input from pupils  in different schools, encouraging teamwork and diverse perspectives.

 Unit 1 :Exploring the Universe through collaborative digital tools, compile the results in a digital book and reflect. We discuss in an online meeting. Evaluation through digital tools.

• The Solar System: Create digital models of the planets and simulate their orbits.
• Our Milky Way: Virtual tours and presentations about our galaxy.
• The Galaxies and the Universe: Research and share findings about different galaxies.
• The Movement of Heavenly Bodies: Interactive lessons on day/night cycles and seasons.
• Mrs Gravity and Mr Time: Experiments and discussions on gravity and the concept of time.
• 2. February-March-April: 
• Unit 2: Why Did People Turn to the Sky? Think out of the box
• The First Observations: Study ancient astronomical tools and techniques.
• Constellations and Myths: Create stories and identify constellations.
• Nautical Astronomy: Learn how stars guided ships and caravans
•  
• Unit 3:    Ancient Greece and Astronomy:
• Mythology: Explore the myths associated with planets and constellations.
• From Hesiod to Aristarchus: Study the evolution of astronomical theories.
• Antikythera Mechanism: Demonstrate how this ancient computer was used.
• The Stars Through the Eyes of Other Peoples:
• Middle Eastern Astronomy: Examine ziggurats and their role in politics.
• Favorite Constellations: Each country shares its unique myths and favorite constellations.
• 3. May- June:We campaign about our scientific work and to share the message that borders on earth may be disputed but the sky unquestionably unites us. Let’s learn from the dancing stars
• Finally, collaboratively and sharing the tasks between the partners we create:
• 1. Composing a promotional message 
• 2. Create short videos
• 3. Create a poster
• 4. Upload the products on the internet
• 5. Generate qr code for all tasks
• 6. Post the codes to all partner schools but also in central parts of our cities (diffusion)
• Note 1: Digital tools such as padlet, stopmotion, comic, e-books,wordcloud,  and other digital tools  will be used for recording, researching results and artistic performance.
• Note 2: Meetings with pupils-partners will take place once a month. Pupils can work together in small groups to process material. The final product will be everyone’s joint creation. Important point: the active engagement of children will be seen in every creation
• Note 3: At every stage of the project, parents, mental health providers and random professionals are involved.
• Expected results
• We intend to :
• 1. Composing a promotional message 
• 2. Create short videos
• 3. Create a poster
• 4. Upload the products  on the internet
• 5. Post the codes to all partner schools but also in central parts of our cities (diffusion)• Emergence of various skills: vocabulary, foreign languages, communication and extroversion, cultivating proper online behavior, breaking down genders stereotypes, cultivating an inquisitive spirit
• 6. Highlighting the program as a good and innovative practice in research and deepening into the truth
• 7. Publication of the program in Twinspace , on the schools’ websites