The newest addition to UNAWE's extensive astronomy education repository is “The Invisible Universe”, a compilation of activity guides created in collaboration with the Astronomy institute Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON), to introduce the primary school students to the invisible world of radio and inspire them to develop a curiosity about the vast and wonderful Universe they live in.
Since ancient times, people have been fascinated by the night sky, but only since the invention of the telescope in 1608 have we been able to study astronomical objects in detail. It has been an even shorter time that we've been able to look at the Universe in other types of light than visible. Radio, infra-red, gamma, UV and X-rays give astronomers a peek into a completely new world: the ‘invisible’ Universe. This means that radio astronomy is a relatively young science, and there is still much to be discovered. Unravelling all the hidden secrets of the Universe will still take many generations of astronomers. Therefore inspiring young children is essential to the future of space science. Luckily for us, the Universe sells the subject of astronomy all on its own!
The activities in this guide are designed for students aged 8-12 years and no prior knowledge of astronomy or the electromagnetic spectrum is required. Age range, duration, materials, step-by-step instructions and all necessary background information are included for each activity, in addition to the learning objectives so that teachers can match the activities to their national curriculum. Each lesson includes a selection of interactive activities along with the more traditional textbook questions to keep them engaging and fun. Download the activity guide in full from the UNAWE website at unawe.org and introduce your students to the Invisible Universe.
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