As part of the UNAWE national node of the Philippines, the members of the University of the Philippines Astronomical Society conducted an astronomy outreach program for the deaf students of My Children’s House of Hope in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, Philippines. The actual outreach was handled by a group of 16 student volunteers who where aided by two sign language translators. There were thirty grade 1-3 deaf students who participated in the program.
The event was composed of various activities, both interactive and educational. The event started off with a Solar System lecture. The participants got a chance to get to know the Earth and its fellow planets and the fluff in the Solar System. The UNAWE Earthball greatly helped in showcasing the planets' sizes relative to our Earth. It also helped illustrate other concepts like a planet's rotation and axial tilt.
The lecture was followed by a storytelling session about the most popular myth behind the constellation Virgo. After this the students engaged in a light painting activity wherein the participants would "paint" using flashlights which were covered with colored cellophane while having their picture taken using long exposure photography. At around lunch time, a telescope with a solar filter was set up to allow the participants to view the Sun. In the afternoon, the children painted a representation of the Solar System on the walls of their school.
My Children’s House of Hope is an institution dedicated to helping Deaf children and their families who stay near the Payatas dumpsite. Further astronomy outreach activities for the school will be discussed by the group and the institution to enhance the astronomy and science resources for the deaf students of Payatas.
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