Universe Awareness
Universe Awareness is an international initiative that aims to inspire the very young, to empower them with rational thinking and knowledge of their place in the Universe.
UNAWE will expose children in developing countries and in underprivileged communities in Europe to the inspirational aspects of astronomy.
UNAWE is also a network of Astronomy outreach/education professionals and volunteers worldwide.
The minimum goal of UNAWE will be to make economically disadvantaged young children aware of the beauty and scale of the Universe.
UNAWE will be inspirational and entertaining rather than to impart dry facts. The programme will make use of indigenous astronomy as well as dramatic images taken by the most advanced telescopes.
The tools and methods of UNAWE will be developed to reach as many children as possible.
The programme will adopt a "bottom-up" approach: the development and implementation of UNAWE will be driven by the needs and wishes of active educators in the target countries.
UNAWE will produce professionally developed tools, including songs, games, toys and animation films in a coordinated modular programme.
Universe Awareness will begin with the concept of Earth Awareness, emphasising that the child is a member of a diverse human family of children. We hope UNAWE will give children pride in their cultures and become aware of other cultures across the planet.
UNAWE will then introduce the perception of the Sun, the solar system, stars and galaxies. The realisation of the size of planet Earth will raise environmental awareness. Through excitement, adventure and wonder, children will be stimulated to appreciate the beauty and enormity of the Universe.
SETPOINT Greater Manchester supports the development of UNAWE in the UK and globally through developing astronomical edcuation based resources, providing lectures and curriculum based activities in schools across the UK and collaborating in Class Twinning projects with schools from around the world.
Programme details
The programme is specifically aimed at Primary school pupils between the ages of
4 to 11, although Secondary Teachers, educators and pupils over the age of 11 are encouraged to join the network of learners and education providers. A series of teacher training, CPD courses and children’s activities are planned to take place during the International Year of Astronomy 2009
The initiative has been devised in partnership with educators throughout the world within the current programme and consists of:
- Hands-on learning activities
- Games and Songs
- Live Internet e-Learning exchanges and international class twinning
- Resources and Multimedia Teaching Materials
- Cartoons, Exciting Adventure Stories, films and animations
- Teacher Training, INSET and CPD Courses
- Examples of current available resources such as the National Schools Observatory and the Faulkes Robotic Telescopes