https://padlet.com/nunolanca/vsiw84mu67wo Teaching with Space and Astronomy in your Classroom course en-us 2016-09-10 22:05:39 UTC 2025-10-02 21:25:23 UTC hello@padlet.com nunolanca https://padlet.com/nunolanca/vsiw84mu67wo/wish/122983848 As a middle school science teacher in Portugal, I'm proud to say that space has been part of my teaching practices for the past twenty years. The class I teach has its focus on Astronomy, general Physics and Chemistry, but also topics relating science and technology to society and the environment (STSE). I don't claim that space IS the focus of my classes, but I try to relate the content I teach, as much as possible, with space science/technology.
Back in 2001, a profound curricular reform happened in Portugal, creating a new framework for teachers to approach subjects in science. Teachers were encouraged to move from a content focused approach to a more embracing approach, with a particular look on society and the environment. 
Space offers opportunities to discuss important social aspects of science and, like in my generation back in the 60's and 70's, set ambitious goals that can be taken as life projects by our students.
I have been using the ISS Education Programme materials provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) since 2005, particularly the video series in DVD, called "Newton in Space". These materials brought space and the classroom together, showing the same experiments performed by astronauts in space and students on Earth.
A decisive moment happened in my classes back in 2009, when the astronaut Frank De Winne began answering questions from all over the world, almost live from the International Space Station (ISS) on Youtube. Suddenly, the distant actors of the space program were just a few clicks on the Internet away from the students, and I felt that a strong connection could be established, if correctly nourished in my classes.
I have, ever since, tried to shake students out of their comfort zone, particularly girls, challenging them to pursue careers in science/technology like the astronauts Pedro Duque (from our neighbor country Spain), and Samantha Cristoforetti (the fearless Italian that after some serious setbacks in the ISS became, involuntary, the woman with the longest stay in space). Kids need these role models with which they can relate. So do I!]]> 2016-09-11 21:25:09 UTC https://padlet.com/nunolanca/vsiw84mu67wo/wish/122983848 nunolanca https://padlet.com/nunolanca/vsiw84mu67wo/wish/122987132 I was born back in 1967, and by the time the Apollo landings were taking place, I was still a young child. Nevertheless, I distinctly remember seeing the excitement around the telly as my family watched recordings on the news at that time. I remember looking  at those beautiful colored pictures taken during the Apollo 11 mission, just published in books here in Portugal. The famous Niel Armstrong footprint!
Almost fifty years later, I bring daily news about space exploration to my classroom routinely and try to spark the excitement on my students about this topic. This is particularly relevant when I hear them asking what is the point of spending money while there are so many problems to solve here on Earth. Would Christopher Columbus turn his ship back at the sight of new land?
Did we, as mankind, benefited from the discovery of the americas?

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