History of Rockets- World Space Week

NC. "E. Gojdu",October 7-th in Oradea, Romania

I organized in my school, an educational activity during World Space Week October 4-10 "History of rockets".
Space for Education is the theme for this year. In my school I talked about rockets, Newton's laws, and my students loves to see the journey to the Moon of three brave men in Saturn V. I utilised "We choose the Moon" and my students understand each stage in this historical event.
We returned safe on Earth.
In the end of this activity, we launched a rocket in the schoolyard, to better explain the physical principles behind its operation.

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

Oradea, September 16-th 2009

I organized in my school an activity and my students deepens the concepts learned in chemistry lessons: ozone, ozone layer, greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases. Students become aware of the importance of protecting the ozone layer in the stratosphere, and know what are the effects if the ozone layer thins.

September 16 marks the International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, declared by the United Nations to commemorate the date when the Montreal Protocol was signed to ban use of ozone depleting chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Scientists are tracking the size and depth of the ozone hole with observations from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument on NASA's Aura spacecraft, the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment on the European Space Agency's ERS-2 spacecraft, and the Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet instrument on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's NOAA-16 satellite.

The depth and area of the ozone hole are governed by the amount of chlorine and bromine in the Antarctic stratosphere. Over the southern winter, polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) form in the extreme cold of the atmosphere, and chlorine gases react on the cloud particles to release chlorine into a form that can easily destroy ozone. When the sun rises in August after months of seasonal polar darkness, the sunlight heats the clouds and catalyzes the chemical reactions that deplete the ozone layer. The ozone hole begins to grow in August and reaches its largest area in late September to early October.

The measures taken by nations in time to stop ozone layer, by teacher Valentina Matei in her PowerPoint presentation "Ozone and ozone layer". Finally, students watched a movie with NASA's AURA spacecraft, launched by NASA in July 2004, and has important mission to monitor the ozone in the stratosphere.

They also received a badge from the Oradea City Hall in the "European Mobility Week" held between 16-22 September 2009.





Andra Filimon and Diana Cacuci' s painting:

To the Moon and beyond

The Fortress of Oradea, July 17-th 2009

Attended the public present in the first part of the program, the demonstration "Earth-Moon-Mars" supported by Mitchell Franklin, science teacher at Northside Middle School in Greenwood, South Carolina, USA. Followed by physics teacher Marin Bica from "Dacia" School, who presented his work "Determination of distances in our solar system"."The Constellation" presented by Valentina Matei introduced audience in the preparations taking place for the returning to the Moon and expanding the human presence to Mars. It is about designing, building and testing a new generation of rocket, Ares I and Ares V, the Altair lunar module and the Orion spacecraft. The new rover will provide  transport crew and equipment on the Moon to the next landing planned to take place by 2020. Some of the our astroclub activities  were presented by Nicoleta Pazmany, president of Meridian 0 astroclub.
Finally, those present watched a movie with NASA missions, which presented the most important moments of the Apollo 11, and accounts of the two astronauts: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. 

One giant leap for mankind

The Children's Town, Oradea, July 16, 2009 The first step on the Moon is one of the greatest achievements of mankind. Three brave men who have exceeded their limits, was launched towards the Moon on July 16-th, 1969. Two of them have reached the Moon, four days later Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. 40 years after this historic event, I talked about Apollo 11 mission and together we review the most important moments of this mission. "Little astronauts" have to perform spatial tasks. Next were trained, dancing on the Buzz Aldrin's song -Rocket Experience. Teacher Dorina Szatmari from "N. Balcescu" School, used an ingenious method by which children learn the planets of our solar system. A delicious ... Solar System Fruit. I talked about an unforgettable experience Honeywell Educators at Space Academy. Special guest of this activity was Mr. Franklin Mitchell, science teacher in Greenwood, South Carolina, USA. And for children who have fulfilled the mission a surprise ... 

... 5,4,3,2,1 LIFT OFF!!!

One giant leap for mankind- Apollo 11

The Fortress of Oradea, May 29-th 2009

Multi-purpose Hall of the Fortress, gathered Friday, May 29-th, students, parents, teachers from several schools Oradea, who participated in the anniversary activity "One giant leap for mankind-Apollo 11". This year, on July 20-th we celebrate 40 years of one of the most important events of the twentieth century: the first step of man on the Moon.
The activity began with the presentation of "Apollo Program" by Anna-Maria Georgieş, student from CN "M Eminescu", program which was carried 12 astronauts landing in the Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17. The activity continued with the presentation of Valentina Matei teacher "A giant leap for mankind-Apollo 11" which highlighted aspects of the mission of three astronauts, scientific instruments and experiments conducted during this mission. Those present were able to watch the original video, taken by NASA, the Saturn V rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center, the famous "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" Neil Armstrong said and the dialogue by telephone White House, when two astronauts are on the Moon spoke with the then U.S. President, Richard Nixon.
Ms. Viorica Galis, physics teacher at School "Dimitrie Cantemir" explained the physical forces of friction, very useful, since students were grouped into four crews and built lunar rovers constructed of... cakes, cookies and candies. 

 Dorina Szatmári teacher opened the series of new activities based on SF literature. The start was given by the novel "From Earth to the Moon" the French writer Jules Verne. Students divided into teams, were given passages containing scientific information of famous novel, accompanied by explanations. Students have done a test with basic questions of what was presented. All crews have achieved high scores, proving that followed closely and have mastered the concepts presented. Maximum points and prize - a volume "From the Earth to the Moon" was produced by the team of "Extra Astronomy".

Viorel Muscas teacher presented images of the Apollo lunar landing sites and extravehicular activities carried out by astronauts.

Apollo 11 mission, a historic event reminiscent not only of courage, intelligence and talent of a nation, but especially the fact that people, when they have lofty ideals, can achieve remarkable things. 

Yuri's Night

The Fortress of Oradea, April 10, 2009.

On 1961 April 12, Yuri Gagarin make first space flight.
The first space shuttle was launched into space on April 12, 1981.

On this occasion I organized in the Fortress of Oradea an activity to bring the memory of two events.
First, powerpoint presentations were given by teachers and students from Meridian 0 and "Oltea Doamna" School from Oradea. Practical activities of the students about the stages that follow a space shuttle when it launch in space.

Children have built solar cadran.

100 Hours of Astronomy

C.N. "E. Gojdu", L.T. "L. Blaga", "Dacia" School, The Fortress of Oradea, April 3, 2009.

A tour through several schools and colleges in Oradea, in order to attract students in the wonderful world of astronomy.
1. C.N. "E. Gojdu", 10 a.m.
2. L.T. "L. Blaga", 12 noon.
3. "Dacia" School, 2 p.m.
4. The Fortress of Oradea, 7 p.m.

The students and the teachers from Meridian 0, prepared in powerpoint presentations:
History of Astronomy -teacher Marin Bica
NASA projects -teacher Valentina Matei
Spitzer space telescope-student Cristian Lazar
Apollo Program-student Georgies Anna Maria
Send your name to Mars- Teacher Valentina Matei.








In the evening, the clear skies allowed us out with telescopes in Independence Square.