According to the UNAWE Mozambique team, learning astronomy can be an exploration in global art, as well as a lesson in science! Led by Cláudio Moisés Paulo, physics professor at Eduardo Mondlane University, UNAWE Mozambique emerged in 2009 after several successful projects with the International Year of Astronomy.
In the past year, with the help from Brazilian astronomer Paulo Oliveira, UNAWE Mozambique traveled to different primary schools in Maputo and Beira, teaching astronomy through hands-on activities such as creating origami sunbeams. By using origami as a teaching technique, children practiced their fine motor skills, developed an understanding for geometry, engaged with a different culture, and learned about the Sun.
From this activity, students also understood how simple building techniques can be extremely useful. For example, as the children learned, Miura origami, a rigid metal folding technique, has been used on the space grids of satellite solar panels!
The UNAWE Mozambique team is planning more events for this coming August. We look forward to hearing about their success!
Share:
