Life on Mars for St Bede’s pupils

Budding astronomers were able to visit Mars – or, at least a piece of it – when they enjoyed a trip to the Kielder Observatory.

The 17 Key Stage 2 pupils from St Bede’s Catholic Primary in Bedlington were given a tour of the observatory, which is located in the Kielder Forest close to the Scottish border, and opened as an outreach astronomical facility in 2008, hosting around 40 public events a month.

Year 5 Teacher Olivia Jarvis leads the school’s Space Club and accompanied the children on the excursion.

“We were taken on a tour of the observatory and were welcomed by two members of their team, Adam and James,” she said.

“The children were taken to the Sir Patrick Moore Observatory, where they were able to look through a telescope and view the sun. They were also able to look through another telescope, where they were able to view astrophotography images of the moon, including close ups of the surface, and images of other planets in our solar system.

“We then went to the Caroline Herschel Observatory, where the children were able to look in another telescope and view Jupiter.”

The pupils, who ranged from Years 3 to 6 at the school, also took part in some hands-on activities, which linked to their classroom studies.

Miss Jarvis continued: “Finally, we took part in a workshop all about space rocks. The children were able to view meteorites that were over four billion years old, and even stand on a meteorite from Mars – so, technically, they stood on Mars!

“It tied in with Year 3’s Science topic of rocks, and Year 5’s Science topic of space.”

It was the first time St Bede’s had visited the observatory, but there are plans for a return trip.

Miss Jarvis added: “This was the first time we have led this club and taken the trip, but it will be one we are eager to continue in the future, as it has been absolutely fantastic.

“These trips are incredibly important, because these are experiences that not all children are able to have. These trips show children potential jobs and careers they may want to pursue in the future – ones that, without the trip, they would never even have known about or considered.

“Doing something like this has allowed children with a real love of space and the unknown to develop their love further. The children left this trip inspired and excited about further space learning in the future.”