To infinity and beyond…

Year 8 students consider the marvels of the universe from ground control at Claremont High School 

For a few days in November, visitors to Ms Arbani’s classroom were able to explore the great beyond in a specially-curated exhibition called Earth and Space. 

Ms Arbani explains: ‘An amazing STEAM synoptic opportunity was created for Year 8 on the topic of “Earth and Space” - to create a poster on four extension aspects across the whole topic studied. The pupils were given the brief to design a poster that would not only enlighten the reader, but would also act as a key source of extended research and writing. The four quadrants had to incorporate: the phases of the Moon; the Large Hadron Collider CERN; the Hubble Telescope; and the Big Bang Theory.’ 

The project clearly had a significant impact on the Year 8 students taking part. 

‘The Earth and Space exhibition was amazing!’ says Emaan Abbas in 8.3. ‘It’s one of my favourite topics in Science and I was glad that I was able to learn all about it. We covered many great things throughout the topic - from the Moon’s phases, to Earth’s gravitational field. Every lesson was packed with intriguing information! I was also surprised to learn how the tilt of the Earth’s axis can affect our seasons. We created remarkable fact-files and eye-catching posters. Completing my poster filled me with pride and seeing the final result after so much effort was incredibly rewarding.’ 

‘I really enjoyed learning about Earth and Space,’ adds Arshia Duggal in 8.3, ‘because the lessons were different from our usual topics. I liked discovering new and interesting facts about the planets and the wider universe. I particularly enjoyed learning how everything in the solar system is interconnected. We learnt a variety of things - from how seasons are formed, to a clearer understanding of the relationship between the Earth, Moon and Sun. I was especially intrigued by how scientists investigate space using advanced technology, such as telescopes, satellites and space probes. I put a lot of time and effort into my poster, so when I saw it on display it felt very rewarding to have my efforts recognised.’ 

‘It has been nothing short of delightful to see all the amazing submissions,’ concludes Ms Arbani. ‘The standard of all the projects has been fantastic. The students should be very proud of their creative research projects!’