YOUNGSTERS at Anstey Junior School went into space this week inside a portable planetarium in the school hall.
The inflatable Learning Dome was packed with excited pupils from Years 5 and 6, as they were taken on galactical journeys by Matthew Hume, who used projected images and models of the sun and moon to create a night sky on the walls and ceiling of the darkened dome.
As part of their work on 'the Earth and Beyond', pupils were able to see the major planets, the phases of the moon as well as the stars and constellations such as the Plough and Orion, while the Earth's rotation and orbit, its axis and the changing of the seasons, were also vividly illustrated.
"At Anstey we place high value on the importance of children learning from practical experience within real contexts," said Tony Jones, acting headteacher. "The Learning Dome provided an excellent opportunity for children to experience the awe and wonder of science – it is an experience they will never forget."
After one of the sessions, Sue Abraham, a teaching assistant said: "It was wonderful and very informative.
"The children listened well and were interested every second.
"There was a real wow factor to the whole thing."