Once upon a time, in a galaxy not so far away, there were a group of Farleigh children who were dreaming of exploring the wonders of the universe, from dazzling stars to mysterious planets. With the help of the Explorer Dome, Year 7 blasted off into the cosmos. The stars whizzed by as they soared through the Milky Way, passing colourful nebulae and shimmering galaxies along the way. The first stop was the Moon, where Year 7 marvelled at the vast lunar landscape and bounced around in the low gravity. Next, they zoomed past the red planet, Mars, where they imagined what it would be like to explore its’ rusty terrain. As the journey took us deeper into space, Year 7 encountered all sorts of celestial wonders such as majestic rings of Saturn, where icy particles shimmered like diamonds in the sunlight. One of the most thrilling parts of the journey was when we were told about swirling black holes, its gravitational pull tugging at the very fabric of space and time. Did you know that if you fell into a black hole you would go through the process of ‘spaghettification?’ This is when you are stretched so much you look like spaghetti! Weird, right?!

Our journey through space was made possible thanks to some of the amazing images supplied by the James Webb Space Telescope. With its revolutionary design and cutting-edge technology, JWST promises to unveil the deepest secrets of space, peering back in time to the earliest galaxies and shedding light on the formation of stars and planetary systems. Equipped with a massive, segmented mirror and advanced instruments capable of detecting the faintest glimmers of light, JWST will revolutionise our understanding of the cosmos, offering unprecedented insights into the origins of the universe and our place within it.

Once we had concluded our journey through space, we then learnt about the signs of the Zodiac, and how they are rooted in ancient cultures and mythology. They serve as symbolic markers along the celestial sphere, each associated with specific constellations of stars. From Aries to Pisces, these twelve astrological signs are said to influence human personality traits and destinies based on the position of the Sun during one's birth. Associated with each sign are corresponding groupings of stars, known as constellations, which serve as celestial backdrops for the Sun's apparent path throughout the year. These stars, though often distant and seemingly immutable, have captivated human imagination for millennia, inspiring stories, myths, and a deep sense of wonder about our place in the cosmos.

What an exciting adventure for Year 7!

Victoria Rogerson, Head of Science