Trip to the Royal Observatory

Children in year 5 and 6 went to the world’s centre of time as they visited the Royal Observatory to explore the significance of establishing the longitude. Children shared pivotal moments with their peers on the Meridian line as they stood aside the eastern and western hemisphere. Children also discovered how significant the sense of direction was to Muslims as Islam spread and the need to face the Qibla became a scientific geographic inquiry. They discovered how the British government had encouraged the community to find the best solution to invent a mechanism to establish the longitude for sailors who went put to sea. Children also enjoyed the show at the Planetarium which contextualised children’s learning of Earth and Space which was a wonderful way to end the term.