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Upper secondary school

Inspirational visit

The staff plan the inspirational visit by selecting from a range of activities and the programme is presented at your arrival.

Teambuilding with a pentathlon

The pupils are divided into teams and challenge each other in a pentathlon. Our staff start things off with a gathering and presentation. Then the team cooperates and collects points at a number of selected experiment stations. The pentathlon can be organised on different themes: energy, water, MAX IV, mathematics, or as a mixed pentathlon. A student guide give guidance and awards points supervises each team. The pentathlon ends with a symbolic prize-giving ceremony. 



Astronomy

Across the dome of the planetarium, we show a simulation of our universe that is based on astrophysical data from the world’s land-based and space-based telescopes. You are welcome to visit us and meet an astronomer from the Department of Astronomy and Theoretical Physics. You can discuss astrophysical phenomena such as the universe’s size and scale, star and planet formation, star life cycles, observation techniques or other current topics in astronomy. Visitors are always encouraged to ask their questions during the visit, as this can steer the discussion to the knowledge and interest level that is suitable for your group.  

A standard visit to the planetarium takes around one hour, but it is possible to book a longer visit (1-3 hours), which will be tailored to your knowledge and interest level by the planetarium’s astronomer. You can also combine a show in the planetarium with an experimental visit in Vattenhallen.

If there is an interest, our astronomer can arrange a study visit to the Department of Astronomy and Theoretical Physics or a practical orientation exercise under the stars. If you choose to come for a longer visit, our astronomer can also arrange actual astronomical observations via a remote-controlled telescope on the other side of the Earth (please note that this is a weather-dependent activity that can only be carried out in the mornings). 

For a longer visit or a more in-depth astronomy session, please fill in the "Other requests" section in the email form and you will be contacted by our staff. 

Earth and geology

In the exhibition, Earth and the Climate through the Ages, the pupils take part in a climate expedition to see how the climate has changed through the ages.

During the expedition we find out more about the carbon cycle, Agenda 2030 and the Global Goals. We carry out laboratory sessions with air and water, fossils and impressions, simulate earthquakes, examine the effects of the Gulf Stream and simulate mine operation and investigate its impact on water, soil and the climate. 


Earth and the climate

The pupils take part in a climate expedition in the exhibition, Earth and the Climate through the Ages, to see how the climate has changed through the ages.

During the expedition we find out more about the history of the Earth, explosions of life, mass extinctions, the connection between the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide level and temperature, and more about the carbon cycle, Agenda 2030 and the Global Goals.

The pupils carry out laboratory sessions and exercises using Escape experiences and VR (Virtual Reality) games. The exercises make the pupils aware of how humankind is affected by water shortage and agriculture. In addition, they gain an insight into how researchers create models to predict the future climate. 


Energy and sustainability

The visit includes two station exercises and a guided tour of our energy experiments. The station exercises entail a laboratory session using our climate chamber and wind turbine. Sensors in the climate chamber measure the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, heat and humidity. By taking different measurements and comparing the results, for example, human subject and light bulb, the energy in a human body is calculated. At the station, discussion also focuses on metabolism and the connection with photosynthesis.

The exercise with the wind turbine tests the energy effects of the number of blades, their shapes and angles. The pupils will also make calculations on the conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy, using our pedal bikes. 

Thermal camera exercises are carried out in small groups. The pupils uses hand-held cameras to take different measurements. We summarise and discuss the results.

At our experiment station for water, the pupils can, for example, calculate energy conversions, experience the Archimedes principle and follow water through a purification plant. Terms such as static and kinetic energy, chemical precipitation and bio-degradation are discussed and the pupils get the opportunity to take measurements, analyse results and think about solutions for various water purification processes and water energy systems. 

After the laboratory sessions, they compile, compare and check the results in order to then draw their own conclusions. The scientific working method is practiced while the pupils’ ability to analyse and comprehend is developed.


Construction

We use ForcePad and Bridge Designer software to give the pupils and introduction to strength. Thereafter, they build bridges or aircrafts using the construction material, 4DFrame, and test the strength of the bridges or aircraft in practice.

We challenge the pupils’ problem-solving abilities as they construct their own machines, more advanced constructions, that can move with the wind and in which several moving parts can transfer motion to other functions. These exercises give the pupils the chance to develop their abilities in mechanics.

We discussed and analyse the constructions in the group and with the supervisor.


Life Science

The pupils receive a short introduction and guidance through the exhibitions ESS & MAX IV, Medicon Alley and The Digestive System. After the introduction, the pupils can experiment and learn more about the exhibitions by exploring on their own.  

Max IV & ESS can be described as two giant microscopes – but much better.

ESS & MAX IV use neutrons and synchrotron light respectively to look inside the body and material’s smallest component parts such as cells and proteins. At the experiment stations, where ping-pong balls, iron balls and golf balls represent electrons, protons and neutrons, we can release electrons in the cannon, compete for the best time on the linear accelerator, shoot protons in the spallation experiment and tickle electrons in the storage ring.

Through these interactive experiments, you can get a feel for, and an insight into, current and future research at two of the most advanced material research facilities in the world.

Medicon Alley is an exhibition that lets you see inside the human body with an increasing degree of detail. Today we can discover diseases at an earlier stage and treat them with greater precision.

The aim of the Medicon Alley exhibition is to provide a fun and inspiring way to show how ingeniously the latest technology can be used to prevent and cure diseases. You can check out what various medical techniques entail by trying ultrasound, keyhole surgery operations or ECG. You can also get a sense of how the inside of the body is viewed using current medical technology or try out equipment used at a healthcare clinic.

The climate chamber is used to describe cell respiration in a concrete way.  

You crawl inside the climate chamber and can experience what happens in the world of the air molecules. The climate chamber registers temperature, humidity, oxygen content and carbon dioxide content, over time. You then take measurements showing how the temperature changes over time, in order to calculate the specific heat capacity of the chamber. The experiment concludes by determining the effect on yourselves and then comparing with the change in carbon dioxide.

This experiment increases scientific analysis skills and the understanding of inner respiration and those processes that lead to the cells using energy that becomes available through the consumption of oxygen.

The Digestive System is an interactive exhibition in the form of a journey through the entire digestive system, from the mouth, all the way to the rectum.

On the journey, you will see what happens when we get dental cavities, send signals to the salivary glands and experience peristalsis in the oesophagus. You can investigate the super-acidic stomach, and find out what intestinal villi are and why they are so important. You will also visit bacteria, the intestines’ most important and most numerous inhabitants and learn more about research into food, health and nutrients currently being conducted at Lund University.

This journey develops an understanding of the most common nutrients’ functions, which organs work together with the digestive system, and how the body and our health is affected by what we eat. 


Robot programming

The pupils receive an introduction to, and guidance in our various programming exercises. The exercises are designed so that everyone can understand the programming according to their own level. They get the chance to develop abilities such as solving problems, grasping concepts, and analysis. They work individually or in pairs under the supervision of a knowledgeable student. 

The materials used in these exercises are called ArduinoLego MindstormsKojoMicro:bit, Python and Edison. There are various levels of difficulty, for beginners and for those with more experience.

Arduino is a platform for computers to sense and control more of the physical world than a stationary computer. It is a physical platform with open source code. Using Arduino, you develop an understanding of programming by coding the software for the card. Arduino can be used to create and program installations that can light up, flash, move and sense the surroundings. Arduino can control everything from robots to everyday objects such as washing machines, lamps and motors. There are a many ideas about how Arduino can be used and you can see on their blog what other people have created with this material!

Lego Mindstorms is programmed using modules in the kit’s own software. You control the Lego robots by inputting your values for each selected module, thus making the robot perform the desired movements. Your task is to get the Lego robot to go around a course without going outside the markings.

Kojo creates conditions for deepening your understanding of coding in the programming language Scala. Controlling the turtle on the computer screen, using simple code, rapidly develops your understanding of programming. In a playful way, you solve various tasks and can quickly improve and develop your programming ideas.

The Micro:bit is a tiny computer that makes coding tangible and promotes digital creativity. The pupils create a program to tell it what to do using an online code editors, and download it to your Micro:bit.

With programming in Python, we start with some simple assignments in the online environment Repl.it. The pupils learn about sequences, loops, functions and at the same time practice geometry and coordinate systems.

With the Edison robot, students get access to different programming environments, block programming or the scripting language Python and can quickly get started with programming at the same time as they get to know key concepts in programming.
 

A film about how automatic control can work. From a course for teachers, fall 2014 (mp4).


Virtual tour in the Planetarium

Shows at the Planetarium are given by astronomers from Lund Observatory, who will happily answer your cosmic questions.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions we have had to reduce the number of seats in the planetarium and are therefore recommending virtual visits to upper secondary schools at this time. 

A virtual planetarium visit takes about an hour and is arranged as a meeting with an astronomer from Lund Observatory, via zoom.  In many ways it resembles the online education that is currently being undertaken at Lund University, but the content is adjusted to fit the knowledge level and interest of your pupils. Feel free to contact us for additional details. 


Vattenhallen – Booking request Upper Secondary School

School visits - Upper Secondary School

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Information

Prices - visit 2 hours

Public Schools in Lund municipality*:
60 sek per child/teenager (minimum charge 720 sek)

Others:
80 sek per child/teenager (minimum charge 960 sek)

Accompanying adults enter free of charge. Tax (moms 25%) is not included in the prizes.

Your visit at Vattenhallen can be combined with a short planetary tour, within the timeframe of your booked visit. If you are interested, please state this in the booking form. 

Note: all visits are booked via the booking form. 

* this includes all Public Preeschools, Elementary Schools, Upper Secondary schools as well as the International School (ISLK) run by Lund municipality.


Astronomy visit 1 hour - 800 sek 
The planetarium can accommodate up to 30 people and 1 wheelchair. 



Technology projects

Technology projects are aimed at pupils in secondary and upper secondary school and go on for about 3 weeks. This visit is planned and booked in consultation with educators in Vattenhallen. 
More info about: 
Technology projects

Page Manager: Vattenhallen Science Center | 2021-08-11