Practical Astronomy Education for Secondary Students through Outreach Activities & Citizen Science

This is a poster presented at the 7th Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education, organised by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE, https://astro4edu.org/shaw-iau/7th-shaw-iau-workshop/).

Title: 
Practical Astronomy Education for Secondary Students through Outreach Activities & Citizen Science

Presenter:
Mohamed Aathil Abdullah (University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka)

Astronomy inspires scientific curiosity among students. In Sri Lanka, where many schools lack advanced resources, we developed a practical, inclusive model for secondary astronomy education. It combines hands-on activities, citizen science projects like SciStarter and Zooniverse, and cultural relevance through local star lore. Activities include night sky observations, interactive models, and crafts such as star wheels and sundials, helping students grasp abstract concepts. This approach empowers students to contribute to real research, boosts participation in astronomy clubs, and increases interest in STEM. Our low-cost, adaptable model offers effective strategies for diverse educational settings.

About the 7th Shaw-IAU Workshop:
The 7th Shaw-IAU Workshop took place 18 - 21 November 2025. The Shaw-IAU workshops focus on astronomy education for primary and secondary school students and teacher training both in universities and in service. This year's Education focus session on Teaching with authentic data and the Science focus is on Galaxies.

More details can be found on: https://astro4edu.org/shaw-iau/

Keep up to date with future Shaw-IAU Workshops and other opportunities at the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education by joining our mailing list https://astro4edu.org/mailing-list/

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