Discovery Planet

Discovery Planet
Jan 9, 2002, 2:23am

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After the lectures are complete, students have a hands-on museum experience.

The travelling show visiting Discovery Planet is a series of different sites for lecture with question and answer.

Discovery Planet, downtown Beirut’s science museum, hosts traveling exhibits and shows from time to time. A recent interactive show from France was the destination of Ain Aar students from grades 4 through 9 and huitième à troisème. The show is a dynamic and informative astronomy lesson visiting Beirut thanks to a partnership between “Cité de Sciences et de l’Industric” and Discovery Planet. The student field trip is thanks to the coordination of the science and social studies departments for enrichment of students’ general knowledge.
The exhibit/show is designed as several short visits at various sites arranged in a large open space on the museum floor. Each site demonstrates a different point of interest related to astronomy ranging from history of discovery and discoverers to physical relationships of heavenly bodies. Small groups of students move from site to site while a teaching member of the museum staff lectures at each one using scientific instruments, maps, models, photos and diagrams germane to her topic. Students then have an opportunity to touch and manipulate the lecture props for the advantages of hands-on learning.

By employing their sense of touch, students increase retention of their learning.