Students from the Hospital Class of the Children's Oncology visit the Science Center and Planetarium of Pará
Children and adolescents participated in a session at the Kwarahy projection dome and enjoyed experiences in different areas of natural sciences
On this Thursday (15), students from the Hospital Class Professor Roberto França, of the Octávio Lobo Children's Oncology Hospital (Hoiol), visited the Science Center and Planetarium of Pará (CCPPA), at the State University of Pará (Uepa). Accompanied by their guardians and professionals from the class and the health unit, the students observed experiments and participated in a session at the Kwarahy projection dome, an equipment whose name in Tupi-Guarani means sun, and is responsible for enhancing the immersion of viewers in a visual journey through the universe.
With more than 11m in diameter and capacity to accommodate 105 people per session, the dome of the Pará planetarium features the Zeiss Skymaster ZKP-3 projector. It was through this device that the audience observed more than 7,000 stars, as well as the moon, planets, and galaxies. “This activity was very good for increasing the children's knowledge and also for them to get out of the 'hospital world'. I liked seeing the stars, learning their names and the names of the constellations,” said housewife Adaly Oliveira, 25, mother of Wallace, 7 years old. The child is fighting leukemia and is one of the 47 students attending the hospital class at Hoiol.
In addition to the journey through the solar system, the excursion provided other moments of learning and fun for parents and students. Highlights included scientific demonstrations that delighted students like little Thayla Brito, 10 years old. “I really liked the little stars and the planets. I also liked the part with the little animals, the butterflies, the grasshoppers, the snakes, and the experiments with a fire that changed colors. It was a way for us to learn more about and appreciate our planet and science,” she stated.
Educational mission - The Pará Planetarium “Sebastião Sodré da Gama” was opened in September 1999 and expanded its activities in 2012 with the creation of the Science Center, which allowed the integration of different areas of natural sciences. The teacher responsible for the class at Hoiol, Anna Elvira dos Santos, explains that the pedagogical activity at the site is part of the educational project entitled “Hospital Education Sowing Knowledge in the Amazon II,” executed at the unit.
“The visit to the planetarium is a field trip that is part of our annual project and encompasses all components of natural science and mathematics. Here at the Planetarium, students see, in practice, everything studied in theory. The experiments conducted here allow for better assimilation of the content we cover in the classroom,” said the educator.
It is worth noting that since the inauguration of the Octávio Lobo Hospital in 2015, users of the unit have access to a conducive environment for learning. The hospital class Prof. Roberto França is the result of a technical cooperation agreement with the State Department of Education (Seduc). And through the Hospital and Home Educational Care Program (AEHD), linked to the Special Education Coordination (Coees) of Seduc, inclusive actions are guaranteed that respect everyone's right to education, culture, and the enchantment of knowledge.
“I think these experiences are very important for the educational development of our children, who are very curious and feel good visiting other places,” said Sandrielly Couto, 29, mother of one of the students in the class. “At the planetarium, I saw things I never imagined I would see. It is very different to observe the planets and stars in such detail. It was very important for my son, but also for me, you know? I also saw animals that I had never seen in person, and so close. Everything is interesting in that place,” added Fernanda do Nascimento, 38, mother of another student.
Service - Accredited as a High Complexity Unit in Oncology, the Octávio Lobo Children's Oncology Hospital is a reference in the Northern region for the diagnosis and specialized treatment of childhood and adolescent cancer, in the age group from 0 to 19 years. The unit is managed by the Instituto Diretrizes, under a management contract with the State Department of Public Health, and serves patients from the 144 municipalities of Pará and neighboring states.
Text: Ellyson Ramos/Ascom Hoiol
