Eratosthenes’ experiment in Evangeliki Model High School of Smyrna

The Panhellenic school activity of calculating the radius of the Earth using the method of Eratosthenes was held with great success again this year on the day of the Vernal Equinox, Monday 20th March 2023. The action, organized by Panhellenic Association of Coordinators of the Experiment Centres of Natural Sciences, stands out among our school events in the recent years due to the large participation of students and teachers of all levels. Students from schools all over Greece calculate the circumference of the Earth by measuring the lengths of rods and their shadows, repeating the famous experiment of the ancient Greek mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher Eratosthenes. An experiment that is among the 10 most beautiful scientific experiments in the history of Physics.

The main objective of the action is to highlight the experiment, as an integral component of the educational process, through the participation of students and teachers in experiential, collaborative and discovery activities. The primary objectives of the action also include: the participation of students in an activity of great interest, the exchange of data and the interdisciplinary approach.

The activity of carrying out the historical experiment of Eratosthenes is particularly simple. But despite its simplicity, it is particularly impressive that it manages:

♦ to lead to established knowledge and acceptance of the value of the Sciences for the understanding of the universe,

♦ to effortlessly attract students’ interest and magnetize the thinking of many, so as to promote and cultivate their positive attitude towards Science.

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Our school once again participated in this nationwide action by including the experiment in the curriculum of the A Lyceum in combination with the measurement of the mass of the Earth. The whole activity was well received by the 108 students of Grade 1 who worked harmoniously in groups using appropriate instruments and detailed worksheets.

14 groups were created by the teachers, Mrs. Margarita Toulatou and Mrs. Maria Diakonou, in such a way that they were made up of students from different departments (two or one student from each department). Thus, the mood of cooperation between them was strengthened and they focused on the work that had been assigned to them.

The students cooperated extremely well with each other, and the supervising teachers did not have to intervene at all except in an advisory way. Time was counted with the timer of their mobile phones. The results were judged from very good to excellent, since errors ranged from 0.3% to 1.2%.

The implementation of the application was planned for the last two teaching hours, but the surprising thing was that everyone stayed until they handed in their completed worksheets even after the end of their school hours.

In order to carry out this teaching intervention, it was necessary to reform the program for the specific day and to cooperate with the colleagues who offered their teaching hours.

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1st Prize awarded to our school in the 7th Student Competition ‘The exhibits through the eyes of the students’, on the topic “The preparation of a medicine in times of pandemic”

The 1st Prize was awarded to a group of students from our school that participated in the 7th Student Competition ‘Exhibits through the eyes of the students’ on the topic “The preparation of a medicine in times of a pandemic”. The competition was organized by the Museum of History of the University of Athens (UoA) in collaboration with the Department of Pharmacy and the Museum of Pharmacology of the same University. The award ceremony took place on Monday, June 19, in the Museum of History of the UoA in Plaka, Athens.

We would like to thank the organizing committee of the competition for awarding our team and in particular the Director of Public Relations and History of the University of Athens – University of Athens Ms. Sotiria-Alexandra Sakellariou, the Head of the Department of Museums and Historical Archives of the EKPA. Mr. Evangelos Papoulia and the Curator – Museum Educator of The Athens University History Museum, Ms. F. Tsitou. We also thank the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Student Welfare Prof. Dimitrios Karadimas, Assoc. Prof. of Pharmacology H. Liapis and Mr. Assoc. Professor of Medicine Mr. I. St. Papadopoulos in charge of the Museum of Pharmacology.

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In the award ceremony

In order to participate in the competition, it was mandatory to make two visits: to the Museum of History of the UoA and to the Museum of Pharmacology (Department of Pharmacy) of the UoA, so that the students could be inspired by an exhibit of the museums and compose their work.

Our team was inspired by the book “Pharmacology and Prescribing” by G. Ioakeimoglou, which is exhibited in the Museum of History of the UoA and by the collection of Microscopes, which are exhibited in the Museum of Pharmacology, in order to develop the requirements for the competition. More specifically, the students of our school, working in small groups and under the supervision of their teachers, carried out the following:

Α. For the 1st section of the competition, they composed an original research paper on malaria as a past pandemic and a modern endemic disease. In it, they report statistical data on its spread, describe how it is transmitted, tell the interesting story of the discovery and isolation of artemisinin, which is the main drug for its treatment, and finally discuss the use of artemisia (the plant from which medicine was taken) as herb and drink.

Β. For the 2nd section of the competition, students produced the following:

  1. They printed the artemisinin molecule on the school’s 3D printer (Image 1). The molecule was designed in chemical compound design software and then the file was processed in 3D printing software. After it was printed, the necessary supports were removed, it was sanded and painted with the usual colors that represent the chemical elements.

Image 1: The printed artemisinin molecule

2. They created a poster (Image 2) about malaria so that the visitors of the museum would be informed.

Image 2: The poster

3. They created a stop-motion animation video, using sketches designed by a student (Image 3). They used a cellular phone for video and sound recording (Image 4) and software for video and image editing.

Image 3: Some of the sketches used in the video

Image 4: Making of the video

4. They created two quizzes for Android, with questions about the subject (Image 5) and accompanying poster (Image 6).

Image 5: Screenshots of the quizzes

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Image 6: Αccompanying poster for the quizzes

5. They created an electronic game inspired by the subject (Image 7), which the visitor can play any time online either on a computer or on a mobile device, as well as the accompanying poster with instructions (Image 8).

Image 7: Screenshot of the game

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Image 8: Accompanying poster for the game

6. They created a virtual museum, presenting in brief the bibliographic research about the subject, with the accompanying poster (Image 9). The narrations were recorded with a mobile phone.

Image 9: Poster for the virtual museum

The purpose of the team was for the students to examine malaria as a pandemic both in antiquity and in the modern world, as well as to study the chemical composition of the molecule artemisinin, which is also the active substance for fighting the disease. The students looked for statistics on the global presence of malaria that still makes it a pandemic. They also understood the mode of action of the active substance against the plasmodium that causes it.

Regarding Section B, the team wanted to emphasize interactivity and inclusion when touring the museum spaces, activating different senses of the visitor, who can follow our narrative virtually (remotely) , to view the 3D molecule of artemisinin and furthermore, to have “contact” with the museum even after the visit, by playing the game or trying the quizzes.

Our students imagined a museum that is different, interactive and friendly to everyone, making use of technology and this was the proposal they submitted to the competition.

Supervising teachers (in alphabetical order):

Chrysi Angelidou (Chemist), Christodoulos Makedonas (Chemist), Panagiota Ismini Matthe (ICT teacher)

A-class and B-class students who participated (in alphabetical order):

Section Α – Βibliographic Research

Myrsini-Efraimia Kana, Anna Manavopoulou, Maria Maratou, Anastasia Aikaterini Papanikolaou, Vasiliki Maria Patri, Ioulieta Perveli, Andriana Petropoulou, Anna-Maria Skourtia

Section B

Posters

Panagiotis Konstantopoulos, Loukia Despoina Moutousi, Vasiliki Maria Patri

Game

Ioannis Doumenis, Panagiotis Konstantopoulos

Quizzes

Dimitrios Dalamagkas, Despoina Partheniou, Anastasia Pilichou

Virtual Museum

Aikaterini Varou, Melina Dionysopoulou

3D printing

Iason Vaskas, Spyridon Sofoulis, Nefeli Iakovaki

Video – Image and sound editing

Themistoklis Konstantinidis, Panagiotis Martis, Maria Billa, Georgios Bouras, Konstantinos Papadopoulos, Panagiotis Fatseas

Designs – Sketches

Sofia Despoina Leka

 

Biology Action: familiarization with the laboratory

In this Biology Action participated 10 A class students with the aim to get familiarized with the biology laboratory and mainly their preparation for the EOES competition. The action meetings were held every Friday 2-4 p.m.

Participating students:

Gerakari Christianna, Georgaras Maximos, Zacharaki Penelope, Ioannou Nicholaos, Kaltsis Vasileios, Konstantinidi Maria, Sebos Rigas, Argyriou Nicholaos, Asprogerakas Christoforos, Georgaras Sergios, Tsintzou Anna-Bella, Chantzaridis Marios

Teacher in charge: Sevasti Vamvakopoulou, Biologist, MSc και MEd

‘Beauty in the modern city’ The photography competition has been completed!

We thank all the secondary and high school students who participated in the competition!

The winners of the competition are:

First prize, DJI Tello Drone Standard Kit Mini with a camera, cost: 108 euros, to Despoina Antigoni Katsadoraki, of the A1 high school class!

Second prize, FUJIFILM instax mini11 camera with a film, cost: 85 euros, to Calliope Karali, of the C2 high school class!

Third prize, FUJIFILM instax mini11 camera with a film, cost: 85 euros, to Vasileia Komisopoulou, of the C1 secondary school class!

Fourth prize, OLYMPUS Binoculars DPC I, cost: 65 euros, to Fotios Adamidis, of the Α1 secondary school class!

Fifth prize, Swissten SW32000400 Selfie Stick mobile phone tripod, cost: 30 euros, to Sofia Despoina Lekka of the A2 high school class!

Sixth prize, GorillaPod Mobile Mini mobile phone tripod, cost 15 euros, Angeliki Tasika, of the Β3 secondary school class!

Seventh prize, GorillaPod Mobile Mini mobile phone tripod, cost 15 euros, to Christos Bezirgiannidis, of the B3 high school class!

Click here to view all the photographs.

We thank the high school headmaster Mr. Christos Fanidis, the high school teacher Mr. Sotirios Kollias and the secondary school teacher Mrs. Antigoni Laskaridou for the invaluable participation and help in the organization of the competition in collaboration with the High School Parents’ Association as well as the parent Mrs. Lena Kasabalidou, for the initial conception and her essential help in the realization of the competition!

The competition prizes were offered by the High School Parents’ Association and by individual parents. We deeply thank them!

The award ceremony will be held during the following school year and soon will be posted all the participations.

The Organising Committee

Educational visit in the cosmetics factory of APIVITA

On Thursday 6 April 2023, a group of B and C class students visited the headquarters of APIVITA Cosmetology Company in Markopoulos, Attica, Greece.

The educational visit took place within the framework of the action organized by the school Chemistry teacher Dr. C. Angelidou, with the aim to connect the science of Chemistry with the job market.

During the visit was realized a presentation of the company as well as the students’ guided tour in the production and laboratory control auspices.

The students were accompanied by the school teachers C. Angelidou, E. Arnaouti, G. Thodis.

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School Mediation

School Mediation is a process of peaceful solving of arguments or conflicts between two members of the student community with the help of two (specially trained) mediators.

The training of students as mediators was realized this school year within the framework of the School Mediation Action. Today our school has about 10 trained student-mediators who will take up mediation between other students in conflict.

For the School Mediation Team

The teacher in charge

Miltiadis Bizbianos

Event of the school Reading Club

On Friday 12/05/2023, Evangeliki Model High School of Smyrna?s Reading Club, organized by the teacher E. Karimali, hosted Mrs. Anna Afentoulidou, a distinguished Greek Language teacher and poet, who works in the Institute of Educational Policy, in the Sector of Humanities and Letters as a substitute coordinator of the Special Education Field.

During her visit, the A2 class students and the students of the Reading Club participated in a 2-teaching hour Poetry Workshop that the visitor conducted. During the first teaching hour was realised the analysis of her poem ?Game? (?Παίγνιον?) from her poetry collection ?Stories of Iconic Balance? (editions Gabriel), while during the second teaching hour students worked on Poetry Creative Writing under the poet?s guidance.

I deeply thank Mrs. Afentoulidou for the unique opportunity she offered to the students to participate in an experiential analysis of her poetic work as well as in the creation of their own poem. After discussing with her, we aim at future extended collaboration with her in the framework of the Reading Club during the following school year.

Evangelia Karimali

Distinction of our student in the Panhellenic Chemistry Competition

Congratulations to our A class student Danae Prousalidi for taking the 9th place in the Panhellenic Student Chemistry Competition, after the end of the competition B stage. Danae will be awarded a prize in a special ceremony organized by the Hellenic Chemists? Association.

You can see the competition results here:

https://www.eex.gr/news/anakoinwseis/2888-anakoinosi-diakrithenton-36ou-pmdx-a-lukeiou