Cheadle Moon: The Impact of Mary Blagg
In March 2024, The MoSAIC created and delivered a bespoke STEAM workshop about Moon mapping for Outside Arts. We explored the work of pioneering astronomer and selenographer Mary Blagg in the church where she is buried in Cheadle.
x
A Hunt for the Crater Named Blagg
120 Cheadle Academy students from years 7-10 joined The MoSAIC’s founder, Gaz, to use poetry, visual art and cartography to locate the 5km crater named in Mary Blagg’s honour on the visiting Museum of the Moon. Luke Jerram’s stunning 6m diameter scale model of the Moon was in Cheadle to celebrate the life of local hero Blagg. At only 0.8cm in diameter on the model, the crater hunt was no easy task but with their new map making skills most students were able to locate this fitting tribute to the person who helped standardise the names of the Moon’s physical features.
Feedback
Students from Cheadle Academy wrote three words to sum up their experience of this workshop.
-
“I thought that Gaz was very good he explained tasks wonderfully, he was funny and friendly the activities were fun and the moon looks quite cool.”
Student participant -
“I found this enjoyable and nice to do something different and learn new things”
Student participant -
“I think I am a selenographer I really like Mary Blagg i think she’s cool”
Student Participant
“The MoSAIC responded brilliantly to the unique heritage and story of Mary Blagg by creating a bespoke package for schools to be delivered under Cheadle Moon. We were thrilled at the responses from the Year 7 and 8 students and how they creatively engaged in selenography as part of our broad wrap around programme. It has been wonderful to see how young local people have been inspired by a such a pioneering woman from their own community.”
Diana Hamilton
Creative Communities Producer: OUTSIDE
A Giant Gender Gap
Less than 2% of lunar craters named after people are named in honour of women. Using the artwork of SETI artist-in-residence Bettina Forget, students in the extended workshop can experience making crater sculptures to highlight this gender gap. Learning about one of the incredible 32 women who have a named crater and crafting clay sculptures to scale using imagery from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Forget’s stunning drawings.
“Such a wonderful project! I’m impressed by the participant’s artworks!”
Beyond Cheadle…
Using a high resolution photo of the Moon instead of Luke Jerram’s model we are continuing this activity with secondary school groups across the UK. This is a challenging activity that will push student’s numeracy and drawing skills in a fun and engaging way. It is a perfect accompaniment for students learning about bearings in Maths.
Skills that this workshop fosters:
Creativity
Problem solving
Scale drawing
Measurement
Resilience
Sculpture
“The workshop was wonderful - you have an amazing gift with young people to inspire and nurture curiosity. SO GOOD!”
Jo Sweetland
STREAMS Learning Hub