Introduce astronomy and ATM to kids (slightly OT)

[Bob Prabowo <BOB@bahana.co.id>]

Hi guys,

This might be off topic, I apologize for that,  but I don't have anybody
else to turn to but you guys.

My club is invited by our science and technolgy development center and
asked to run this year annual program. This year the  subject will be
astronomy and the program will be held on July 31st. 
The participants will be junior high school students (2nd grade
students) from 20 junior high schools in Jakarta, each school will send
4 students and 1 teacher.

We plan to introduce the amateur astronomy activities and I personally
want to introduce telescope making to them. In the afternoon before
dawn, we'll have an astronomy class and I will try to include
introduction to telescope making there.
After the sun set, weather permits well have an all night long observing
session, a kind of star party.

Since the participants will be mostly students, we have to have a kind
of observing session that will, at the least, introduce them to the
night sky and hopefully some of them will fall in love with astronomy.

Now my questions:
1. What kind of objects should we show them? Something that will leave a
good impression? I excluded faint deep sky objects because for all of
them this will be their first view of heavens through a telescope. Could
you please tell me the objects name?

We're going to have at least 5 scopes, 2 or 3 binoculars, and if my
friends can finish the construction there will be another 4  4"dobs. So
the plan is to have each scope pointed at different object, and then the
students will take turn to look through the scopes. And after everybody
takes their turn, the scope will be pointed to another objects, and so
on.

2.How do I introduce telescope making to them? I want to show them how
easy it is to grind a mirror. To encourage them to try it themselves,
I'm not gonna tell them about the figuring process. I think it's better
to let them figure it out themselves (the not so easy figuring process)
once they reach the figuring stage. by then it will be too late for them
to turn away :-)

TIA for any advice, 
Regards,





Bob P. Sumitro
Jakarta, Indonesia

visit my still-under-construction astronomy and telescope making page:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/2670/