Gaia Romano- homework 16/2
In class we decided on the umbrella topic for our project: "People who made a
mark".
Together with our group, we chose to focus on Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut,
and only Israeli citizen to travel to space.
In the beginning, we wrote down our research questions.
● How did Ilan Ramon become an astronaut?
● What was Ilan Ramon’s project in space?
● What was Ilan Ramon’s project in space?
Then, we divided the research questions between us and we started to browse the
internet for information. We summed up the information under each research
question and saved the sources. I personally read articles, interviews and discovered
many new facts about In the end we wrote our conclusions to the project.
I think the project reflects my best work, because I invested a lot of time (by myself
and together with my group) and I found out many interesting facts that I didn't know
before about Ilan Ramon.
For example, I found out that he carried a small, personal item with him on his space
mission: a tiny piece of the Moon, which was given to him by NASA.
17/ What went well when doing the project?
A/ Group work (see above)
Part B
My project is about Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut. It covers his journey from a
fighter pilot to a space shuttle astronaut, his role in scientific experiments in space,
and his impact on Israeli society. The project highlights his contributions to space
exploration, his inspiration for young Israelis, and his personal connection to Jewish
heritage. It also reflects on the national pride and unity his mission brought to Israel,
as well as the legacy he left after his tragic death in the Columbia disaster.
I chose to write about Ilan Ramon because his life story is truly inspiring. He
overcame numerous challenges to become Israel’s first astronaut, and his journey
from a fighter pilot to a space explorer is remarkable. I was especially interested in
how his mission in space contributed to science and how his story continues to
inspire young people in Israel to pursue careers in science and technology. Ramon’s
connection to his Jewish heritage and his tragic death in the Columbia disaster also
made his legacy meaningful, and I wanted to highlight the positive impact he had on
Israeli society.
A/ Questions about the topic and the reason of your choice:
1. From doing my project on Ilan Ramon, I learned about his inspiring journey
from fighter pilot to astronaut, his contributions to science, and how he united
Israel with pride. I also realized the lasting impact he had on inspiring young
people to pursue science and technology.
2. When doing my project, I wanted to learn more about Ilan Ramon's life, his
journey to becoming an astronaut, and the scientific work he did in space. I
was also curious about how his mission impacted Israeli society and inspired
future generations.
3. Ramon brought a miniature Torah scroll and a microfiche copy of the Torah,
symbolizing his Jewish heritage.
4. The information can be used to inspire future space exploration, create
educational programs, and strengthen national identity and unity in Israel.
5. I would add more personal stories, highlight the impact of his experiments,
and include family and colleague perspectives about his trip to space.
6. The project made me appreciate Ilan Ramon's determination and how his
legacy inspires future generations.
B/ Reflections on: (In addition to the presentation)
1. During the project, the group maintained Effective teamwork and task division.
2. It was difficult to find detailed information and summarizing it.
3. Teamwork helped with idea-sharing, while individual work focused on specific
tasks.
4. It was hard to find specific details, but reliable sources made it easier.
5. Organizing ideas was easy, but ensuring flow was challenging.
6. We improved research and writing skills.
7. Completing the project gave me a sense of accomplishment and pride in
learning about such an inspiring individual.
P.3
1/ What is your project about? Why did you choose this topic?
My project is about Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut. I chose this topic because I
wanted to know more about his life and achievements, and I admire him for his
resilience and
dedication. He is a role model for me.
2/ What did you learn from doing the project? / What were you hoping to learn
from your project?
From doing this project, I learned more about Ilan Ramon's life, his journey to
becoming an astronaut, and his impact on Israeli society. For example, I learned that
he conducted experiments in space, including one created by Israeli middle school
students.
I also learned how his mission contributed to global research on space and climate.
3/ What did you want to learn about the topic?
There are a few aspects that interested me about this topic. For example:
- What was Ilan Ramon’s project in space?
- How did Ilan Ramon become an astronaut?
- How did Ilan Ramon affect Israeli society?
5/ How did working on the project improve your language skills?
By reading articles about Ilan Ramon,
I improved my English and I learned many new words I didn't know before.
7/ What surprising information have you found out from doing the project?
From doing this project, I found out some surprising information about Ilan Ramon's
contributions to science in space. For example, I found out that he was involved in
experiments related to global climate change and crystal growth in space. I also
found out that some of the experiments were created by Israeli middle school
students, a project Ramon supported to inspire youth.
8/ How can you make future use of the information you gained from the
research
project?
I can use the new information in the IDF and my future studies. For example,learning
about Ilan Ramon's background as a fighter pilot and his dedication to his mission
can inspire me to develop resilience and focus in challenging situations.
The new information offered me a new perspective about the importance of science
and exploration, which will be helpful in my future studies and career in technology or
engineering.
9/ What would you have done differently?
If I had the possibility to change it, I would add a part about the impact of Ilan
Ramon's experiments on global scientific research.
10. How has the project influenced you? (Reflections)
The project has influenced me by deepening my appreciation for Ilan Ramon's
dedication. Learning about his journey from fighter pilot to astronaut has inspired me
to pursue my own goals with determination.
11/ What challenges did you face while doing the project? (What was difficult)
I found it difficult to summarize the articles, as there was a lot of detailed scientific
information that needed to be condensed without losing important points.
12/ Did you do your project with your peers or alone? What are the advantages
and disadvantages of working alone / with a group?
I did the project with my peers. The advantages were sharing ideas, dividing tasks,
and helping each other. The disadvantages were managing schedules and opinions.
13/ Where did you find information on the topic?
I found my sources on the Internet. For example, I used reliable websites like
NASA's official page, the Israel Space Agency, and news articles about Ilan Ramon's
mission on the Space Shuttle Columbia.
14/ How did you write your project?
Our teacher suggested an umbrella topic, which was an important figure. We chose
a team of one to three students to pair up with.
15/ Looking back, what is your feeling after finishing your project, in terms of
personal achievement?
Looking back, I feel proud of completing the project. It was a great learning
experience, and I’m happy with how much I gained from researching Ilan Ramon's
life and work. I feel like I achieved something meaningful, not only in terms of the
knowledge I gained but also in how I worked with my team to bring everything
together.