Behold the Sky is an ongoing project that consists in the loan of solar PST telescopes and education material (AstroKits) to teachers that are also trained in solar astrophysics topics. The project offers pedagogical advice for the teachers on how to perform empirical science activities with their students. Training for loans is offered monthly. It acts mainly on regions of socio-economic vulnerability, benefiting students aged 6-18. Currently, we have 3 equal AstroKits available for loan (PST, tripod, beamer, 14 Welder’s glass, solar charts, handbook of activities, telescope’s manual in Portuguese, recharger). The implementation plan is to make available 2 new AstroKits as well as reformulate and include new materials on all kits (DVDs, historic astronomical instruments for education). We also plan to expand and publish the project’s handbook to deliver to the school’s libraries participating in the project. In addition, we plan two major events in 2019: (1) a global training 2-day workshop for teachers benefiting from the project, inviting researchers experts on astronomy education, when we will also offer hands-on training on new technologies for classroom (Go-Lab and Platon platforms); (2) the use of the 5 AstroKits for the observation of the 2nd of July solar eclipse with the general public, partially visible from Rio de Janeiro. It is justified the request of new AstroKits due to the high demand that our material has: currently, only 1 in 5 schools can borrow the kits.
