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Unit 1: History, Ancient Cultures & Tools

The key to understanding anything, especially in science, is to see it in a historical context. This small unit will give you a broader perspective on astronomy as it has progressed from looking up at the lights around the most ancient campfires to many different understandings of why the sky looks the way it does. We will explore the beliefs of various ancient cultures around the world, look at some old tools used to study the stars, and hopefully gain a better appreciation for what we now understand as modern astronomy. 

Schedule

Class Day
In-Class Activities
Homework
1
Class Orientation & Introduction
1st Day Quiz
Historical Astronomers Selection
Read the syllabus and explore the website
Focus on knowing the 3 year-long assignments
*Fill out the Student Survey*
2
Syllabus & Website Quiz
Astronomical Discoveries Timeline Activity & Lecture
Astronomy Current Events Homework Assigned
See below for detailed information
3
Class Discussion on Current Events
Lecture on Astronomy in Ancient Cultures
None
4
Quiz on Ancient Cultures
​Lecture on Historical Tools of Astronomy
Historical Tools Worksheet
5
Sundial & Quadrant Tools Activity
None
6
Historical Astronomer Presentations
Ptolemy 
Eratosthenes
Copernicus

Kahoot! Review Game for Unit 1
​
Study for the Exam!
7
Unit 1 Exam
Unit 2 Preview: Watch PBS's "Crash Course Astronomy" Cycles in the Sky. They cover our whole unit in 9 and a half minutes...

Cool Links and Supplemental Materials

Astronomy Magazine: Good source of astro news
Sky and Telescope: Great for stargazing and figuring out what's up there now
Science Daily: Astronomy news
NASA: Um.... yeah. They kinda know a lot about astronomy. 
Crash Course Astronomy: Everything you ever need to know about Astronomy, in very fast (and dense!) videos. 
Astronomy Current Event Homework
Explore the web/magazines/newspapers and find an article about a recent (less than 1 year old) discovery in astronomy or cosmology
  • Read it, then write a quick summary (between 5 and 10 QUALITY sentences) in a Word document. Make sure to cite the original article (any formal format, your choice) and include the hyperlink if it’s an online article.
  • Submit your summary via DropItToMe.
  • As per class policy, make sure your file is named correctly: ##_Last Name_First Name_Assignment Name. Misnamed assignments will not be graded. 
  • Be prepared to discuss your article with the class next time!
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