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
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