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.
ScheduleDay 1: Introduction to Class
Day 2: Historical Astronomers Selection Astronomy Discoveries Timeline Activity & Lecture Astronomy Current Event Homework Assigned Day 3: Homework Due Class discussion on news articles Lecture on Ancient Cultures Day 4: Quiz on Ancient Cultures Lecture on Historical Tools Historical Tools Homework Assigned Day 5: Sundial & Quadrant Tools Lab (note: Handout provided is not complete without in-class notes. See me if you are absent this day!) Tools Homework Due Day 6: Student Presentations
|
Class AssignmentsAstronomy 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
|