Learn About Astronomy

Objective:
It is often difficult to teach basic astronomy because of lack of material in available texts. This is one way for the class to learn some astronomy before (or after) visiting the planetarium.

Activity:
Each student prepares a short, informational talk about something to do with astronomy and gives that talk to the rest of the class.

Materials:
research information (books, encyclopedias, almanacs, etc.)
paper and pencil

Previous Knowledge Necessary:
Ability to do very basic research
No astronomical knowledge necessary

Procedure:
  1. Each student is assigned an astronomical object, astronomer, or something else associated with astronomy.

  2. The child is given time (in the school library or as homework) to research and write a short (about 2 or 3 minute) talk on her subject. She should be encouraged to bring pictures to her talk.

  3. Each student gives her talk to the rest of the class. It may be helpful to group similar talks together, such as all those on the planets be given at the same time.

List of Possible Topics: (Use this non-table list, if your browser does not render tables well.)

MercuryUranusasteroidstelescopes
VenusNeptuneThe Milky WayGalileo
EarthPlutoThe Big DipperCopernicus
Marsthe MoonPolaris, the North StarYuri Gagarin
Jupiterthe Sunthe space shuttleNeil Armstrong
Saturncometslunar landingsSally Ride
meteorsour solar systemblack holes
Other constellations, astronauts, space flights, astronomers, etc.

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