Elementary School Science

Input:
What is the most important content in this lesson?
To reach this lesson’s objective, students need to understand:

• The field of astronomy and its importance in science.

• The definitions to the terms: astronomy, astronomer, and telescope.

• The names of famous astronomers and their contributions to astronomy.

• The five fields of astronomy.

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How will the learning of this content be facilitated?

• For the first few minutes, the students will fill out the “What I Know About Astronomers” worksheet.

• The teacher will begin the class by handing out the “Guess the Astronomer” worksheet. On the worksheet is a box with the names of the three famous astronomers: Galileo Galilei, Nicolaus Copernicus, and Isaac Newton. There will be nine questions (three for each of the astronomers). The teacher should allow the students about 10 minutes to read through each question and write down their guess of which astronomer refers to each question. The teacher should tell the students that each astronomer will have three statements on the worksheet. At the end of 10 minutes, the teacher should review the worksheet with the students.

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Worksheet Answers:

Galileo [G]; Newton [N]; Copernicus [C]

• Believed the Earth was not the center of the Earth, but did not believe that the moon caused tides. (G)

• First scientist to prove that the Solar System revolved around the Earth. (G)

• Invented and improved the telescope. (G)

 

• Defined the 3 laws of motion and universal gravitation. (N)

• Invented the reflecting telescope in 1668. (N)

• Explained that gravity helps the planet orbit around the Sun. (N)

 

• Stated that the Sun is in the center and that the planets orbit around it (theory called “Heliocentrism”) (C)

• Not only was he an astronomer, but a physician, scholar, economist, translator, mathematician, artist, and diplomat. (C)

• Many people believe he started modern astronomy. (C)

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• After the worksheet is reviewed, the teacher will begin presenting the information on the Astronomers. If it is possible, project each page of the teacher’s copy of the “All About the Solar System” Science Journal worksheet onto the board using a projector or put into a PowerPoint document and project.  The teacher’s copy of the journal has certain words/phrases that are bolded red and highlighted. It is important the teacher explain to the students those words/phrases are to be highlighted in their (students) journal. For this lesson, the teacher should review these pages:

• Page 9: History of Astronomy

**This page reviews what astronomy is and its history**

• Pages 10-12: Famous Astronomers

**These pages will review the three famous astronomers from the beginning of class: Galileo Galilei, Nicolaus Copernicus, and Isaac Newton**

• Pages 13-14:  Fields of Astronomy

**This page explains the different fields of astronomy: Observational; Theoretical; Solar; Planetary; Stellar**  

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• After the information has been presented, the students will break into pairs. On the board, the teacher should write the names of famous astronomers (See activity section). Each pair will pick an astronomer. Together, the students will create a poster board depicting what life was/is like for that astronomer. (Refer to materials section as to how information/research should be obtained). Allow the students about 15-20 minutes to complete the poster board.  

**Each student/pair can either present their “Planet” or a gallery walk can be set up. For the gallery walk, each pair will place their planet poster on desks throughout the room. The students will walk around and look at their peers’ poster**

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• After the presentation or gallery walk is over, the students should reconvene and the teacher should discuss the activities. The teacher should review the vocabulary words with the students.

• The students will then fill out the “What I Learned About Astronomers” worksheet.

• They will then share with the class, or with a partner, some things they wrote down in their “What I Learned About Astronomers” page.

 **The students should keep both of the "What I Know" and "What I Learned" sheets in a folder to put them all together into a book when the unit is finished.​**