141. NSTA - Astronomy With A Stick skills. The science information and skills gained in the activitiesform a foundation for future studies in astronomy and geography. http://www.nsta.org/awsday

Unit 1: Tracking a Moving Shadow Unit 2: The Rise and Fall of Daylight Hours Unit 3: Making and Using Models Daytime Astronomy for Elementary and Middle School Students by SYLVIA K. SHUGRUE Changes in the length of daylight hours profoundly affect the daily and annual rhythms of our lives. Yet studies have shown that even college graduates fail to understand the relationships between the Sun and the Earth that cause these changes (Sadler and Schneps 1988). Students who learn by rote in a classroom do not fully understand or retain these important concepts. Astronomy skills properly introduced in elementary school will produce adults who understand the Earth's place in the universe. Students from Garrison Elementary in Washington, D.C., prepare a circle on the ground in order to place a gnomon to indirectly observe the Sun's movement in the sky. [photo by W.T. Webb.] You can help your upper elementary students experience these relationships through indirect observations of the Sun on the school playground and with models built in the classroom. These activities provide a continuous exercise in critical thinking and combine well with practice in the use of mathematics and language skills. The science information and skills gained in the activities form a foundation for future studies in astronomy and geography. The over-arching question addressed by the following activities is "Why do daylight hours vary in length where we live?" The following activities have been arranged for convenience into three interchangeable units. It is best to begin the observations in September and continue at intervals throughout the school year.

142. Mary Urquhart's K-12 Education Page for grades 47. One activity from Playground Physics was featured in the quarterlypublication The Universe in the Classroom from the Astronomical Society of http://lyra.colorado.edu/sbo/mary/

My Universe K-12 Space Science and Physics Educational Resources by Mary Urquhart, Ph.D. I'm a National Research Council Postdoctoral Associate in the Center for Mars Exploration at NASA Ames Research Center . The activities and curriculum materials below have been classroom-tested, and most were developed with input from Colorado teachers (especially my primary teacher partner) during my time in graduate school at the University of Colorado at Boulder . This site is here and will remain available thanks to the generosity of Sommers-Bausch Observatory Currently I have several sets of classroom-tested, standards-based materials, each of which is detailed below. Or, go directly to a topic or list of links to other sites: Mars Physics Saturn Scale in the Solar System ... Other Web Resources Help field test the new Stars and Planets materials Credited not-for-profit distribution of all my tested materials is encouraged. I always appreciate feedback, and I especially appreciate comments and suggestions related to helping me evaluate and improve my materials NEW Teacher Guide!

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Page 8     141-142 of 142    Back | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8