This page includes lessons and activities associated with an Astronomy class we recently taught at a local homeschool cooperative using the Apologia Astronomy textbook. Please feel free to use any of the resources including lesson plans, activities, worksheets, etc. The class was taught weekly for the Fall 2016 semester. Classes were 50 minutes in length.
Text: Exploring Creation with Astronomy. We found the text to be adequate, a bit redundant and simplistic at times, but overall a good start for children ages 8-12. Please always remember to take our age recommendations with a grain of salt as you know your children better than we do. We also used the companion notebooking journal. It is good for building vocabulary and to reinforce key facts. Not essential if you won’t be providing weekly homework.
Companion text: Along Came Galileo. This is a fun, easy little read that brings an engaging story of one of our most famous astronomers of the past to life. We read a chapter or two a week.
Other Necessary Resources: A planisphere corresponding to your latitude and a red-filtered flashlight so you can view your planisphere without hindering your night vision while looking at the night sky.
Apps/Programs: There are also a ton of planetarium/night-sky apps and programs for download. Here are two excellent programs that can be installed on your desktop to easily locate stars and to even travel throughout the solar system and beyond!
http://celestiaproject.net/
http://www.stellarium.org/
And a recent review on star-gazing apps.
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We’ll be filling in the week’s activities bit by bit so please come back and visit often. Homework assignments will be listed in the syllabus below.
Syllabus: to be added soon
Week 1: Lesson Plan, Activities – Introduction to studying the night sky, establishing cardinal directions
Week 2: Lesson Plan, Activities – The solar and lunar calendars, the Nile calendar, introduction to planisphere
Week 3: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
Week 4: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
Week 5: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
Week 6: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
Week 7: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
Week 8: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
Week 9: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
Week 10: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
Week 11: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
Week 12: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
Week 13: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
Week 14: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
Week 15: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
Week 16: Lesson Plan, Activities, Homework
