Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jul 16, 2004 17:40:13 GMT -6
I created a new thread for Star Party Activities, so as not to get lost amongst the previous threads.
When I taught beginning astronomy to 5th and 6th graders in the Chicago school system, I had to deal with, (and still do), the terrible Chicago skies. So I was hindered not only with that, but also the time of day. I of course couldn't keep the kids out late at night and on fridgid cold afternoons. So I had to settle on main attractions. The Moon, Sun, any planets out and constellations. Perhaps some nebuli, but that doesn't get their attention much.
I would have them Identify lunar features, sketch and lable them. It would alter as the nights passed and the Moon changed phase. Identifying the same lunar feature in different light was always fun, as is the terminator creep. The better interested kids would make out the mountain peaks while still in shadow and note how some craters are lined up...much like a bomber carpet bombing a target.
In the early fall, Orion starts to peek over, and we would seek out the Nebula in his loins and target the Pleaides. We would play a game on who could spot the target first as the bright sky turned dark. The Pleaides was always a treat to find with the naked eye.
But unless the kids are really and deeply are interested in astronomy, seeking out DSO's is a futile effort. As they do not look like what one sees in the astronomy magazines, and often leads to dissapointment.
I would have them sketch sunspots from projected images and track the spots on their march during a few days. We also tracked the Sun in the playground with a makeshift sundial and have them explain apparent solar movement and seasonal change. Not an easy task.
On winter days, as the sun set eariler, we would try to indentify as many constellations as we could, and write about interesting features of the grouping. The origin and mythology was also required.
We would use star maps to attempt to star hop from one group of stars to another and use hand crafted planispheres.
I couldn't do much else with the constarints, but it was fun and memorable.
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When I taught beginning astronomy to 5th and 6th graders in the Chicago school system, I had to deal with, (and still do), the terrible Chicago skies. So I was hindered not only with that, but also the time of day. I of course couldn't keep the kids out late at night and on fridgid cold afternoons. So I had to settle on main attractions. The Moon, Sun, any planets out and constellations. Perhaps some nebuli, but that doesn't get their attention much.
I would have them Identify lunar features, sketch and lable them. It would alter as the nights passed and the Moon changed phase. Identifying the same lunar feature in different light was always fun, as is the terminator creep. The better interested kids would make out the mountain peaks while still in shadow and note how some craters are lined up...much like a bomber carpet bombing a target.
(Ancient texts write about a war in the heavens between the Gods.)
In the early fall, Orion starts to peek over, and we would seek out the Nebula in his loins and target the Pleaides. We would play a game on who could spot the target first as the bright sky turned dark. The Pleaides was always a treat to find with the naked eye.
But unless the kids are really and deeply are interested in astronomy, seeking out DSO's is a futile effort. As they do not look like what one sees in the astronomy magazines, and often leads to dissapointment.
I would have them sketch sunspots from projected images and track the spots on their march during a few days. We also tracked the Sun in the playground with a makeshift sundial and have them explain apparent solar movement and seasonal change. Not an easy task.
On winter days, as the sun set eariler, we would try to indentify as many constellations as we could, and write about interesting features of the grouping. The origin and mythology was also required.
We would use star maps to attempt to star hop from one group of stars to another and use hand crafted planispheres.
I couldn't do much else with the constarints, but it was fun and memorable.
