the universe is really, really, really big.
That's the first response I got when I asked my sixth grade class what we already know about the universe: it's really, really, really big. That was actually my first objective on today's lesson plan. obj: understanding that the universe is really big. alright, moving right along.
Today's science lesson was really great though. We wrote paragraphs about what we imagine we would observe if we were traveling through the galaxy, and then we made lists of what we already know about the universe, what we want to know, and how we can find out what we want to know. These kids were amazing, and I'm so excited to be teaching basic astronomy to sixth graders. So much more up my alley than teaching life science to seventh and eighth graders.
Tomorrow we're making a model of the night sky using paper with beans and seeds scattered over it. Then we're going to estimate the number of "stars" in our "night sky" by using sampling methods. It's a lot like your assignment, Dad, of how we can count something that seems impossible to count.
Another reason I'm not so hot on life science right now: we're currently doing a lesson on stimulus and response. The exploration/experiment for this lesson calls for earthworms. Materials for life science are so much harder to get than materials for astronomy. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I already have a freaking awesome telescope at my immediate disposal, and a subscription to astronomy magazine.
Today's science lesson was really great though. We wrote paragraphs about what we imagine we would observe if we were traveling through the galaxy, and then we made lists of what we already know about the universe, what we want to know, and how we can find out what we want to know. These kids were amazing, and I'm so excited to be teaching basic astronomy to sixth graders. So much more up my alley than teaching life science to seventh and eighth graders.
Tomorrow we're making a model of the night sky using paper with beans and seeds scattered over it. Then we're going to estimate the number of "stars" in our "night sky" by using sampling methods. It's a lot like your assignment, Dad, of how we can count something that seems impossible to count.
Another reason I'm not so hot on life science right now: we're currently doing a lesson on stimulus and response. The exploration/experiment for this lesson calls for earthworms. Materials for life science are so much harder to get than materials for astronomy. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I already have a freaking awesome telescope at my immediate disposal, and a subscription to astronomy magazine.