Even though astronomy is hardly included in the academic curriculum except in general knowledge books for primary students, understanding celestial objects, space, and the universe is critical for students.
The non-inclusion of this phenomenal branch of science in academics shouldn't stop you from taking students on a ride through space.
If you are looking for ways to introduce students to astronomy, here are seven exciting educational activities you can use in your classroom. And while you conduct these activities, you and your students can take advantage of professional paper writing services and hire an experienced writer to write an essay or help out with other assignments.
7 Exciting Astronomy Activities for Students
Stargazing
Stargazing is one of the fascinating ways to observe the night sky, locate different constellations, planets, etc., and wonder about the vastness of the universe. Facilitating this activity in class is nearly impossible. However, you can ask your students to make groups and arrange sleepovers, take blankets and mats outside, and stargaze.
Ask about their findings the next day, share details, and follow up with another activity, such as identifying constellations and mapping them on a geoboard. You can also play some astronomy videos and discuss planets and stuff to help them form connections with their observations from the previous night.
Planetarium Visit
Commonly, planetariums have dome structures, where they project night sky videos to offer an immersive experience to astronomy enthusiasts. So, if you have a planetarium nearby, plan an outing with your students. You can coordinate with the administration of the planetarium to schedule educational shows about astronomy and conduct workshops.
Many planetariums also exhibit space-related articles for visitors in an extended museum. Explore space gears and astronomical models presented in such space museums and discuss them in detail after returning to class. Make sure you and your students use the write my essay discount code to get your assignments done at a reduced price while you take a trip to the planetarium.
Moon Phase Demonstration
The moon is the closest object and Earth's only natural satellite, hence has been the subject of curiosity for ages. Philosophers and poets never fail to be mesmerized by its beauty and talk about it at length. As an astronomical subject, the moon orbits the Earth continuously and takes about one month to complete its course.
To explain this to your students, you can use a flashlight and a ball and demonstrate the relationship between Moon, Earth, and Sun. You can also ask your students to observe the moon every night, draw its shape, and analyze the reason behind it based on the earlier demonstration in the class.
Solar System Model
Every decade, our space scientists discover new facts about the solar system. A solar system model is the best way to help your students visualize the Sun's family. The basic models used traditionally don't represent the system in relative ratios. Hence, you can use objects of varying sizes to assemble your model, taking extra care in placing them at a measured distance to give your students a clear representation of the solar system.
Besides, you can ask your students to gather all the information they can about the Sun, the Earth, and all other planets and sort them in a tab book, scrapbook, or a fun chart. You can then rate the projects and reward the best three.
The Four Seasons
Changing seasons are also the results of an astronomical phenomenon, and every person should have this general knowledge about how the Earth's position compared to the Sun causes different seasons. To help your students learn it, you can make a chart and demonstrate it in the classroom.
You can also show them a video model of the Earth's rotation and revolution around the Sun and its effects on seasons in different parts of the planet. Don't forget to describe the important seasonal days, such as Spring Equinox, Autumn Equinox, Summer Solstice, and Winter Solstice.
Making Sundial
Creating your own sundial would be a fun way to explain how clocks and watches are made. Sundial is an ancient horological device that was used to tell the time by the shadow of a pointer cast on a number-marked plate.
You can easily make this device in your classroom. Teach your students about latitudes and longitudes and their role in determining time zones. The top assignment services can help you save some extra time to invest in these astronomy activities.
Calculating Age on Different Planets
Your students will be surprised to learn that their age would be different if they were to be born on any planet other than Earth. One's age technically equals the number of times the Earth has revolved around the Sun since their birth. Because the amount of time each planet takes to orbit the Sun differs, your age will differ on each planet too. So, in this fun activity, ask your students to calculate their ages on various planets.
Conclusion
Astronomy should be an integral part of the modern curriculum since it helps students understand the course of nature and draw connections between physics and space. The above activities will facilitate deep and practical learning of the subject for students while helping you keep the whole class engaged and interested.
Back to Top
|