ELEMENT: Astronomy

Leader: Faith Thompson
Teacher(s) who provided requirements:

Others participating (teachers, students, Rotarians, etc.):

1. Describe this element in some detail:
This element will focus on the Sun's motion in the sky, the causes of the seasons and day and night, the Earth's yearly orbital positions, the nine planets, constellations, phases of the moon and the heat/light provided by the Sun.

2. Describe the educational aspects/requirements for this element:
To demonstrate the educational goals of this element, it will be necessary to strategically position representative objects with reference to cardinal points, latitude, celestial north and the Sun's path across the sky.

3. How will this element support or meet the educational requirements, and how will the teachers and students use the element?
This element is already part of the K-6 curriculum. It will provide models where students can physically demonstrate and visualize planetary and solar motion with a teacher's assistance and feel the heating affect of the Sun.

4. Is there a relationship between this element and other elements in the courtyard? YES. Which ones?
Life cycles of plants and animals; diurnal and annual habits of animals - migration, hibernation, etc.; weather; where and when plants grow; geology and geography. The Sun affects everything in nature.

5. Describe how this element will be provided and installed.
An amphitheater facing northward will represent the student's position on the Earth. The speaker's position in the amphitheater will represent the Sun's position in the solar system and serve as the maid reference point of the courtyard. The amphitheater will be positioned north of center of the courtyard at one of the foci of an elliptical walkway around the courtyard. A re-bar hemisphere* of the continents of the Earth (primarily of the eastern hemisphere since are standing in the western hemisphere - the ground) will encompass the amphitheater with its north pole pointed at the North Star, Polaris (47o above the northern horizon).

Objects, perhaps large rocks, will be placed at positions marking the northern most rising/setting of the sun in summer and in winter. A gnomon, or some such vertical pole (to support a weather vane, wind sock, birdhouse, etc?), will mark the Sun's highest elevation from the southern horizon in summer and in the winter, or its stationery equatorial position of 47 degrees above southern horizon.

A sundial and compass would be instructive.

Models of the nine planets will be placed in the courtyard to demonstrate the physical characteristics of each planet, comparative size and comparative distances from the Sun (central podium of the amphitheater) where appropriate. Models of the moon (spheres) utilizing natural shadows to demonstrate its phases would be most instructive.

Gardens or other courtyard projects could be designed in the shape of familiar constellations such as Ursa Major - the Big Dipper, Orion - X, Cassiopeia - W, The Great Square of Pegasus, Bootes - a kite, Cygnus - a cross, Hercules - a trapezoid, Pisces - 2 fish, the summer triangle, The Teapot, The Scorpion (this could represent the critter world as well).

Incorporate somewhere into the courtyard a series of different materials such as brick ceramic, wood, plastic, aluminum, etc. to demonstrate how they differentially absorb the Sun's heat. Having them of different colors (black & white) would also be instructive. Something shiny facing south would demonstrate one property of light and show how planets are illuminated. A prism would be a neat (near the pond? Or spray from the pond?). Perhaps a simple tube solar heater could be utilized for the water pond to demonstrate solar heating and prolong its season.

6. What resources are needed to complete this element?
Needed: pressure treated wood to build the amphitheater, re-bar or such material to construct a map like globe to mount over the amphitheater and a skilled person to build it, large rocks, a pole, various sized spheres to represent the planets and moons with a means to mount them, materials to construct a walkway. P-gravel. Adequate finances.

7. What maintenance do you foresee for this element over the next ten years?
Minimal, if pressure treated lumber and non-corrosive materials are utilized.

8. Other issues you and your team feel are important?
Integrate projects as much as possible so they serve dual purposes.