Free K-12 Astronomy Lesson Plans Available from Digitalis Education Solutions
Digitalis Education Solutions has published 12 astronomy lesson plans for use with kindergarten through 12th grade students. Lessons are aligned with the National Science Education Standards and cover a variety of topics, including moon phases, solstices and equinoxes, and debunking astrology.
Bremerton, WA (PRWEB) December 29, 2004 -- Digitalis Education Solutions has
published 12 astronomy lesson plans for use with kindergarten through 12th grade
students. Lessons are aligned with the National Science Education Standards and
cover a variety of topics, including moon phases, solstices and equinoxes, and
debunking astrology.
Digitalis has made these lessons freely available
as a public service to encourage the teaching of astronomy and to help increase
scientific literacy. Basic astronomical concepts such as why we experience
seasons, the cause of moon phases, and how a day and a year relate to Earth's
movements are an important part of scientific literacy.
A planetarium is
ideal for illustrating abstract astronomical concepts. Although these lessons
are written for the Digitarium Alpha digital planetarium projector, many
activities can be modified for use with different planetarium systems or even
used in a classroom setting. For example, one activity involves zooming in on
Jupiter and showing the Galilean moons changing position over time, a piece of
evidence Galileo used to disprove the geocentric model of the universe.
Educators using a system without this capability or not using a planetarium at
all could instead show posters of Jupiter and its four largest moons at varying
times. Some activities involving planetary motion, planet phasing, and
precession of the equinoxes will be impossible to modify for pinhole type
portable projectors.
To access the lesson plans, suggested background
resources, and information about alignment with the National Science Education
Standards, visit: http://DigitalisEducation.com/curricula.html
A simple
license allows educators to copy, modify, and distribute Digitalis' lesson
plans. See the full text of the license on each lesson plan for details.
Educators are encouraged to submit their lesson modifications, translations into
other languages, or original lessons for wider distribution through this
website.
These 12 free lesson plans for use with elementary through high
school students provide ideas for educators with or without access to a
planetarium. Digitalis Education Solutions hopes that the lessons inspire all
teachers to share the wonders of astronomy with their students.
About
the Digitarium Alpha projector:
The Digitarium Alpha projector was launched
in November, 2003 to fill the need for an affordable, full-featured planetarium
projector. Designed for use in portable and small fixed domes up to about 26
ft/8m in diameter, the Digitarium Alpha projector allows educators to easily
take the capabilities of a fixed planetarium on the road, or to share one system
across an entire school district. The Digitarium Alpha projector's built-in DVD
drive provides tremendous flexibility without requiring supplemental equipment;
educators can easily teach any subject in the stimulating environment of the
dome. Its numerous features make the Digitarium Alpha projector relevant for
students of any age, from preschool through college.
About Digitalis
Education Solutions:
Digitalis Education Solutions was founded in January,
2003 to create capable and affordable tools for astronomy education. Along with
the Digitarium Alpha projector, the company also sells Digitalis portable domes
in several diameters.
Karrie Berglund, Director of Education, spent more
than six years teaching for Pacific Science Center's Science On Wheels outreach
program and also supervised PSC's Smith Planetarium.
Contact
Information:
Karrie Berglund
Digitalis Education Solutions
phone:
360.616.8915
fax: 360.616.8917
http://digitaliseducation.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/12/prweb192169.htm