Astronomy Part 1

My kids (and I) like... ahem...LOVE Astronomy.

It's that simple.

Every year they ask for it.

Unfortunately we can't do it every year.

There are other scientific topics to be studied.

But this year, we have devoted our science studies to Astronomy.

So, I'd like to share with you our findings on

Astronomy - Part 1.

From my 5th & 3rd graders:

Interesting Fact #1: 

If any of the planets or sun were just a fraction of an inch smaller or larger or any closer to Earth, it would throw Earth off balance, and it would wobble.

From my 5th grader:

Interesting Fact #2: 

Bigger planets have more gravity.

From my 6th grader:

Interesting Fact #3

Copernicus, in 1550, suggested that all the planets revolve around the Sun instead of the prior belief that all the planets & the sun revolved around the Earth.  Everybody though he was crazy.

From all of them:

Interesting Fact #4

Our moon is a satellite; a natural satellite.

They now enjoy pointing at the moon at night and exclaiming,
"I see a satellite!"

Okay, the list could go on...

So I'm just gonna get right down to the pictures.

I mean, that is why you clicked on this link, right?!?

;)

The making of a model Solar System

We even added the asteroid belt in between Mars & Jupiter. :)

 Stonehenge

Stonehenge is located in England.  It was believed that Stonehenge was used to tell when spring was coming.

 Making our models of Stonehenge

My daughter pointed out to me, that I took the picture from the opposite direction that she was making it. So, for these pictures,  imagine the model or picture reversed. :)

What does Stonehenge have to do with Astronomy?

Well, the Sun would shine down on the monument and cast shadows.

Depending on how the shadows fell,

it is believed that it would tell the people what time of year it was.

Of course this was all before calendars.

We really didn't know anything about Stonehenge until this week.

I love teaching school!

I'm always learning something new.