Astronomy on The Web

A Useful guide to Sites on The Internet
for Primary Grade Teachers

Nish Dagley

The path given here contains places which will whet your appetite and supply jumping off points to yet other places. Let's start by going to a terrific source of exciting lesson plans.

spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov

Spacelink is a NASA site which provides access to current and historical information on NASA aeronautics and space research. Classroom activities on scientific principles relevant to astronomy and space science are included. When you arrive click on the words THE LIBRARY. You'll find the astronomy related material by selecting the topics in the following order:

• Instructional Materials
  • Curriculum Materials
    • Sciences
      • Astronomy
        • Astronomy Classroom Activities
  Once you're there you'll find a wealth of material to choose from. Try Assorted Activities to start out with. These activities are easy to do and are described in detail. They also are the type of lessons which captivate student's interest. A teacher's delight! (See the appendix for a sample lesson.)

  Right now you're in Assorted Activities. Go back to the Astronomy page and try some of these:

  Colored Shadows
  Constellation Art 7-9
  Make a Simple Sextant 5-10
  Paint by Numbers
  Simple Spectroscope
  

  You'll notice that some of these have designations for higher grade levels. Don't be put off by that. They are worth noting because of their adaptability to younger students.

  Some schools have made their own lessons available. Try this page created by the Minnetonka Public Schools.

  WWW.minnetonka.k12.mn.us/support/science/

  This World Wide Web (WWW) site, developed for grades K to 5 teachers, is an index to curricular materials produced by the Science Center in Minnetonka, Minnesota. In addition to helping teachers with curriculum questions, the Science Center also has a growing library of materials that can help teachers integrate science with math, literature, art, and social studies topics. This site provides an outline of the scope and sequence of the curriculum, lesson plans organized by grade level, Teacher Tools that organize lesson plans into grade appropriate units, and links to additional Web sites. The appendix includes a lesson taken from the 4-5 grade level. It's an observation lesson that you'll find easy to adapt. When you're done looking at their lesson plans click on Elementary Science this Month.

  You'll find yourself transported to Mankato State University's Elementary Science this Month page. Scroll down and choose the Night Sky icon and you'll find a current sky map, things to look for and related textual information.

  There are many places where one can access background information on astronomy.

  www.skypub.com/index.html

  This address features two popular magazines: Astronomy and Sky and Telescope. Both publications contain information useful to readers of all levels- from the novice who doesn't know a star from a planet to the expert. Try either Sky Events or Weekly Guide . You might also benefit from checking their Backyard Astronomer section. It has many practical suggestions for those just starting out.

  Perhaps you don't feel quite ready for those magazines. Try this:

  www.cybergate.net/~starman/index.html

  This is a neat comic strip featuring Starman. Starman explains in very simple terms current happenings in sky. He is also available to answer questions via email.

  NASA also has a site dedicated to explaining astronomy in a simple and visually appealing format.

  heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html

  Starchild is a very easy place to get around in. Click on whatever interests you and you'll be pleased to find explanations appropriate for primary grade students.

  Colleges and universities are resources that should not be overlooked. Many have wonderful sites useful for our purpose. Enter the following address and have fun exploring one of the best!

  http://www.twsu.edu/~obswww/

  You are now at Lake Afton Public Observatory a part of The Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education at Wichita State University. Here you and your students can take a virtual tour of the Milky Way, get ideas for games (or buy theirs), investigate on line activities or try different sites by using their links. The list of options is quite extensive and impressive!

  Planetariums are a marvelous store of information and ideas. Visit this site:

  www.mtwilson.edu/index.html

  The Mt. Wilson Observatory has a few features that are fun! They present information on virtual tours, science, education, even a gift shop, but my favorite is the constellation quiz! Give it a try. To get to the quiz click on

  • Education
    • Constellation Quiz
  The children will love the challenge. Don't worry. If you don't know the answer there's a series of hints to assist you.

  Would you like to see some extraordinary pictures?

  www-hpcc.astro.washington.edu/mirrors/aao/images.html

  After you've entered the above address follow this path to view "ASTRONOMICAL IMAGES FROM THE ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN OBSERVATORY".

  • Emission nebulae
    • AAT 19. The Orion Nebula, M42, and M43
  This is a photo of the Orion nebula. There are many other pictures here. Explore!

  Hopefully, you have encountered places of interest and suitable or adaptable for your own use. The attached appendix includes these sites and some you probably haven't visited yet. There is plenty of help out there. Many of these sites have an 'ask the expert' feature. Don't be afraid to use it and have fun with your students learning about the stars.

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  Appendix

  Astronomy on The Web

  A Useful guide to Sites on The Internet for Primary Grade Teachers

  Lesson Plans

  Spacelink

  This is NASA'S database which provides access to current and historical information on NASA aeronautics and space research. Classroom activities on scientific principles relevant to astronomy and space science are included. When you arrive you'll find the astronomy related material by selecting the topics in the following order: Instructional Materials, Curriculum Materials, Sciences, Astronomy. Once you're there you'll find a wealth of material to choose from.

  spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov

  Elementary Science Center-Minnetonka Public Schools

  This World Wide Web (WWW) site, developed for grades K to 5 teachers, is an index to curricular materials produced by the Science Center in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The background information and "starry night" lesson plan might be worth the trip.

  WWW.minnetonka.k12.mn.us/support/science/index.shtml

  University of Washington-Astronomy Education Resources

  Curriculum materials, images, courses on line resources.

  www-hpcc.astro.washington.edu/scied/astro/astroindex.html

  Planetariums

  Lake Afton Public Observatory

  Everything from information to games and virtual tours. Includes an "Ask the Astronomer" feature.

  twsuvm.uc.twsu.edu/~obswww

  Mt. Wilson Observatory

  Contains an interesting variety of resources including a gift shop! The education button leads to information on history, telescopes and a constellation quiz!

  www.mtwilson.edu/index.html

  The following address provides a listing of planetariums and observatories.

  www.skypub.com/astrodir/ma.htmL

  Child Oriented

  Starman

  A comic strip explaining various aspects of astronomy. Particularly related to current happenings. Features "Ask Starman" via email.

  www.cybergate.net/~starman/index.htm

  Starchild

  NASA site featuring basic concepts in astronomy for children.

  heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html

  Background Sources

  The Constellations and their Stars

  Information and listings of stars and constellations. Handy, but not fancy.

  www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations.html

  Magazines

  Astronomy and Sky and Telescope are located here and offer a wide spectrum of information related to astronomy.

  www.skypub.com/index.html

  Pictures

  ASTRONOMICAL IMAGES FROM THE ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN OBSERVATORY

  www-hpcc.astro.washington.edu/mirrors/aao/images.html
  

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  Room 3A's Home Page	Astronomy Fun