A Child Astronomer's Christmas!
A fun, holiday-themed astronomy program that teaches kids about stars, comets, and meteors while also looking for Santa!
Paul H. The Shakespearean Student
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(52)
What's included
1 live meeting
1 in-class hoursClass Experience
The children will learn about space, and Christmas, in the context of using astronomy to find Santa in the night sky. We will start by "tracking" Santa using a telescope and the NORAD Santa Tracker. Once we mark his location on a map, the kids will watch a video about other sky objects like comets, meteors, and supernovas. When the video ends, we will do a short science experiment where I will show the kids how to build fake snow using simple ingredients they have right at home. I will then point out and teach the kinds how to identify heavenly objects they can see right from their own backyard. The class will conclude with each learner receiving a special letter from Santa, and some downloadable handouts full of games, experiments, and a list of holiday books! I will be performing in character as a bumbling scientist and will engage the kids through interactive games, engaging questions, and some corny jokes to get them to laugh and learn, while also being entertained as we learn about space and Christmas together.
Learning Goals
Students will learn about how Christmas is tied to astronomy, specifically the way the Star of Bethlehem led the shepherds and wise men to the Christ Child, and how modern astronomers look through telescopes to learn about the heavens. I will explain what a comet, meteor, asteroid, and supernova are through videos and simple science experiments. We will briefly discuss our solar system with its planets, asteroid belt, and nearby stars to give the kids an understanding of our place in the cosmos. I will also teach the kids a little backyard astronomy, showing them the common constellations they can observe in the night sky where they live. Finally, the handout I give the kids to download will have the vocabulary on it in the form of a word search, as well as a list of astronomy-related books, and some fun games.
Vocabulary Terms Covered in the class:
Albert Einstein
Astronomer
Telescope
Comet
Meteor
Supernova
Wormhole
Speed of Light
Speed of Sound
Light Year
Other Details
Parental Guidance
With the sensitive topic of Santa Claus, I have taken care not to infringe on anyone's beliefs. Santa will not directly appear on screen so as to not infringe on anyone's concept of what he looks like. He will appear in silhouette on video, and I will show a screenshot of his beard and hand when I attempt to call him over Zoom and by phone, but all the children will see is a beard and a gloved hand. The main engagement the kids will have will be a personalized letter that they will receive from Santa at the end of the class that they can print out.
If the children ask tough questions about Santa, I will reply mainly in the theoretical, rather than the concrete. One reason I'm in character as a scientist is because it allows me to speak about Santa in terms of, "This is my theory about how Santa does this or that," so everyone can make up their own minds as to how Santa operates, while still engendering scientific curiosity. This is ultimately the goal of the class, to get kids to be curious about science in an entertaining way.
Although I was inspired by NORAD's Santa tracker and Comet Tracker to create the class, we will not be using them in the class. I will merely play a Youtube video of the Santa tracker. The students are encouraged to participate in an experiment from a free science website called "Gismos," which will allow them to simulate the movement of the sun and the Earth. If the parents don't wish to use the website, I'll use a screen share to show the experiment.
Supply List
For the homemade snow experiment, students only need 1/4 cup of baking soda, and about 4 tablespoons of white conditioner.
Language of Instruction
English
Joined April, 2021
4.8
52reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Mary Baldwin College
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Ashland University
I specialize in Shakespeare and Astronomy, having worked in theater for over 10 years, and for two years as a professional astronomy assistant. I teach courses in Shakespeare Appreciation and Shakespearean acting, as well as basic astronomy for kids.
My strongest belief about teaching is that students need instruction that will stimulate their minds through multimedia and hands-on exercises. I believe that no subject is out of a student’s reach as long as the instructor presents it in a way that is sufficiently engaging. To this end, whenever I teach workshops or classes, I make use of my training in acting, videography, and dramaturgy in order to make whatever I teach come alive.
Summary of Experience:
- Currently working as a special education paraprofessional for the York School District
- Two years experience as Astronomy Assistant for Primland Resort (2012-2014)
-Two years experience teaching at college level Shakespeare courses
-Education Outreach director for two theatrical companies
-Proven effective Shakespeare workshops for elementary school, high school, and university-level students (2008- present)
-Master Of Fine Arts, in Shakespeare and Elizabethan Literature in Performance, Mary Baldwin College (2010)
Research/ Creative Accomplishments:
-Research paper peer-reviewed and accepted at Blackfriars academic conference (2013)
-Published articles on Blogging Shakespeare (2013- present)
-Honored at Kennedy Center for dramaturgy (2007)
Something fun about me: One summer I got to meet Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman and saw Richard Griffiths and Daniel Radcliffe onstage. I got Harry Potter bingo!Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$12
per classMeets once
60 min
Completed by 15 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 6-11
3-6 learners per class
