Astronomy and the Cosmos (FULL Curriculum, Science and Astronomy)

With the modern scientific age of powerful telescopes, astronomers have peered farther out into space and have uncovered an incredibly fascinating Universe. From our very own unique Solar System to the mysterious quasars, astronomy is an engaging and diverse area of science.

In this 12-week class, we will start by making our way through our Solar System and taking an in depth look at each planet. We will also learn about our Sun and Moon and about fascinating features of these objects.  This session will also include lessons about Pluto, comets, asteroids, stars, galaxies, and black holes.

Optional note taking pages, review, and lab/activity will be provided for each topic to deepen the learner’s understanding of the lesson. Both classes will be offered in the fall and spring semesters.

~𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙪𝙢~
This class counts towards a half credit of high school science. By taking this course and "Journey Through the Cosmos" (https://outschool.com/classes/journey-through-the-cosmos-mEpbqCso?) the student can receive a full credit of high school science.

 Upon the parent's request, students can turn in the provided note taking sheets, labs, and tests, and I can provide a grade based on the work. I am happy to recommend any additional reading or resources that might be needed to fulfill your state's education requirements.

S̲e̲e̲ t̲h̲e̲ "S̲y̲l̲l̲a̲b̲u̲s̲" s̲e̲c̲t̲i̲o̲n̲ f̲o̲r̲ a̲ d̲e̲t̲a̲i̲l̲e̲d̲ c̲l̲a̲s̲s̲ o̲u̲t̲l̲i̲n̲e̲.

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𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨:

**My goal is to keep classes close to the scheduled amount of time, however, sometimes classes with low enrollments or especially talkative students may go over or under a few minutes.

Classes will begin and end at the scheduled times, even if learners are late to the classroom or absent.

**If no learners are in the classroom, I will wait 10 minutes before exiting the classroom. As stated in Outschool’s policy, “If your learners have not joined the meeting 10 minutes after the start time, the meeting may be canceled, at the teacher’s discretion.  This is considered a missed meeting and you are not entitled to a refund.”

**To ensure safety and security, ALL of my students are required to turn their cameras on at the beginning of class so I can check identity. They may turn their cameras off after I have verified them. Students will also be asked to speak throughout each class, so a working microphone is required. This also helps ensure security and safety.

**All students will be muted upon entering the classroom to prevent background noise and distractions. Please familiarize your child with the “Mute” and “Unmute” button in Zoom. (Parents are not required to be present during class, but it is helpful to be nearby in case your child has IT issues.)

**I follow all Outschool refund policies. Please familiarize yourself with them here: https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/16379-refund-policies-and-happiness-guarantee

**For multiple learner’s from your household, Outschool’s policies states, “Parents are welcome to enroll two or more learners in the same section of a class provided that the class has enough spaces. You will need to enroll each learner separately for the section, but learners are welcome to share a device if that would make it easier to attend class.”

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𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩:

1) It’s a lifelong tool that children will use. Having an understanding of the heavens will be something they appreciate throughout their lives.

2) Astronomy encourages kids to get outside. Having an understanding of the stars will encourage kids to get outdoors and look up as they gain confidence in their knowledge of the motions and placement of celestial bodies.

3) It is a hobby that the entire family can do and enjoy together. Classical astronomy doesn’t require specialized tools or instruments. Families can simply enjoy together time, gazing at the stars.

4) It is cross-curricular. There are innumerable references to astronomy in literature and history to name a few. Having an understanding of the heavens will help to deepen an appreciation in these other areas, too.

5) Astronomy is fun and a great way to get kids excited about science! Kids can hardly get enough of hearing about black holes, exoplanets, stars, and the Solar System. Astronomy is a great “springboard” for them to delve deeper into more science and math concepts.