Astrophysics Adventures: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe
Introduce your child to the wonders of the universe with this Astrophysics course. Designed for ages 10-14, this interactive class simplifies complex concepts like the life cycle of stars, black holes, and the Big Bang theory.
What's included
10 live meetings
10 in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. 1-2 throughout the classAssessment
1 after class completionClass Experience
Beginner Level
In this comprehensive self-paced course, students aged 10-14 will embark on an exciting journey through the cosmos, learning the fundamental concepts of astrophysics. They will explore the birth and life cycle of stars, dive into the mysterious realms of black holes and neutron stars, and understand the universe's origins through the Big Bang theory. By the end of this course, students will have a strong grasp of key astrophysical concepts and be able to discuss the mysteries of space with confidence. Topics Covered What is Astrophysics? How Stars are Born and the life of a star The Death of Stars – Exploring red giants, supernovae, and what remains. Black holes and Neutron Stars The Big Bang and Evidence for the Big Bang – Cosmic microwave background, redshift. Expansion of the Universe – Understanding how the universe is growing. Dark Matter and Dark Energy My class structure emphasises interactive discussions, videos, demonstrations, and targeted questioning to facilitate learning. Students will have opportunities to engage with both the instructor and their peers through collaborative activities and discussions. Student-centered learning is prioritised in each lesson, offering differentiated tasks and personalised instruction to accommodate diverse learning styles.
Learning Goals
Understand the Basic Concepts of Astrophysics: Students will be able to explain what astrophysics is and its importance in understanding the universe
Students will be able to outline the process of star formation, the stages of a star's life, and what happens when stars die, including the formation of red giants, supernovae, and star remnants.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum10 Lessons
over 10 WeeksLesson 1:
What is Astrophysics and the Scale of the Universe
This lesson introduces students to the field of astrophysics, explaining how it combines physics and astronomy to understand the universe. Students will learn about the fundamental questions astrophysicists seek to answer and how these questions help us understand cosmic phenomena. Students will explore the vastness of the universe, learning about astronomical units, light-years, and the relative sizes of celestial objects.
60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
How stars are born and Life of a star
This lesson covers the birth of stars, starting from nebulae, the massive clouds of gas and dust in space. Students will learn about the processes that trigger star formation and the early stages of a star's life. Students will delve into the main sequence phase of a star's life, where it spends most of its existence. This lesson explains how stars generate energy through nuclear fusion and how their properties change over time.
60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
The Death of Stars
This lesson explores the end stages of a star's life, including the formation of red giants, supernovae, and the creation of remnants like white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes. Students will learn about the dramatic transformations that occur as stars exhaust their fuel and the cosmic events that follow.
60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Black Holes, Neutron Stars and Pulsars
Students will learn about black holes, focusing on their formation, properties, and the concept of the event horizon. The lesson includes visual explanations of how black holes warp space-time and their effects on nearby objects. This lesson introduces neutron stars and pulsars, explaining their extreme densities and unique characteristics. Students will learn how neutron stars form from supernovae and how pulsars emit beams of radiation.
60 mins online live lesson
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
We will refer to NASA Science website for videos and information from time to time throughout this course.
Reviews
Live Group Course
$15
weekly or $150 for 10 classes1x per week, 10 weeks
60 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-14
4-10 learners per class