Hands on Astronomy (Ongoing)

Explore outer space in your creative space!

The Universe is incredibly fascinating and enormously vast. The celestial bodies (like planets, comets, and galaxies) that make it up are very intriguing and its size can be mind-boggling.

In this class, students will learn about some of the objects that can be found in our Universe. This will be done through two meetings each week. The first meeting will be a guided and interactive lesson, where the students will gain a deeper appreciation for the Cosmos. At the end of the class, the students will be given a fun hands-on activity for the second meeting. 

Most activities will be done together in the second class. Any classes that require out-of-class prep will be noted after the first class of the week. (Out-of-class prep will be minimal and could consist activities like a small research project or space craft design.)

**The projects use simple supplies that can typically be found around the house such as paper, cardboard, and paperclips. If the learner doesn't have the supplies, they are encouraged to use other items that are available to them.**

Students are encouraged to join at any point during the session, as the lessons do not necessarily build off of each other.

**PLEASE NOTE: The session will end after the week of September 24.

Topic 1: The Stars and Our Night Sky (Week of June 4)
We will investigate the night sky and discuss stars, constellations, and other objects that are visible right in your own backyard.
🌟Project: Constellation viewer

**No class during the week of June 11***

Topic 2: Mercury (Week of June 18)
Even though Mercury is a barren, cratered world it holds amazing features. From its intense radiation to its high temperatures, we will study about Mercury, the planet of extremes.
🌟Project: Mercury vs. The Moon

Topic 3: Venus (Week of June 25)
In this class, we will study the third brightest object in the night sky, Venus which has been observed since ancient times. Often, it is called “Earth’s Twin” but it is actually extremely different from Earth in some very significant ways.
🌟Project: Modeling Maat Mons

Topic 4: Earth (Week of July 2)
In our solar system with such diverse planets, there is only one planet that is suited for life. From its protective magnetic field to its unique atmospheric makeup, Earth has just the right balance to sustain life.
🌟Project: Building a Magnetometer

Topic 5: Earth’s Moon (Week of July 9) (Nearpod)
Earth’s moon is more than just a beautiful object to see! We will discuss the Moon’s importance and discover what causes its phases.
🌟Project: Observing Craters

Topic 6: Mars (Week of July 16)
Mars is the most studied planet beyond Earth. With its red surface, rugged terrain, and global dust storms, Mars is a fascinating world!
🌟Project: Mars Core Sample

**No class during the week of July 23***

Topic 7: Jupiter (Week of July 30)
In this class we will study about the mighty gas giant, Jupiter, that is often called the King of the Planets. With its many moons, it resembles a sort of mini-solar system. From its size, to its mysterious giant spot, Jupiter has fascinated and amazed astronomers for centuries.
🌟Project: Investigating Jupiter's Layers

Topic 8: Saturn (Week of August 6)
In this class, we will look at the second largest planet in the solar system, Saturn. With its many moons and beautiful ring system, Saturn is a majestic planet to behold.
🌟Project: Saturn Model

**No class during the week of August 13***

Topic 9: Uranus and Neptune (Week of August 20) 
In this class, we will study about Uranus and Neptune. They are the outermost planets and have continually fascinated people. From their striking color to their many incredible moons, these Gas Giants will continue to amaze.
🌟Project: Exploring Wind Speed


Topic 11: Pluto, Asteroids, and Comets (Week of August 27)
If Pluto isn’t a planet, what is it? Are there differences between asteroids and comets? In this lesson, we will talk about these rocky bodies.
🌟Project: Comet and Asteroid Model

**No class during the week of September 3***

Topic 12: The Sun (Week of September 10)
In this class, we will study our consistent, yet active Sun. It is in a sense, the anchor for our Solar System. While much is known about our nearest star, scientists are still unraveling more incredible discoveries about our crucial, life sustaining Sun.
🌟Project: Constructing a Sundial

Topic 13: Exoplanets (Week of September 17)
While our Solar System is unique, scientists have discovered thousands of other worlds beyond our own. In this class, we will study about how astronomers can detect exoplanets and learn about some interesting features of these alien planets.
🌟Project: Exoplanet Discovery

Topic 14: Galaxies and Black Holes (Week of September 24)
Look out! It's a black hole! Should we be concerned that a black hole will swallow the Earth? Are there really billions more galaxies beyond our own Milky Way? What about planets outside of our Solar System? These are questions that any space enthusiast has asked. In this lesson, we’ll study some of the Universe's most fascinating objects: galaxies and black holes.
🌟Project: Milky Way Model

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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.”