Space Mission 1: Astronomy, Astronauts & Exploration-(Semester Course, Ages 5-9)

In this 4-week, 6-week or 12-week course (depending on the number of days per week classes are held), students will take a learning adventure throughout our Solar System & will be able to:
1.	Identify & Label the planets in our Solar System 
2.	Characterize & Discuss how each planet is unique
3.	Recognize how the Earth & her Moon are unique from other planets and moons.
4.	List the Order of our Solar System from the Sun to the Outermost Planet
5.	Discuss, Define & Name: What is a Telescope? Who invented the telescope? How do we use telescopes nowadays? 
6.	Discuss, Define & Explain: What is a Constellation? How do we identify them in the night’s sky? 
7.	Recognize & Identify at least 5 different Constellations in a Star Chart
8.	Discuss, Define & Discover: What is an Astronaut? What do they do? Where have they traveled to in Space? How do they Train?
9.	Discover, Discuss & Recognize Things Orbiting Earth (An in-depth look into The International Space Station, Satellites & More)
10.	Recognize, Discuss & Identify Other Objects in Space
11.	 Categorize the Main Types of Spacecraft sent into space by humans.
12.	 Apply knowledge by Creating and Presenting a Space Adventure Project as a class.
Class Experience: 
Astronomy has always been an important part of human history, from the Ancient Greeks and Mayan astronomers, to Nicolaus Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, Galileo, Isaac Newton, and even to Albert Einstein. Astronomy has played a mysterious, yet vital role in our world. After all, as humans, we have an innate desire to be explorers and space is, perhaps, one of the most thrilling areas of unimaginable and untapped exploration and discovery. As many nations have been delving deeper and deeper into their space programs, pushing the limits of human interaction with our solar surroundings and the cosmos, it is vital to instill a love of learning about space into the minds of the next generation. This class will focus on our solar system, Earth and her Moon, things orbiting the Earth, Telescopes, Constellations, while also allowing students to learn about astronauts, the training, and what they do. Students will be given a variety of opportunities to discuss areas of space exploration they want to share with the class, and there will be a Space Adventure Project created jointly as a class.
12-Week Schedule of Learning is as follows:
Week 1: Let’s be Astronomers: The Solar System, The Sun, Mercury, & Venus
Week 2: Let’s be Astronomers: Earth, Our Moon & Mars, compare & contrast the first 4 planets
Week 3: Let’s be Astronomers: Jupiter & Saturn
Week 4: Let’s be Astronomers: Uranus & Neptune, compare & contrast the last 4 planets
Week 5: Let’s be Astronomers: Comparing the planets in our Solar System, Comparison Game
Week 6: Let’s be Astronomers: History of Telescopes & How We Use Them, Identifying Other Things in Space
Week 7: Let’s be Astronomers: Identifying Constellations & Other Things in Space (continued)
Week 8: Let’s Be Astronauts: What they do, how they train, and where they have traveled 
Week 9: Let’s be Astronauts: Types of Space Exploration & where we may go in the Future
Week 10: Let’s be Astronauts: Identify & Discuss the Main Types of Spacecraft and where they have been sent in space
Week 11: Let’s be Explorers: What we can see in space-The Space Station, Satellites & Other things Orbiting Earth (with an on-board look into the International Space Station)
Week 12: Let’s be Explorers: Let’s Go on a Space Adventure-Summary Class Project
(During the Summer & Holidays, a 4-week version of this class may be available, in which case, we will meet twice each week).
Teacher will use a combination of teaching strategies and methodologies, using Game-based and Visual Learning, Inquiry-based Learning, slide presentations, videos, and discussions. Teacher will present the information in a fun, informative manner & then students and teacher will discuss each topic, while drawing conclusions, making comparisons, identifying the key information, and learning all about our own solar system, telescopes, constellations, things found in space, spacecraft, astronauts, and more.
*No prior knowledge is necessary.