Woman in Astronomy: Henrietta Swan Leavitt
In this one time STEAM class, we will discuss a remarkable woman astronomer, Henrietta Leavitt. Although we will briefly talk about her life, we will concentrate mostly on her main contribution to astronomy.
Breezy Ocaña Flaquer, PhD
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(30)
What's included
1 live meeting
1 in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 3 - 6
*** All my classes are available in Spanish upon request *** In this one-time class, students will meet Henrietta Swan Leavitt, an astronomer whose discoveries are still vital to astronomers today. We will focus on her main contribution, a rule she discovered to measure distances in space. While understanding this, students will learn about parallax, apparent magnitude, absolute magnitude, variable stars, and Cepheids. These concepts will be explained through hands-on activities and in child-friendly language, without sacrificing scientific content. I will use materials to support visualization and the learning process. Students can bring their own materials (listed below) if they wish to experiment themselves. Although this class uses a PowerPoint, students are encouraged to actively participate in activities and discussions to experience the concepts firsthand. No prior knowledge of astronomy is required. Leavitt's main contribution is published in this article: https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1912HarCi.173....1L, and we will explain it in accessible terms during the class.
Other Details
Supply List
Students can bring a flashlight and 2 balls (they can be different size or the same size, as small or as large as they want as long as they can hold it with one hand)
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
One of the books I used for reference was The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars by Dava Sobel, along with the references therein. Additionally, here is a list of some of the papers consulted:
Leavitt, Henrietta S. (1908). “1777 Variables in the Magellanic Clouds.” Annals of Harvard College Observatory, 60: 87–108. Bibcode: 1908AnHar…60…87L.
Leavitt, Henrietta S.; Pickering, Edward C. (1912). “Periods of 25 Variable Stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud.” Harvard College Observatory Circular, 173: 1–3. Bibcode: 1912HarCi.173….1L.
Hubble, Edwin P. (1929). “A Spiral Nebula as a Stellar System, Messier 31.” Astrophysical Journal, 69: 103–158. Bibcode: 1929ApJ….69…103H. doi:10.1086/143167.
Moreover, I used astronomy books and my own knowledge to explain all the concepts necessary to understand her outstanding contribution to cosmology in this class.
Joined October, 2021
5.0
30reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Doctoral Degree in Science from Granada University
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Florida Institute of Technology
Ph. D. in Astrophysics - Astrophysics/Astronomy Communicator/Educator/Adjunct at the San Diego University volunteering on a number of community projects that promote a mindful STEAM curriculum. I also homeschool my three children, and I am personally active internationally offering workshops to both children, adults and teachers.Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$80
per classMeets once
60 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
1-3 learners per class
