School Curriculum: Astronomy & Space
This page is designed to enable parents to understand what their child should be learning, when they should be learning it, and what degree of mastery the child should have attained (at a median level) by a certain grade level. For Homeschoolers, we hope that this page will serve as a valuable asset in establishing a baseline curriculum. For parents whose children attend public or private schools (or for the inquisitive student) this page should give some guidance as to whether or not the school curriculum and methods are providing students with an adequate standard of education.
What is meant by "Astronomy and Space Science," why is it important, and how is it approached ? Below is a description of the core discipline and its components, and the answers to why-how-when these components are taught. Astronomy and Space Science components have median level goals to be attained by the end of Grade 2, by the end of Grade 4, by the end of Grade 6, by the end of Grade 8, and by the end of Grade 12.
This page
does not contain articles for education in this discipline.
For educational articles, go to: Astronomy
and Space Science: A. Earth, Moon, Sun
System, B. Solar System, C. Stars, D. Galaxies and Universe
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STANDARD 5.9 (ASTRONOMY and SPACE SCIENCE) ALL STUDENTS WILL GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ORIGIN, EVOLUTION, AND STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSE |
Descriptive Statement: The study of science should include a study of the planet Earth and its relationship to the rest of the universe. This standard describes what students should know about astronomy and space science.
Strands and Cumulative Progress Indicators
By the end of Grade 2, students will:
A. Earth, Moon, Sun System
1. Recognize that the sun supplies light and heat to the Earth.
2. Observe the patterns of day and night and the movements of the shadows of an objects on the Earth during the course of a day.
B. Solar System
1. Recognize that the sun can only be seen during the day, but the moon can be seen sometimes at night and sometimes during the day.
C. Stars
1. Observe that stars are many, scattered, and different in brightness.
2. Observe that the position of the stars, with respect to each other (constellations) is unchanging.
D. Galaxies and Universe
Indicators for this strand are introduced at a higher grade level.
Building upon knowledge and skills gained in preceding grades, by the end of Grade 4, students will:
A. Earth, Moon, Sun System
1. Observe patterns that result from the Earth’s position relative to the sun and rotation of the Earth on its axis.
2. Recognize and describe the phases of the moon.
B. Solar System
1. Describe Earth as one of several planets that orbit the sun and the moon as a satellite of the Earth.
C. Stars
1. Observe that stars are not all the same in brightness, size, and color.
D. Galaxies and Universe
1. Recognized that images of celestial objects can be magnified and seen in greater detail when observed using binoculars and light telescopes.
2. Observe and record short-term and long-term changes in the night sky.
Building upon knowledge and skills gained in preceding grades, by the end of Grade 6, students will:
A. Earth, Moon, Sun System
1. Explain how the motions of the Earth, sun, and moon, define units of time including:
- days
- months
- years
2. Recognize that changes in the Earth’s position relative to the sun produces differing amounts of daylight seasonally.
B. Solar System
1. Using models, demonstrate an understanding of the scale of the solar system that shows distance and size relationships among the sun and planets.
2. Recognize that the sun's gravitational pull holds the planets in their orbits and that the planets’ gravitational pull holds their moons in their orbits.
C. Stars
1. Observe and record short-term and long-term changes in the positions of the constellations in the night sky.
2. Observe that the planets appear to change their position against the background of stars.
D. Galaxies and Universe
Reinforce indicators from previous grade level.
Building upon knowledge and skills gained in preceding grades, by the end of Grade 8, students will:
A. Earth, Moon, Sun System
1. Investigate the Earth, moon, and sun as a system and explain how the motion of these bodies results in the phases of the moon and eclipses.
2. Explain how the regular and predictable motions of the Earth and moon produce tides.
3. Explain how the tilt, rotation, and orbital pattern of the Earth relative to the sun produce seasons and weather patterns.
B. Solar System
1. Describe the physical characteristics of the planets and other objects within the solar system and compare Earth to the rest of the planets.
C. Stars
1. Understand that the sun is a star and that it shares characteristics with other stars.
D. Galaxies and Universe
1. Know that the universe consists of many billions of galaxies, each including billions of stars.
Building upon knowledge and skills gained in preceding grades, by the end of Grade 12, students will:
A. Earth, Moon, Sun System
Reinforce indicators from previous grade level.
B. Solar System
1. Explain that our solar system coalesced from a nebular cloud of gas and dust left from exploding stars.
C. Stars
1. Describe the physical characteristics, stages of development, and the apparent motions of stars.
D. Galaxies and Universe
1. Describe data gathering and observation technologies and explain how they are used to explore the solar system and beyond.
2. Cite evidence to describe the scientific theory of the origin of the universe and the current explanations of its evolution.
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