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 ARIES
Astronomy Resources for Intercurricular
Elementary Science
Our exploration of the physical
world began with ancient peoples looking up and wondering about the appearance,
nature and motion of celestial objects. ARIES draws on this natural human
curiosity about astronomy to explore phenomena and to provide a foundation of
knowledge with which students can approach physical science.
Four
of the ARIES curriculum modules (Time, Earth in Motion, Moon and Stars, and
Navigation) comprise a strand of astronomy-related topics. Modeling the motions
of the moon and earth and their changing orientation to the sun ands each other
is the way scientists have come to understand the patterns and cycles of nature
on earth and in the sky.
The
remaining modules (Light and Color, Energy, Waves, and Motion and Forces)
constitute a strand which presents commonly taught topics in the physical
sciences. Starting with a model of the natural world based upon the concept of
energy in its numerous forms is the way scientists have come to understand the
behavior of light, waves, motion, and forces.
A brief description of the 8
curriculum modules follows.
Recommended for students in
upper elementary and middle school
 Exploring
Time – (Course
16.725 – 1 credit) Every method for keeping or measuring time depends upon a
natural phenomenon that is constant, repetitive and predictable. The important
content in this module includes nature of shadows, patterns of outdoor shadows
during the course of the day, predictability of shadow patterns as a means of
telling time, factors affecting the flow of water as a means of telling time,
length as the determining factor in the period of a pendulum, and predictability
of a pendulum in measuring small amounts of time.
 Exploring Light and Color –
(Course 16.727 – 1 credit) Many aspects of the behavior of light –
reflection, scattering, refraction, and colors – and our ability to see
things, makes most sense when light is described as particles instead of waves.
The important content in this module includes the nature of light, the effect of
mirrors on light paths, the effect of a prism on a beam of white light, the
effect of water on a light beam, observing scattered light, and the nature of
lenses.
 Exploring the Earth in Motion –
(Course 16.735 – 2 credits) Outdoor shadow patterns, day and night and the
apparent motion of the sun and its changing path in the sky can be described in
terms of the Earth’s changing orientation to the sun. The important content in
this module includes patterns of outdoor shadows during the course of the day,
changing patterns in hors of daylight, using a magnet to find direction,
measuring the angular height of the sun, patterns of the sun’s apparent motion
in the sky at different time of the year, nature of lenses, and building and
using a refracting telescope.
 Exploring Energy –
(Course 16.729 – 1 credit) The concept of energy in all its forms –
including flowing water, wind, and sunlight – is the basic foundation for much
of our understanding of the physical world. The important content in this module
includes a definition of “energy” and “work”, the relationship between
energy and work, the energy of flowing water, wind as an energy source, sunlight
as energy, and using energy to do useful work.
 Exploring
the Moon and Stars – (Course 16.736 – 2 credits) Observation of shadows can
provide evidence for the changing orientation of the Earth and Sun, which causes
the seasons and differences in the length of each day. Direct observation of the
Moon’s apparent shape and movement can yield inferences about the Moon’s
orbital and axial motions. Observation makes it possible to predict how the
stars move across the night sky and how the night sky changes from season to
season. This module employs 17 explorations to “uncover” the reason for the
seasons, to track the moon in the sky, and to understand the night sky.
 Exploring
Motion and Forces – (Course 16.737 – 2 credits) Everything has been pushed
or pulled into motion and only stops when other forces act on them. This module
employs 18 explorations to “uncover” forces (push and pull) and motions,
inertia and friction, Newton’s model of gravity, speed and acceleration,
motions on horizontal surfaces and inclined planes, and falling, sliding,
rolling and wheeled motions.
 Exploring
Navigation –
(Course 16.726 – 1 credit) Navigation over the surface of the earth is
possible by using the relative positions of the sun in the daytime and the stars
at night. Various types of maps document location and size. The important
content in this module includes map scale and aerial views, magnetic compasses,
plotting a course, global grids, determining latitude, and celestial navigation
using the sun and the stars.
 Exploring
Waves –
(Course 16.728 – 1 credit) A wave is a conceptual model to understand a way
for energy to get from one place to another. The important content in this
module includes the nature of waves, how water waves behave, sound waves,
transmitting sound through various media, and sound patterns, pitch and music.
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