The ARIES curriculum brings the excitement of discovery-based science to elementary and middle school students, using themes from astronomy as the central focus. Students use innovative, simple, and affordable materials to carry out a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities. Each module encourages students to learn and master a limited number of powerful scientific concepts.

Eight self-contained modules present key areas of physical science deemed essential in all the new science standards. 

	Exploring the Earth in Motion: Daylight, Sun, and Shadow Patterns  Students investigate shadows, the changing relationship between the Earth and the Sun, the daily path of the Sun, and the spin of the Earth. Grades 3-6
		Exploring the Moon and Stars: Cycles, Phases, and Patterns  Students explore the Earth-Sun relationship to discover the reasons for seasons. They also develop a model for understanding the phases and motions of the Moon and learn how to find patterns in the night sky. Grades 5-8
	Exploring Waves: Water, Vibrations, and Sound  Students observe waves and wave motion, build ripple tanks to explore water waves, and make and play their own musical instruments to investigate sound. Grades 5-8
		Exploring Energy: Waterwheels, Windmills, and Sunlight  Students investigate the concepts of energy and work. They observe the effects of energy transferal, and harness the energy of flowing water, wind, and sunlight to do work. Grades 3-6
	Exploring Light and Color: Filters, Lenses, and Color  Students investigate characteristics of light. They examine light and vision, color filters, reflections, and lenses. Grades 3-6
		Exploring Navigation: Location, Direction, and Latitude  Students develop an understanding of how to use the Sun and the stars to determine their location. Grades 5-8
	Exploring Time: Sundials, Waterclocks, and Pendulums  Students explore the concepts of time and timekeeping. They study time from historical and cultural perspectives; they relate time to day and night and the seasons; and they build timekeeping devices. Grades 3-6
		Exploring Motion and Forces: Speed, Acceleration, and Friction Students use air pucks, balls and tracks, and fan carts to investigate various forces and their resultant motions. They develop a working understanding of the concepts of inertia, frictions, gravity, speed, and acceleration. Grades 5-8

Each ARIES module consists of a Teacher Resource Binder, 30 Student Science Journals, and specialized classroom materials. The Teacher Resource Binder includes: 

• Detailed lesson plans for all explorations

• Extensive historical and science background notes

• Teaching strategies

• Intercurricular extensions

• References for additional resources

• Assessment measures and suggested scoring strategies 

The ARIES modules, as well as complete sets of classroom materials, are available from
Charlesbridge Publishing Company, of Watertown, MA.

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