Astronomy

Avon Lake City Schools

Curriculum Framework

Astronomy

Course Overview:

This course is a one-semester course designed to be an introductory study of astronomy. During the course, extensive use is made of the planetarium facility. Topics covered include the stars, sun, moon, and planets as well as the motions of these bodies as viewed from the earth. The composition and “life histories” of these bodies and others as well as of the universe as a whole is also studied. The student is responsible for having a small flashlight. Prerequisites: Completed 1 year of Geometry with a C or better. This class meets one period daily for ½ unit of credit. FEE: $15

Textbook:

Teacher-created materials and other sources

Online/Supplemental Materials:

Google Classroom

Assessments:

Unit tests and semester final exam

Content/Topics/Learning Goals

Subject to Pacing and Schedules

First Quarter - Earth's Place in the Universe

Star Mapping

  • Students will analyze celestial motions in order to map and identify celestial objects from any latitude at any time of year

Solar Motion

  • Students will analyze the motion of the sun from any latitude at any time of year and will relate this motion to climate.

Lunar Motion

  • Students will analyze lunar motion in order to identify the geometric arrangements that create lunar phases and to determine the times of visibility for each phase.

Second Quarter - Earth's Place in the Universe

Eclipses

  • Students will analyze the geometrical arrangements and conditions that create each type of solar eclipse and lunar eclipses.

Solar System

  • Students will analyze the geometry of the solar system as it relates to the following:
    • Motions of planets as viewed from Earth.
    • Planetary orbits.
  • Students will analyze the characteristics of the eight planets of the solar system along with other objects such as asteroids, meteors, comets, and dwarf planets and will relate these to the formation of the solar system.

The Universe

  • Students will analyze the formation of and characteristics of the universe according to the Big Bang theory and will analyze evidence that supports the Big Bang theory, such as red shift of light from galaxies as an indication that the universe is currently expanding, the cosmic microwave background as the remnant radiation from the Big Bang, and the observed composition of ordinary matter of the universe, primarily found in stars and interstellar gases.
  • Students will analyze star and galaxy formation with an emphasis on Newtonian gravitational laws and nuclear fusion.
  • Students will analyze star death with a focus on variation as a function of the mass of a star and the stage of its lifetime.

Updated: September, 2023