11-20 Update and Space Party Requests

Today we had a great day in class discussing Mars - the red planet. We spent time outside exploring polar ice caps with dry ice. The children learned about the process of sublimation and should be able to explain it to you. We ended our class time with a fun game to review terms and concepts studied this semester!

On Dec. 11th, we will have our last day of Astronomy class for the semester. We will have a SPACED OUT PARTY! Please let this be a surprise - I am ordering something for the kids, but wanted to ask if any parents/students would like to contribute some SPACE snacks for our day.
I know many of you are creative. However, this could be a great project for your children to do as well. Thank you for anything you would like to do to make this a FUN occasion. Here's a few fun ideas I found online, but you are welcome to create your own.

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50070 - Crater Cake http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50204 - Space Cake http://www.gamescraftscoloring.com/recipes/rocket_cake_space_party.htm - rocket cake

Of course, you can create your own - Crater Cookies, Mercury Mix, Jupiter Jam, Asteroid Apples, etc... (I'm just making up names!) Kids can create fun ideas in their imaginations!

I would be grateful to anyone who can create something for our party. Have fun with it! We will be playing some fun games to review what we have learned, and parents are welcome to attend.
Finally, all students who have not presented thus far will be presenting on Dec. 4th - in two weeks. Please e-mail me with any questions. Have a wonderful break! Enjoy your time off!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving! We have so much to be grateful for, don't we?

Class Update 11-5

The Astronomy class is going great! Last week, we learned about the levels of the atmosphere, the biosphere, and did an activity relying on the Earth's magnetophere! There were lots of words ending in -sphere! (Ha-ha) (Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Exosphere, etc...)
The class completed two pages about the atmosphere of the Earth and it's interior layers.

We then went outside for our magnetsphere activity, trusting a compass to lead us to the "treasure." I introduced the term - assumptive language - to them. This is when a scientific theory is stated as fact. Assumptive language assumes that the reader will accept it as truth. The Big Bang theory and evolution are often described with assumptive language.

This week, we are having "Presentations and Popcorn!" Yeah! Parents - as always - are welcome to come and enjoy the class with us!

Here is the order I will follow for the presentations:

Our Solar System Date to Present: Nov. 6 Assigned to: CJM
Mercury Date to Present: Nov. 6 Assigned to: KH
Mariner 2 and Mariner 10 Date to Present: Nov. 6 Assigned to: MB
Venus Date to Present: Nov. 6 Assigned to: TB
Earth Date to Present: Nov. 6 Assigned to: FB

Finally, by next week, be sure your students have read p.66-74 in the book and have them write one paragraph (at least) comparing the Big Bang theory to what the Bible says about how the Earth was created. These assignments are listed in detail on the syllabus from 10/30 & 11/6.

Update 10/28

I hope everyone is ready to return to TC this week. It was a wonderful break for our family, but this week we are getting back on schedule.

Please be sure your children are caught up on the reading. They should have read through page 64 in the book. There was not a reading assignment given over Fall Break, but several students had not read chapter 5 the week it was due. We will continue examining the Earth this week. This last chapter will fortify their understanding of the material covered in class if they are familiar with it. (Chapter 5 in the book - pgs. 52-64)

The next date for presentations is November 6th. That is 9 days from today! If your children haven't started their presentation, encourage them to begin. I e-mailed the list of presentations earlier, but if you are unsure about the date your child was assigned, please send me an e-mail.

I'm enjoying this class, and hope your children are as well!

Class Update 10/2

Here is a very brief update on yesterday. I went to a funeral after TC.

However, I wanted to touch base before I left. I returned all of the class feedback and my grading sheet to the students who presented last week. Their presentations were FANTASTIC! The students did a tremendous job presenting thier topics. I could tell they worked hard preparing. Yesterday all of the class had the opportunity to read the visual aids from last week. I am looking forward to the next set of presentations!

We watched the amazing DVD by Louie Giglio called Indescribable. He used images from space to describe the incredible, amazing beauty in God's vast creation. Some of the statistics he shared blew my mind. It's incomprehensible how enormous the universe is in size. AMAZING! Toward the end of the video, there was a picture of Christ on the cross. I realized later that this picture might have bothered some of the younger kids. I didn't pick up on that in class, but I wanted to make you aware from one parent to another. Louie Giglio's point was that God is soooo incredibly HUGE, and yet loved us enough to send his son for us. Overall, I think the children were amazed by the video and the pulsating star! (Ask them if a pulsating star makes a sound!) Or, ask them if our solar system were the size of a quarter, how large is the Milky Way galaxy?! (The size of North America) Or, ask them how long it would take to count all of the stars in the Milky Way galaxy if they counted one star every second?! (2,500 years!) Ask them what a sombrero galaxy or spiral galaxy looks like. They are beautiful, and God has now granted us the technology to be able to view their beauty out in space. Amazing!

Next week, we will discuss and perform activities regarding our second planet, Venus. This chapter is the reading assignment this week.

Last night, the funeral our family attended closed with the great hymn How Great Thou Art. As we sang the first verse, I thought about all that we are learning in class. It's a blessing to be studying and learning about God's creation with your children.
"Oh Lord my God!
Who I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul
My Savior God to thee;
How great thou art,
How great thou art!
Then sings my soul
My Savior God to thee;
How great thou art,
How great thou art!

PERFECT PRESENTATIONS 9-25

Today was the first day of presentations covering the first six weeks of material discussed in class. Six students shared about different assigned topics today. They set the standard for the class. The bar now sits very high! Their preparation was evident, their visual aids were neat and creative, and their understanding of the topics exceeded my expectations! I was impressed today with the efforts!

Additionally, my compliments to all of the students for their encouraging words to each other, and their respectful behavior during the presentations. Everyone listened and learned!

Our presentations began with an informative address about Stonehenge by NW. Did you know each block must have been carried by over 500 people for at least 50 miles!? Did you know there were ditches dug around Stonehenge? Did you know that bones have been found nearby indicating perhaps where the builders of Stonehenge lived? Did you know Stonehenge is made of chalk? Did you know all of this was in NW's report?

He presented a marvelous detailed presentation containing these and many other interesting facts about this curious structure in England. It was very interesting to hear the legends surrounding Stonehenge.

WP introduced the heliocentric view first discovered by Nicolas Copernicus. (Helio = Sun, Centric = Center) At a time when the entire civilized world believed all celestial objects revolved around the Earth, Nicolas Copernicus questioned this belief. He served as a clergyman in the church, and centered his own belief on God! (That is awesome!) His picture circulates on Polish currency, and he is buried at the same church where he served. WP did a fabulous presentation on this great man.

Sadly, I was so enthralled with his speech that I neglected to take pictures. His poster was informative and eye-catching. :-) I will have a picture of WP with his visual aid next week! I am sorry I missed it today! Please extend a little grace to me! I do want everyone to see his creative work!

Galileo stretched the minds of ancient times because of his belief in Nicolas Copernicus' view that the Sun was the center of our Solar System. Galileo spent many years under house arrest for not recanting his belief. ES shared these and other intricate details about his life. For instance, I learned that he kept a doctor near to his house so he could still have medical care while being under house arrest. :-) MS displayed her colorful graphic organizer to represent this man who made such an impact on our understanding of the universe.

The Latin words "umbra" and "penumbra" are not only used to describe eclipses as we learned in class. Today, ES informed us that these words are also applied to Sunspots on the Sun! (I did not know that!) She also shared that the Aztecs had a Sun God with dark spots on his face with the presumption that the Aztecs had witnessed the Sunspots. ES shared her extensive research on sunspots and solar flares teaching all of us many facts we did not know. She did a wonderful job!

The students learned a tremendous amount of information about the Sun today from PB. She shared some facts about our central star, quizzed the kids on their knowledge, discussed the different layers of the Sun, and taught about some of the positive and negative consequences of having the Sun above us! (Wear your sunscreen! Ha-ha!) She did a superb job of interacting with the class while making her points. :-) Very clever and imaginative!

The entire class was engaged when PB asked for help "labeling" the parts of the Sun. She chose people in the class to come up and place the correct name on that part of the Sun. It was very creative!

PC ended our day with a great presentation on Solar and Lunar Eclipses. We could even see where the craters of the moon were outlined by the Sun! Very cool! Did you know there is geometry during a Lunar Eclipse? (We are now learning Math and Astronomy!) Did you know the moon turns reddish/orange when there is a lunar eclipse?! Check out his visual display and you can witness a lunar eclipse from beginning to end! Whoa!

I learned so much today from these students. Today they literally taught all of us something new. It was evident they all worked very hard preparing for their presentation. Every child had researched and studied their topic! I was impressed with the content of the presentations today! The students presenting later in the semester have a hard act to follow! Every child did GREAT today!

Mercury, Craters, and Light 9/18

Today's class covered quite a bit. We reviewed the reading from the book and discussed facts about Mercury. We talked about it's speed of rotation, length of days, temperature, exterior features, type of orbit - elliptical, etc...

We then moved outside to make "craters" in flour. This was the activity suggested in the book reading. Hopefully, even with issues, they were able to see how craters are formed and some of the things that affect how craters are formed (size of object, distance, speed).

Once we returned inside, we continued to talk about Mercury's core. Currently, astronomers believe that Mercury's core is one of the largest of any planet in our solar system. It is made of iron and nickel, so it is extremely dense. Mercury's mass is very great. I passed around a heavy cast-iron skillet so that the students could grasp the dense nature of iron.

Additionally, scientists believe that the core extends out to the crust of Mercury. There are not additional layers as in Earth and the Sun. I sliced an orange and showed them that the inside resembles the core of Mercury. The outside of the orange resembles the exterior of the planet as well because it is pitted!

One question still remains for scientists; is Mercury's core a solid or liquid? The children made their own guess and ate an orange slice if they thought Mercury's core is solid and drank orange juice if they thought it is liquid. :-) (Yes, I found this idea in a book!)

We ended today's class with a short Magic School Bus video. It is called "MSB Makes a Rainbow" and it is the best source I have found to explain color to children. Last week, they were amazed by the color spectrum refractions, so I thought we would "go a little deeper" with it. They were able to see how all of the colors separate out of white light and combine to make white light.

For extra focus on Mercury, have your child play the game in the link below! It's really neat!

Don't forget next week begins the presentations! Yeah! I'm bringing popcorn! Parents are welcome to join us for presentations! We would love to have you!

Great Interactive Mercury Game

Here's a great link for your children to try. As they answer questions correctly, it will compose a photo of Mercury.

http://members.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/activities/radiobuttonquiz/Mercurypz.shtml

Studying MORE About The Sun 9-11

Sorry, I didn't take any pictures this week. However, the reason is because we were so busy learning in class! (I'm challenging your children! Ha-ha!)

Today, we reviewed all of Chapter two from the text. Students orally answered the questions posed and we enjoyed a Socratic dialogue about the topics from the book. The scripture used in class today was Psalm 19:1, and it supplies an answer to the purpose of our astounding skies!

During this discussion, I gave them a general definition of thermonuclear fusion by drawing a simple picture on the white board of Hydrogen atoms exploding to form Helium atoms. The chemical element abbreviations were used.

I also taught them the terms umbra and penumbra. These refer to the shadow, and these terms are used often to describe an eclipse. (Umbra is the Latin term for shadow and the word "umbrella" uses the same root word.) Your children should remember which term refers to a complete shadow. :-)

The students learned another mnemonic to memorize the order of the color spectrum. ROY G. BIV (pronounced just like a name) R-red O-orange Y-yellow G-green B-blue I-indigo V-violet. This order is never altered. The spectrum is another thing that God designed with SEVEN components!

After our discussion, I divided the students into three "centers." All students rotated through all three during the remainder of class.

Center One -
1 - Students drew a color spectrum with the mnemonic above it. (They will receive a prize next week if they know it!)
2 - Center One worked on creating a poster containing pictures and fact we have learned about the Sun.

Center Two -
1- Students colored and labeled the layers and outer portion of the Sun. New vocabulary was introduced, but I felt the kids should have some exposure to the words.
2 - Students answered 10 True/False questions about the Sun.

Center Three -
1- A "top" was spun so the "axis" of the Earth could be visualized.
2- We directed a flashlight onto a white surface and then a black surface. You children should remember which color absorbed the light.
3- Using a flashlight (Sun), a ball (Moon), and a globe (Earth) we were able to model a Solar and Lunar Eclipse. What was the umbra?
4- A crystal refracted the light from the flashlight to project many color spectrums onto the wall! Guess what? They were all in the same order - ROY G BIV!

We ended class today reviewing the True/False questions! Your kids did FANTASTIC! Be sure you ask to see their Sun model. I was impressed with their artistic ability!

By the way, I LOVE what your children are learning at home and the creative ways they are sharing it! We have had some incredible drawings, short reports, magazine articles, etc... Encourage them to learn on their own! They are rewarded in class for bringing some "new knowledge" to share! Remember, it doesn't need to be fancy, but it does need to be written down on paper.

Your children are a joy! I hope they are enjoying this class, because I have certainly been blessed to teach it!

DON'T FORGET THE FIRST PRESENTATIONS ARE DUE IN TWO WEEKS!!

Exploring the Sun's Heat 9-4

Thank you for reminding me to put these pictures on the BLOG! Sorry for the delay!

Here's the update from last week...

Don't worry - this chocolate-licker belongs to the teacher! Oh my!

M is enjoying melting the Hershey bar! It's beginning to melt!

Last week was an interesting and informative class. After reviewing the reading assignment with oral questions, we walked outside for the remainder of our class time. All of our activities required space for movement...and heat from the Sun.

We role played revolving, rotating, and orbiting. The students saw how difficult it was to rotate, revolve and orbit at the same time! They were dizzy! We also discussed how the Earth turns on it's axis.

Here are a few pictures from our fun day with CHOCOLATE! The children explored the Sun's heat by melting Hershey bars with magnifying glasses. They determined if the chocolate melted faster with a larger or smaller concentrated area. They also held the MGs at different angles to focus the heat! The children had A LOT OF FUN during this class!

Big smiles!
This chocolate lover belongs to another TC teacher! Our families must LOVE chocolate!

Yes, with some persistence, the chocolate CAUGHT ON FIRE!

W is patient!

I tried to keep the magnifying glasses on the chocolate, but I think a few of the boys now know how to burn leaves armed with a magnifying glass! Sorry parents! :-) You can be comforted that they are learning something in this Astronomy class! Hee-hee!

8-28 Solar System Model Built to Scale!

Today in class, we built a "to-scale" model of the Solar System. (I wish I could take credit for this great idea, but I found it in the upper level Apologia Exploring Creation with Physical Science Book by Jay Wile.)

We found balls to represent the planet sizes, and we used toilet paper to measure the distance of the planets from the Sun. These are two different sizing scales, but the children are able to get "the idea" of the magnitude in God's universe!

This is what we did...(hopefully, this will help another homeschooler out there!) First, we measured out a 20' x 20' circle to represent the Sun. We used a rope to mark the outline.

Each square of toilet paper represents approx. 31,000,000 miles! Yes, one square = 31 million miles!

Planet - - Representation - -Distance on Toilet Paper

Sun - -20' x 20' circle of rope - - begin toilet paper roll
Mercury - - small marble - - 1st square
Venus - - golf ball - - 2nd square
Earth - - golf ball - - 3rd square
Mars - - large marble - - 5th square
- - Asteroid Belt - -
Jupiter - - large beach ball - - 15th square
Saturn - - basketball - - 30th square
Uranus - - softball - - 60th square
Neptune - - baseball - - 89th square
Pluto - - bb pellet - - 90th square

It was amazing to see the distance of the planets from the sun. Additionally, the relative enormity of the Sun in relation to the planets. God is amazing! We serve an incredible God! In the picture below, all of the students are standing inside the "Sun," and the black ball in front of them represents Jupiter. Whoa!


Finally, we also learned a mnemonic to remember the correct order of the planets.

My Very Educated Mother Just Showed Us Nine Planets. Every word begins with the same letter as the planet's name. (Although Pluto has been "declassified" as a planet, I would encourage your students to know that is was a planet at one time. My children will memorize all nine, but feel free to have your child stop at Neptune if you desire. The mnemonic can be "My Very Educated Mother Just Showed Us Neptune.")

We discussed some of the topics from Chapter One. This week, I have encouraged the students to memorize the above mnemonic to recite the order of the planets from memory. Your child should be able to tell you the "inner planets" and the "outer planets."

We are off the a great start! I am enjoying your children tremendously! Based on the photo below, at least one boy enjoyed class today! Ha-ha!

Next week we will be doing some experiments to explore the heat of the Sun, and exploring the difference between rotation, revolution, and orbit.

8-21 Update

We had a wonderful first day of class! We enjoyed getting to know one another, playing a game to introduce some of the astronomy terms and concepts we will cover this year, and assigning the report topics for the class presentations. Each week, children have a short reading assignment from the text, but their presentations are where I would like them to place their effort. Please refer to the parent letter for more information. It is posted below.

QUIZ QUESTIONS - (just a few of the things mentioned in class)
Who was Nicolous Copernicus and what did he discover? Early scientist - the sun is in the center of the Solar System
What did Galileo create? Telescope
How fast does light travel? 186,000 mi. / second
What is in the center of our Solar System? Sun
Who knows the names of all the stars? God
What color is Mars? Red
How can we tell the temperature of a star? By its' color

Next week, we will build a "to-scale" model of the Solar System and create a mnemonic to memorize the order of the planets! See you then!

Web Links for Astronomy

I was going to compile a list of weblinks for astronomy games and activities. In my search, I found another homeschooler had done the work for me. Yippee!

Please be aware, some of the sites may not present the material from a Creationist's view. Be mindful of this as your child explores them. Overall, I believe they will enrich the study of astronomy this year.

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/explore/astronomy.htm

Field Trip Opportunity

(I am not organizing this, just passing along the information. However, I have signed up for it. If you come, you will see us there!)

Wednesday October 15 at 11am
Heritage Planetarium in Maryville, TN
Catch a Planetarium Show and a Lazer Show!
Secret of the Cardboard Rocket $1 per person!
Lazer Spirit Lazer Show $2 per person!
Do one, or do both! Allow 2+ hours for both activities
E-mail an RSVP to HSPassport@aol.com and you will be provided payment mailing info!

Fall Semester Syllabus

Astronomy with Apologetics Fall Semester 2008
Required Text: Exploring Creation with Astronomy by Jeannie Fulbright

You will be expected to read the assigned reading and answer the questions out of the book orally in class. I will not require written answers unless students are unable to provide the answers. All reading and assignments are due the week after they are assigned.

Each student will be assigned one “In Class Presentation.” These:
* have an assigned topic and assigned date for presenting
* need at least one visual aid – BE CREATIVE!
* need to be between 7-10 minutes in length
* have a Biblical focus when possible – tie in scripture, religious beliefs of the time period (i.e. Mercury is named for a Roman God), etc…

Because I am not requiring very much written homework, your main effort needs to be placed on your “In Class Presentation.” Your class peers and I will give you evaluations on your efforts so, do your best! You will be assigned your topic and your date for presentation.
Our class time will be used to supplement your reading at home. We will be performing hands-on experiments, have lively discussions, and, occasionally, use media productions to enhance the material we are studying.

There are additional assignments throughout your Exploring Creation with Astronomy book. (We will be doing most of the hands-on “Activities” in class.) These additional assignments are recommended, but optional. Parents, you will decide if your child would benefit from these additional assignments. I will not ask for them in class, but would love to see them if your child would like to share them with me. These additional assignments will provide a nice notebook reference for material learned.

REWARD BOX – My philosophy is to reward students for pursuing knowledge “on their own.” Therefore, each week your child may earn a reward by bringing in something they have learned about the science of Astronomy. This can be information about a planet or star, a model they have built, a picture they have drawn, a fact sheet they have made, a synopsis of an article they have read, a short paragraph about an astronaut, or even any of the optional assignments out of the book, etc… Your child will share what they have learned with the class and then receive a “reward” out of the reward box.

ITEMS NEEDED – shoe boxes, paper towel tubes

Astronomy with Apologetics Syllabus Fall Semester 2008
Required Text: Exploring Creation with Astronomy by Jeannie Fulbright

Class Supplies needed each week – a folder or notebook for this class, a pencil, a “willing to learn” attitude!

8/21 Orientation, Semester Overview, Assign Reports
Assignment: Read p. 2-9, be able to explain orally what you have learned
8/28 Solar System Mnemonic, To-Scale Model of Solar System
Assignment: Read p. 12-18, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter
9/4 Rotation and Revolution, Exploring the Sun’s Power
Assignment: Read p. 20-25, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter
9/11 Prism, Eclipse, Play-dough Model of Sun
Assignment: Read p. 30-36, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter
9/18 Craters, Draw and label our solar system
Assignment: No reading assignment this week. Use your extra time to work on your “In Class Presentation.”
9/25 PRESENTATIONS AND POPCORN
Assignment: Search your Bible and find at least 5 verses about God’s creation of the universe. Write them neatly on a piece of notebook paper. Bonus Assignment: Bring in the words to a Christian song about God’s creation and/or write a poem or draw a picture about God’s creation of the universe! Feel free to get creative!
10/2 Lava, Apologetics Focus (Continue Presentations if needed)
Assignment: Read p. 40-47, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter
10/9 Radar, Venus
Assignment: Read p. 52-63, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter. Be sure you understand why the Earth is different than all the other planets. We will be doing the assignment on p. 63 making “Earth For Sale” signs during the next class.
10/16 Earth – Why is it perfect? “Earth For Sale” Signs
Assignment: No reading assignment this week. Use your extra time to work on your “In Class Presentation” and enjoy your break!
10/23 Fall Break – possible field trip to Creation Museum
10/30 Review of what we have learned, The Moon, Gravity
Assignment: Read p. 66-74, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter
11/6 PRESENTATIONS AND POPCORN
Assignment: Write a paragraph (at least!) comparing the Big Bang Theory to what the Bible says about how the Earth was created. Which one makes more sense to you? How would you persuade someone who believed in the Big Bang theory?
11/13 Telescopes, Mars
Assignment: Read p. 78-85, be able to orally answer all questions from the chapter
11/20 Exploring Polar Ice Caps with Dry Ice, Sublimation
Assignment: No reading assignment this week. Use your extra time to work on your “In Class Presentation” and enjoy your break!
11/27 Thanksgiving
12/4 PRESENTATIONS AND POPCORN
Assignment: Draw a picture, build a model, write a poem or something else creative to show your favorite object from Space discussed so far in class. Choose a scripture verse to go with it.
12/11 “Spaced Out” Party – share your creations with the class, taste some REAL astronaut food, review our year and see what you have to look forward to next semester!