Astronomy for Fifth Grade Students?
What better way to promote curiosity and tantalize youngsters to learn about the universe and objects that exist naturally in space, such as the moon, sun, planets and stars, than teach a unit on astronomy. It just so happens that our fifth-grade curriculum includes astronomy and our students have been learning about patterns of the earth and sky.
With Abrams Planetarium just down the road, teachers viewed the field trip as a practical and natural extension. The classroom activities, while meaningful, just didn’t go far enough. The goals for the field trip were to make the learning more authentic, to foster student curiosity, to push their knowledge and understanding to the next level and peak their thinking regarding future career possibilities. At the facility, our students had a chance to experience a 3D show on the planetarium dome entitled “We Are Stars.” It revealed how the universe was created, how elements were born, and how stars were made. Afterwards, the host explained what the night sky would look like! How amazing! I have to believe a majority of our fifth-grade students broke their bedtime rules that night and were studying the constellation and star locations.
Observing the students during the session was fascinating. If their expressions were any indication, students were spellbound by what they were experiencing. Seeing truly is believing! The host shared stories about the constellations – and, to end this delightful astronomy experience, students took a roller coaster simulated ride through the stars as a Mobius Strip twisted and tuned across the dome. It was breath taking!
There’s no doubt the parent chaperones and teachers who were on this field trip would lobby against any Mason curfew on star gazing for fifth-grade students or deleting the fifth-grade astronomy unit! It strengthens science inquiry skills, encourages imagination, fosters scientific thinking, connects science concepts to real world experiences, strengthens observation skills, shows science is evolving and encourages space exploration. The list goes on!
