Understanding Our Universe through Astronomy
Teen Focus 12+
Understanding Our Universe is a high school level astronomy course adapted from college-level materials with a focus on interactive technology and project-based learning.Students who take this class will come away with a deep real-world understanding of the structure of the universe, the science of astronomy, and how to make decisions about science and technology in the 21st century, using, for example, the scientific method.
Understanding Our Universe is a high school level astronomy course adapted from college-level materials with a focus on interactive technology, science process and the scientific method, and project-based learning.
Students who take this class will come away with a deep real-world understanding of the structure of the universe, the science of astronomy, and how to make decisions about science and technology in the 21st century. Wherever possible, students will be provided opportunities, both in the real world and using interactive tools, to learn by doing as astronomers really do.
Students will learn about:
- The foundations of astronomy as a discipline
- Our solar system in depth
- Stars
- The evolution of stars
- Galaxies
- Our universe
- Cosmology
This is a 16-week class for teens working at an advanced high school level. Weekly webinars are 50 minutes long. Recordings are available for students who must miss a session. This class will make a good extension for students who became interested in astronomy (and the science thereof) through Big History or Physics Literacy.
Links to required book:
- Required text: Understanding Our Universe, 4th Edition
This textbook is the latest revision of a text currently used at respected universities across America. Please note that if you buy used from another source, the book you get will not come with the code required to access some activities in the coursework.
| Topics Covered | Motions of the Earth and Moon and the Laws of Motion |
|---|---|
| Challenge Level | Aimed at students ready for work appropriate to grades 10 through 12. This is a high school science course open to students ages 12 and up who are prepared to consider and discuss challenging science concepts at a high school level. |
| Time Commitment | TBD, but best guess would be between 2-4 hours a week outside of webinar time |
| Instructor | Headmaster Galahad |
| Reading List | Understanding Our Universe, 4th Edition |
| Usually offered | Spring Semester |
| Prerequisites | No previous science experience is required, though prior high-school science and/or math classes are recommended. This class would be a good follow-up for students who have taken Big History and are looking to build on what they learned there about astronomy and astrophysics. Students must be prepared to read, view, and analyze challenging material at a high school level. Students must also be able to write multi-paragraph texts independently and participate actively in written discussion forums and in the live webinar. |
| Available Sessions | Spring 2025 Mon 12pm Pacific, Spring 2024 Tuesday 11am Pacific, Spring 2023 Monday 11am Pacific |