Integrating Astronomy into High School Science Courses

Details Integrating Astronomy into High School Science Courses Integrating Astronomy into High School Science Courses

Jan 2010

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010aas...21535201m&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #215, #352.01; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.534

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

Although many states include astronomy standards at a high school level, teachers, schools, and school districts, often struggle to find a way to address these standards. The typical high school science sequence of Biology-Chemistry-Physics leaves little place for Astronomy, except perhaps as an elective class. Yet, if the revised New Jersey Science Standards are any indication, Astronomy could become an even larger part of the nation's high school standards in the near future.
Other than the need to meet standards, there are many additional benefits to teaching and integrating astronomy into high school Biology, Chemistry and Physics courses. If Astronomy can be integrated with other sciences, students are more likely to learn and remember the content when it connects to other science content that they have learned. Astronomy can often provide an opportunity to apply Physics, Chemistry, and Biology science content in a new context; which can help to push students toward higher levels of understanding.
Lastly, education research has shown that many conceptually challenging topics in Astronomy are best understood beyond grade eight (eg. seasons and moon phases). Thus it is beneficial if this content is addressed or revisited in high school.
With support from NASA, the New Jersey Astronomy Center (NJACE), in collaboration with the New Jersey Institute of Technology and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, has developed a framework to assist high school science teachers. NJACE identified a variety of experiences in Astronomy that are suitable for integration into high school Physics, Chemistry, or Biology courses. These resources are available from a website hosted by NASA Goddard and are searchable by typical high school science topics in Physics, Chemistry, or Biology.
Several examples of easily integrated astronomy experiences, and the associated professional development for teachers, will be presented.

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