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The Cowboy Astronomer
Grades 3-12
This is a skillfully woven tapestry of star tales and Native American legends, combined with constellation identification, star-hopping and astronomy tidbits. It’s all told from the unique view point of a cowboy who has traveled the world plying this trade and learning the sky along the way.
CT - Grades 3-5 Core Scientific Inquiry, Literacy and Numeracy
SCIENTIFIC LITERACY: Scientific literacy includes speaking, listening, presenting, interpreting, reading and writing about science.
B INQ. 2 - Seek relevant information in books, magazines and electronic media.
4.1 - The position and motion of objects can be changed by pushing or pulling.
B8. Describe the effects of the strengths of pushes and pulls on the motion of objects.
5.3 - Most objects in the solar system are in a regular and predictable motion.
B22. Explain the cause of day and night based on the rotation of Earth on its axis.
5.4 - Humans have the capacity to build and use tools to advance the quality of their lives.
B25. Describe the uses of different instruments, such as eye glasses, magnifiers, periscopes and telescopes, to enhance our vision.
MA – Earth and Space Science, Grades 3 – 5
The Earth in the Solar System
13. Recognize that the earth is part of a system called the “solar system” that includes the sun (a star), planets, and many moons. The earth is the third planet from the sun in our solar system.
14. Recognize that the earth revolves around (orbits) the sun in a year’s time and that the earth rotates on its axis once approximately every 24 hours. Make connections between the rotation of the earth and day/night, and the apparent movement of the sun, moon, and stars across the sky.
15. Describe the changes that occur in the observable shape of the moon over the course of a month.
MA – Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics), Grades 3 – 5
Light Energy
12. Recognize that light energy travels in a straight line until it strikes and object or travels from one medium to another, and that light can be reflected, refracted, and absorbed.
NY – Standard 4 – Science (Elementary)
Physical Setting
1. The Earth and celestial phenomena can be described by principles of relative motion and perspective.
Students:
- describe patterns of daily, monthly, and seasonal changes in their environment.
CT - Grades 6-8 Core Scientific Inquiry, Literacy and Numeracy
6.1 - Materials can be classified as pure substances or mixtures, depending on their chemical and physical properties.
C1. Describe the properties of common elements, such as oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, iron and aluminum.
8.3 - The solar system is composed of planets and other objects that orbit the sun.
C28. Explain the effect of gravity on the orbital movement of planets in the solar system.
C29. Explain how the regular motion and relative position of the sun, Earth and moon affect the seasons, phases of the moon and eclipses.
MA – Earth and Space Science, Grades 6 – 8
The Earth in the Solar System
9. Describe lunar and solar eclipses, the observed moon phases, and tides. Relate them to the relative positions of the earth, moon, and sun.
10. Compare and contrast properties and conditions of objects in the solar system (i.e., sun, planets, and moons) to those on Earth (i.e., gravitational force, distance from the sun, speed, movement, temperature, and atmospheric conditions).
12. Recognize that the universe contains many billions of galaxies, and that each galaxy contains many billions of stars.
NY – Standard 4 – Science (Intermediate)
Physical Setting
1. The Earth and celestial phenomena can be described by principles of relative motion and perspective.
Students:
- explain daily, monthly, and seasonal changes on earth.
5. Energy and matter interact through forces that result in changes in motion.
Students:
- describe different patterns of motion of objects.
CT – High School Earth Science
Earth’s Place in the Universe
- The sun is a typical star and is powered by nuclear reactions, primarily the fusion of hydrogen to form helium.
- Galaxies are made of billions of stars and comprise most of the visible mass of the universe.
MA – Earth and Space Science, High School
4. The Origin and Evolution of the Universe
Central Concepts: The origin of the universe, between 14 and 15 billion years ago, still remains one of the greatest questions in science. Gravity influences the formation and life cycles of galaxies, including our own Milky Way Galaxy; stars; planetary systems; and residual material left from the creation of the solar system.
4.2 Describe the influence of gravity and inertia on the rotation and revolution of orbiting bodies. Explain the Sun-Earth-moon relationships (e.g., day, year, solar/lunar eclipses, tides).
NY – Standard 4 – Science (Commencement)
Physical Setting
1. The Earth and celestial phenomena can be described by principles of relative motion and perspective.
Students:
- explain complex phenomena, such as tides, variations in day length, solar insolation, apparent motion of the planets, and annual traverse of the constellations.
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