Total Classes: 13
Duration: 45 minutes
Prerequisite: A love of the planets!
Suggested Grade Level: 6th to 8th grade (older students welcomed to join us)
Suggested Credit: 1 full semester General Science or Astronomy
Instructor: MacBeth Derham
Course Description: A fast and wild tour through the solar system, with stops at planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and more. We'll check out all the latest information, new discoveries, and NASA images. Do you remember the first time you discovered the moon? Have you ever studied the sky and wondered what all lies beyond Earth? If you have a sense of awe and love to learn, Mrs. Derham invites you to join her in this adventure across the galaxy.
Course Outline: We will start with a bang and explore one heavenly body in depth per week.
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Week One: Introduction to the Solar System
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Week Two: The Sun
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Week Three: Mercury
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Week Four: Venus
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Week Five: The Moon
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Week Six: Mars
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Week Seven:The Asteroids
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Week Eight: Jupiter
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Week Nine: Saturn
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Week Ten: Uranus
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Week Eleven: Neptune
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Week Twelve: Pluto and Friends
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Week Thirteen: The Rest of the Solar System
Course Materials: The Planets by Dava Sobel ISBN-13: 978-0142001165 (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0142001163/macbethsopinion-20 or bookfinder.com)
For students who want to explore the subject more deeply, Mrs. Derham will supply an optional reading list.
Homework: Students should expect to spend at least one hour per week on homework outside of class. There will be weekly, automated quizzes for immediate feedback plus a brief report on an asteroid.
- Teacher: MacBeth Derham