Autumn Sky and Lunar Eclipse: Astronomy for Homeschool Teens
*The event has already taken place on this date: Wed, 09/30/2015
Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.
For our fourth consecutive year, the RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium offers morning astronomy courses for homeschool families with students around 12-15 years old.
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In "Autumn Sky and Lunar Eclipse," we use the Planetarium exhibit area and the Star Theater (open just to us during our time). We learn to find and identify key stars, constellations and planets of the autumn sky. We explore how to use star charts and astronomy websites to understand more about what we're seeing. We also get ready for the lunar eclipse coming up on September 27, 2015, and look ahead to the solar eclipses coming to the U.S. in 2017 and 2024. Students will compile a collection of information handouts and activity sheets to keep for future reference. Families who like this course may want to continue through the fall with our next course, "Planets and Suns," beginning Oct. 7 for ten sessions.
Parents and guardians are welcome to attend all sessions, either to sit at the side or work with their student. Parents and guardians are responsible for all health requirements for their students (we do not dispense medication, for instance), and for arranging non-distracting activities for siblings who may come along.
Our philosophy for homeschool courses:
1. Parents and guardians are in charge of directing their students' learning and activities.
2. Our goal is to present only solid science. We select material that is suitable and interesting for the students' age level, but we do not present kid stuff or fake explanations that will have to be unlearned later.
3. There is no pressure to "keep up" or pass tests. We hand out occasional quizzes just to get an idea where the students are in their understanding and previous experience.
4. Some of our activities use math up to the level of simple geometry and algebra, but with no pressure. We don't promote answer-getting or requiring problems to be solved in a certain way.
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.