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Everyday association with time in our modern age involves watches, clocks, and calendars rather than the astronomical motions that were the original bases for timekeeping. However, the lesson described here has shown that through a series of simple body movements, students young and old can gain insight into the relationship between time and astronomical motions of Earth (rotation about its axis, and orbit around the Sun), and also about how these motions influence what we see in the sky at various times of the day and year. The "Sky Time" lesson leads learners (sixth grade to adult) to experience kinesthetically which way Earth must turn for the Sun and stars to rise in the East; why the Sun is higher in the sky in summer; why we see different stars at different times of year; and why we'll see essentially the same stars tonight that people in China living at a comparable latitude will see just 12 hours later. The lesson also offers excellent re-enforcement for a deeper understanding of seasons.
Morrow, C. (2000, April 1). Kinesthetic Astronomy: The Sky Time Lesson. Phys. Teach., 38(4), 252-253. Retrieved October 3, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.880520
%0 Journal Article %A Morrow, Cherilynn %D April 1, 2000 %T Kinesthetic Astronomy: The Sky Time Lesson %J Phys. Teach. %V 38 %N 4 %P 252-253 %8 April 1, 2000 %@ 0031-921X %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.880520
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