Astronomy and Rocketry

The Side By Side students studied astronomy and rocketry in April, following a historical perspective of exploration.They first made sun clocks (work like sun dials), and did some scale modeling of the size of the solar system. They also made a simple instrument called an astrolabe that allowed them to measure the angle of the sun. Astrolabes are very similar to a sextant used by European seafaring navigators in the 15th century.

Each student also built a simple optical telescope similar to one invented by Galileo. They practiced viewing distant objects with it and tried some indirect observations of the sun. The Minnesota Astronomical Society visited the classroom and brought telescopes. Unfortunately, the skies were cloudy and the students couldn't do any observing. But the MAS volunteers had a great slide and computer show which gave the students a chance to manipulate the night skies and identify constellations.

Students started their studies of constellations with the Big Dipper. They read an Ojibwe story about the Big Dipper, then made a "Dipper Finder" to take home and practice finding the Big Dipper and the North Star or Polaris. Later students made a more sophisticated star finder and practiced setting the finder to a particular time and date. Cloudy skies all week prevented students from using their finders outdoors.

The last project the students created were model rockets, provided by StarBase of Minnesota. They studied the four forces of flight: lift, thrust, weight and drag. They had an opportunity to put their lessons into practice on rocket launch day.

The final day of the Rocketry and Astronomy unit was spent at the Minnesota Air Guard Museum, exploring vintage and newer airplanes and jets with a volunteer guide from the Minnesota Air Guard.

The Universe At Your Fingertips by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for the star finders and astrolabe.

Keepers of the Earth "How Fisher Went to the Skyland" by Michael Caduto and Joseph Bruchac