A Pedagogical Activity to Teach the Seasons

A Pedagogical Activity to Teach the Seasons

Presenter: Oscar Rodrigues dos Santos, Federal Technological University of Paraná, Brazil

Collaborators: Michel Corci Batista (Federal Technological University of Paraná), Veridiane Cristina Matins (State Department of Education) and Taisy Fernandes Vieira (State Department of Education).

In elementary school, astronomy represents the gateway to the study of physics, especially in the final years. Through a simple experimental activity with the students’ participation, the seasons of the year can be studied in different latitudes. It is easy to explain phenomena such as the midnight Sun, the apparent motion of the Sun, and the influence of the tilt of the Earth’s axis using an experimental apparatus. Also, why the equatorial region has a more temperate climate, whereas the temperatures near the poles tend to be more severe.

About the 4th Shaw-IAU Workshop:

The topic for this year’s Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education is ‘Leveraging the potential of astronomy in formal education’ and is scheduled to run 15 to 17 November 2022 as a fully virtual event on Hopin as in previous years. This year’s Shaw-IAU Workshop focuses on the role of astronomy in the core regions of formal, primary and secondary, education: How do we teach astronomy as its own subject? What is the role of astronomy in teaching physics or chemistry – or in communicating such a central future topic as climate change? In sessions marked with a * we aim to hear specifically from teachers. We also address the question of how to approach those who set the framework for teaching: How can you get your administration, or at a much higher level: your education ministry, to listen to you? Last but not least we look at how to bridge the divide between the fundamentals that are commonly taught in school and results from cutting-edge research, which tend to be fascinating to students and the general public alike. he workshop was organised by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (http://astro4edu.org). More details can be found on: https://astro4edu.org/shaw-iau/4th-shaw-iau-workshop/

Keep up to date with future Shaw-IAU Workshops and other opportunities at the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education by joining our mailing list https://astro4edu.org/mailing-list/ Follow the IAU OAE on Twitter and Facebook under @astro4edu