American K-12 school curricula are often bereft of acknowledgements of the historical contributions of Arab societies to our present-day intellectual heritage, an oversight most apparent in the sciences. Teachers in a thriving democracy are obliged to introduce contemporary scholarship that reflects the contributions of Arab scientists between the…

Discusses the events in the ninth century that moved astronomy away from the pursuit of mystical hermetic sciences and astrology back toward observation and measurement. Describes the achievements of astronomers and the instruments and calculations used during that period. (JRH)

Presents a critical review of research on student conceptions of the Earth and its place in the universe with regard to epistemological, historical, and cognitive aspects. The Copernican model drives the research questioning about the position of the Earth in the universe with little correlation of the model with the empirical level of…

Looks at the careers of several women astronomers and how the opportunities, work, and self-images of women in astronomy have changed over the past two centuries, in conjunction with a discussion of the role of women's colleges. The women include Caroline Lucretia Herschel, Maria Mitchell, Williamina Fleming, Annie Cannon, Antonia Maury, Henrietta…

The teaching materials listed in this annotated bibliography emphasize an observational and "hands-on" approach to awakening students' interest in their universe. The sources, which are for teachers and students, can be used to create courses, units, or concepts to stimulate learning. Individual and class projects range from instructive…

Presented is book two in a series of six books in the University of Illinois Astronomy Program which introduces astronomy to upper elementary and junior high school students. This guidebook is concerned with how celestial bodies move in space and how these motions are observed by astronomers. Topics discussed include: a study of the daily motion…

Describes a technique of relating distances star light has traveled to events in modern history. The mathematical background for the technique is given along with five star tables which include diagrams, star names, corresponding events and dates, and light year distances. (MVL)

Presented is book four in a series of six books in the University of Illinois Astronomy Program which introduces astronomy to upper elementary and junior high school students. This document terms the analysis of light as an essential clue to understanding astronomical phenomena. Topics discussed include: thm behavior of light; the wave model and…

Spacewalking has captured the imagination of generations of children and adults since science-fiction authors first placed their characters on the moon. This publication is an activity guide for teachers interested in using the intense interest many children have in space exploration as a launching point for exciting hands-on learning…

Nearly every culture has made important discoveries about the universe. Most cultures have searched for a better understanding of the cosmos and how the earth and human life relate. The discussion in this booklet considers time, space, and spirit. Time refers to a sense of history; space refers to geography; and spirit refers to life and thought.…

Teachers from the United States and several other countries have access to the film library system of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This catalog contains the titles and abstracts for over 150 films that are available from NASA on topics regarding space flight, meteorology, astronomy, NASA programs, satellites, research,…

Describes the approaches of both creationism and evolution. Recommends that biologists take their case to the public. Includes a National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Position Statement on the issue. First published in 1981. (YDS)