While astronomy has recently re-emerged in many science curricula, there remain unresolved teaching and learning difficulties peculiar to astronomy education. This paper argues that mental model building, the core process in astronomy itself, should be reflected in astronomy education. Also, this crucial skill may promote a better understanding of…

The article is addressing how students reason about the origin and development of the universe. Students' own views as well as their descriptions of physical models are analysed. Data consists of written surveys, and interviews of a subset of the students. Most of the students relate to the Big Bang model when describing the origin of the…

A 14-item questionnaire was given to 100 students in preservice training to become primary and secondary education faculty. Results showed that science and non-science majors held a series of misconceptions about several basic topics central to astronomy. The changes in astronomy misconceptions were analyzed by means of a written questionnaire…

As part of their course, the authors were asked to teach a mathematics lesson to a class of Y6 pupils. Since they did not know the pupils, they felt that the theme of the session was of the utmost importance, so they chose something which they hoped would stimulate the pupils' imagination and entice them into the session. They wanted to use…

This curriculum guide includes a brief textbook, a hands-on activity guide, and resource listings. The textbook provides background information in solar physics for teachers and contains problems suitable for advanced students at the end of each chapter. Topics covered in the textbook include stellar evolution, the structure of the sun, methods of…

This teachers guide contains activities and materials created to teach astronomy concepts to children from grades K-8. It is organized into four units: (1) Earth and Stars; (2) Spheres and Orbits; (3) Stars and Gravity; and (4) Scales and Measurement. Activities are arranged within each unit around six content topics: (1) Earth; (2) Solar System;…

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…

This document presents sources to assist elementary and secondary school students and teachers in planning, preparing, and executing projects in the space sciences. Bibliographies for the following sections are included: (1) Basic Texts, (2) Specialized Texts, (3) Classroom Experiments and Activities, (4) Background Readings, (5) Related Titles,…

Spacelab is a facility which enables scientists and engineers to go into space for in-orbit research studies. For the 10 European nations that designed, constructed, and financed Spacelab jointly through the European Space Agency and for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which designed, constructed, and financed the Spacelab…

Presents results of a survey given to college students concerning the use of a planetarium in courses and their decisions to take the courses. (CP)

Considers cosmic rays and relationship to fields of geophysics and astrophysics. Reveals importance of solar eclipses in the study of cosmic radiation. (CP)

Traces the history of astronomy by analyzing the scientific literature of various time periods, reviewing prize-winning research, and noting the input from physics. Speculates on some accomplishments that may occur in the next 75 years. (GS)

This amply illustrated booklet provides a physical description of the sun as well as present and future tasks for solar physics study. The first chapter, an introduction, describes the history of solar study, solar study in space, and the relevance of solar study. The second chapter describes the five heliographic domains including the interior,…

These proceedings, based on a symposium which examined the motivations, implications, accomplishments, and social impacts of the first 25 years in space, are presented in four sections. Section 1 includes an introduction by John Logsdon, a paper titled "Motivations for the Space Program: Past and Future" by Harvey Brooks, and comments by Bernard…

This is the 18th volume of the bound periodical, "American Journal of Education." This work, the initial volume of a proposed annual publication, has been prepared to meet an increasing demand for information respecting the affairs of the General and State Governments, public institutions, finances, resources, and trade of this country;…