Improve your knowledge of space science to help you deliver primary science lessons that are out of this world. Understanding the Solar System and how to teach it can be a tricky business. Fortunately astronomers at the Royal Observatory Greenwich are here to help. In this online course, they’ll help you understand space, address some common misconceptions, and introduce you to the science and people behind real-life, cutting-edge discoveries.
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You’ll also find out how to select the most appropriate resources for your primary science lessons. You’ll explore digital resources, museum tips, video chats and podcasts, and find out what works best for your students.
What topics will you cover?
Week 1 - Tackling scary science
- Communicating space science and astronomy
- Perceptions of science
- Explain astronomical concepts
- Reflect on your teaching
- Common misconceptions
Week 2 - Teaching primary science and beyond
- Teaching astronomy
- Going off-curriculum
Week 3 - New science - taking it beyond the classroom
- Real science, real scientists, real data
- Science outside the classroom
- What next? Incorporating new ideas in the classroom
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...
- Explain the scientific concepts behind the Sun, Earth, Moon system, the seasons, eclipses and the Solar System and interpret them in an appropriate, accurate and understandable way for your students.
- Apply your knowledge and experiment with new methods of teaching space science.
- Openly discuss challenging topics within the field of astronomy and space science with your class.
- Reflect on your perceptions of science and scientists so that you can self-modify any perceptions that could be potentially discourage students from exploring the subject further.
- Identify reliable sources of information relating to cutting edge astronomy and space science and lead a discussion with your students about how real science, real people and real data relates to the world around us.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for primary school teachers and home educators, who have an interest in expanding their knowledge of space, the Solar System and science more broadly, and improving their primary science lessons.
