Kinesthetic Astronomy: Sky Time

This lesson teaches basic astronomical concepts such as the astronomical meaning of the day, year, and seasons through choreographed bodily movements and positions that provide educational sensory experiences. Through a series of simple body movements, students gain insight into the relationship between time and astronomical motions of Earth (rotation about its axis, and orbit around the Sun), and also about how these motions influence what we see in the sky at various times of the day and year. The lesson can be applied to understand the times of day and year on other planets (e.g. Mars). The lesson provides a set-up for understanding seasons and can be taught with or without an emphasis thereon. Educational levels: Middle school, Intermediate elementary