1. FUNdamental Motions of the Sky (7 min 45 sec) FUN Motions of the Sky
I call this lesson, "The Inspiration from Heaven" lesson. Truly, after having taught Astronomy for a few semesters, I was toward the end of a semester (it was warm out, so it must have been spring) when during a lesson I was upset with myself because the students didn't seem to catch onto even the most elementary motions of the sky yet. So I literally said, "Forget this lesson, lets go outside, bring something to take notes on." ; and we walked outside and this FUNdamental Motions of the Sky with the headings Day, Month, Year came into my mind as I was teaching it. I had not thought of any of this material previously, or even just before I taught it, it came to me instantaneously as I was speaking it. I am a Christian and unbelievable things happen to me often but this was one of the greatest inspirational real time ideas that have ever popped into my mind in my 61 plus years of life on this planet.
I haven't taught Astronomy for over four years now but here are some videos I made, (during the first of two school days called off because of cold weather), in front of my empty classroom, to give you some idea of some of the beginning GNATS I start the first week with. This FUNdamental Motions of the Sky is a must lecture that everyone should hear and understand. This can be given in 13 minutes or less with practice (It took me exactly 13 minutes the very 1st time I did it but it wasn't me.)
I haven't taught Astronomy for over four years now but here are some videos I made, (during the first of two school days called off because of cold weather), in front of my empty classroom, to give you some idea of some of the beginning GNATS I start the first week with. This FUNdamental Motions of the Sky is a must lecture that everyone should hear and understand. This can be given in 13 minutes or less with practice (It took me exactly 13 minutes the very 1st time I did it but it wasn't me.)