Galelio and Geocentric vs Heliocentric Solar Systems

Today was a fabulous day for an in depth look at this history of our solar system. We started by watching a video on the differences between geocentric and heliocentric solar systems and the history of the discovery of our solar system. This video is available on Blackboard for your viewing as well!
We also discovered how science has progressed from being mostly speculative to becoming the evidence based subject area it is today. We discussed how advances in technology have helped us make certain discoveries; notably that we are a heliocentric solar system. We also equated it to the discovery of the Earth being round, rather than square.
We finished our lesson today with two fun activities! We gathered in our groups to create a time line as tall as we are that told us about the major discoveries of our solar system. We then used the old magazines so many of you graciously donated to make our own models of the solar system. We then modeled a geocentric solar system, and a heliocentric solar system. These lovely and colorful collages will be on display in our classroom during parent teacher conferences, so be sure to look for them!
I have noticed that some students are having difficulty imagining what life was like without technology. Parents - you and I grew up for a part of our lives without the internet and computers, but our students are having difficulty grasping the concept. Perhaps indulging in an evening with no technolgy and staging your own power outage can help them experience life without technology and help them imagine the past better.

Thanks for encouraging learning inside your homes and outside the classroom!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me!

-Ms.Shoup