Grade Five at the RAO
The grade five program is offered during the day or the evening. We explore celestial motion and how to observe the solar system. We discuss the moon and how it is observed from Earth throughout its monthly orbit and the solar year.
Students will take part in a fun activity, viewing the surface of the moon with 3D glasses. The objective is to understand how we perceive celestial objects and how different perspectives inform our knowledge of lunar composition, geology and orbit. We will also view the surface of the planet Mars in different wavelengths of light.
Students will then complete a light and optics concepts workshop that involves refraction and reflection, observing refraction with a prism and through optical spheres and shapes. If the sky is clear, we can observe the sun in day and the night sky in the evening.
Finally, we will tour the observatory and discuss our research as it fits with the grade five curriculum. Students are encouraged to share their big astrophysics questions and learn how astronomers here in Calgary are adding to our understanding of space.
Please see Booking Information for details including cost, class size, and how to prepare for your visit. Contact us if you wish to book a program, or if you have any questions.
Curriculum Connections – Grade Five
Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened by investigating natural systems and their interactions.
- The moon, lunar cycles, composition, geology
- Observing the moon and objects with 3D optics
- How optics technology creates observing opportunities
Astronomical phenomena are observable events that happen among objects in space. Observations and interpretations of astronomical phenomena can inform daily living.
- How the observing the surface of Mars is helping us to understand the origins of life in our solar system.
- How light and optics are the foundation of astronomy
- How the orbital positions of the earth sun and the moon and they are related create time, seasons, night and day on earth
We would also be happy to cover a specific curriculum topic upon request.