Section outline

  • FOCUS / ARONGA

    FOCUS / ARONGA learning intentions:

    • We are FOCUSING to develop the skill to place key events in date order.We are FOCUSING to work out which century certain events occur in.
    • We are FOCUSING to classify events in a timeline
    • We are FOCUSING to identify anachronisms and how they are used by historians.
    • We are FOCUSING on adapting normal number into Roman numerals
    EXPLORE / TŪHURA

    EXPLORE / TŪHURA learning intentions:

    • We are EXPLORING... early explanations by the first astronomers about the origin and nature of the universe.


    The Early Astronomers and How they Understood the World Around them



    Week 3, Lesson 1

    Success Criteria

    Students will gain an understanding of how early astronomers in different cultures attempted to understand the nature of the universe.

    Task 1:  Open your Red Book and write down today’s date and ‘Lesson 1:  The life of a Famous Early Astronomer.’   

    Today we are going to revisit Lesson 2 from last week.  Students are going to pick out ONE of the astronomers who we have already looked at – EITHER Nicolaus Copernicus or Galileo Galilei. 


    Imagine you are a reporter who works for the Star newspaper (get it – ‘Star’ newspaper) and you could go back in time and interview your chosen astronomer.  Using information you can find online, write a story about their discoveries and how they got into trouble with the teachings of the Church.  In your article, include:


    1. a catchy title

    2. when and where they lived (dates of birth and death)

    3. how did their discoveries change the way humans looked at the universe?

    4. how do they get into trouble with the Church and the consequences?