Free Video Lessons for Global Astronomy Month
We’ve put together some free video lessons for Global Astronomy Month so you can celebrate the science of the stars with your students!
Illustration by Edpuzzle Staff
Are you and your students going to the Global Star Party? After all, nobody throws a party like the Astronomers Without Borders!
In case you didn’t know, April is Global Astronomy Month, and for the Global Star Party on April 9th, the Astronomers Without Borders organization encourages everyone to look up and celebrate the stars in the night sky with a telescope, binoculars, or simply the naked eye.
Global Astronomy Month is the perfect time to do a deep dive on space. Check out these Edpuzzle Original science video lessons that are absolutely out of this world!
Free Video Lesson: Constellations
Did you know that the constellations Leo and Ursa Major are best seen in the month of April? Encourage your students to seek them out at the Global Star Party!
In this video lesson, students will learn why constellations come and go, why our view of the stars in the night sky changes as the Earth orbits the sun, and how the season of the year affects which constellations we can see.
Free Video Lesson: Earth’s Rotation
The mythical midnight sun is the topic of this Edpuzzle Original video lesson that explains Earth’s rotation.
Students will travel to the Norwegian city of Tromsø, where for months on end, the sun never sets!
They’ll explore a 3D model of the Earth-Sun system to learn about the tilt of the Earth’s axis and the orbit of the Earth around the sun to see how they create patterns of daylight.
Free Video Lesson: Mars Rover
Do any of your students dream about traveling to Mars? This video lesson is for them!
NASA astronomers explore the surface of Mars using vehicles called ‘rovers.’ The rovers have been able to operate and gather data for years. But how do these vehicles get their energy to keep going?
They use solar energy!
In this lesson, students will learn about energy transfer and how solar panels power the Mars rovers. They’ll also see images and footage of rovers, the Martian surface, and the great dust storms that blow across the planet.
Free Video Lesson: Plants in Space
If you’ve ever seen the film The Martian, you might remember all the hurdles that Matt Damon’s botanist-astronaut character went through to plant potatoes on Mars.
This lesson shows us that with just light, water, and air, plants can grow pretty much anywhere – including aboard the International Space Station in outer space.
Your students will get to see various images and footage of the inside of the International Space Station – perfect for aspiring astronauts!
Other Ways to Celebrate Global Astronomy Month With Your Students
April is full of historic dates related to space. Did you know that in April 1633 Galileo went on trial for heresy for claiming that the Earth revolved around the Sun?
And that on April 11, 1970, Apollo 13, the third lunar landing mission, successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida? When an oxygen tank exploded on the evening of April 13, the new mission objective became to get the Apollo 13 crew home alive.
This year, in 2022, there are also not one, but two NASA launches scheduled to bring crews up to the International Space Station!
So, how will you be celebrating Global Astronomy Month? Tag us on Twitter to let us know – we can’t wait to hear how you’re inspiring the next generation of astronomers, astronauts, and scientists!