Cosmic Playground
  • Predict
  • Play
  • Explain

Earth & Sky Starters

ASTR 101 — Module 01 4 demos ~45 min 3 required

A short starter set for building intuition about sky geometry using a consistent predict→play→explain flow.

Instructions

Work through each exhibit in order.

For each one:
1) Write a prediction in a sentence.
2) Do the play steps.
3) Write a 2–3 sentence explanation using evidence from what you observed.

Journey

1

Moon Phases: Light, Not Shadow

Required 8 min

Use this first: it sets the “light, not shadow” framing.
2

Eclipse Geometry: Shadows in Space

Required 12 min

Connect phases to eclipse alignment and tilt.
3

Seasons: Why Tilt Matters

Required 12 min

Reinforce sun angle vs distance misconceptions.
4

Angular Size: The Sky’s Ruler

Optional 10 min

Optional extension: compare ‘looks big’ vs ‘is big’.

Notes

This playlist is intentionally short; it’s designed to fit into a single class activity.