REAL Science Odyssey- Astronomy 2 Teacher's Guide
Short Description
Grade Level: 6th–10th
REAL Science Odyssey – Astronomy 2 Teacher’s Guide
Pages: 128
Grade Level: 6th-10th
Course Type: Teacher’s Guide
Author: Blair H. Lee, M.S.
What Is RSO Astronomy 2 Teacher’s Guide?
The RSO Astronomy 2 Teacher’s Guide provides the tools and support needed to implement the RSO Astronomy 2 curriculum. Paired with the textbook, it forms a semester-long, secular astronomy course for middle and high school homeschool students.
The guide equips instructors with everything necessary to teach effectively and confidently, including:
- Materials – Complete list of all materials needed for labs and activities, broken down by chapter, plus an alphabetical master list.
- Weekly Schedules – Pre-planned week-by-week schedules for the semester, with options for 2, 3, or 5 sessions per week.
- Learning Goals – Key concepts and main ideas for each lesson, so you know what your student should understand by the end of the week.
- Extracurricular Resources – Curated books, websites, and other resources to deepen understanding or clarify concepts.
- Math Review – Step-by-step review of relevant math concepts used in each lesson, ensuring you are prepared for student questions.
- Lesson Reviews – Summaries of the main points of each lesson to support discussion and instruction.
- Answer Keys – Solutions for Show What You Know quizzes, lab sheets, Famous Science Series projects, and all three unit assessments.
- Grading Rubrics – Suggested grading schemes for different approaches, helping you assign fair and consistent grades.
The Teacher Guide is designed to simplify planning and scheduling, allowing you to focus on student learning and engagement.
What Is Astronomy Level 2?
REAL Science Odyssey – Astronomy Level 2 is a semester-long, secular homeschool astronomy curriculum designed for middle and high school students. This course guides students in exploring the cosmos, from the Big Bang to the formation of our solar system, and finally back to Earth to understand how our planet fits into the universe.
Math is integrated throughout, helping students understand concepts such as gravity, mass, and planetary motion, while developing critical thinking and independent research skills.
The course follows the RSO approach of Read, Explore, Absorb, and Learn:
- Read – Engaging readings present astronomy concepts using color images, diagrams, charts, and occasional poems or mnemonics. All lessons are based on scientific research, not supernatural explanations.
- Explore – Hands-on labs help students apply the scientific method, collect data, and build models. Activities include modeling the expansion of the universe, calculating gravitational forces, and using GPS for geocaching.
- Absorb – The Famous Science Series (FSS) projects introduce key scientists and discoveries, from Galileo to Edwin Hubble to the Mars Curiosity rover, linking history, personalities, and technology to modern astronomy.
- Learn – Show What You Know (SWIK) quizzes and three unit assessments help gauge mastery of concepts. These may be used as formal tests or informal discussion tools.
For students who wish to extend their studies, The Stargazer’s Notebook provides additional observation guides, sky maps, and labs.
Who Can Use Astronomy Level 2
Designed for grades 6–10, Astronomy Level 2 lessons are written for independent middle and high school readers, though discussions and guidance are encouraged. Labs require parent or teacher supervision, especially for younger students.
Course Structure
Astronomy Level 2 is composed of:
- Textbook/Workbook (this product) – 12 progressive lessons with readings, labs, FSS projects, SWIK quizzes, and unit assessments.
- Teacher Guide – lesson plans, materials lists, scheduling suggestions, and answer keys.
Each lesson includes:
- A reading introducing key concepts and vocabulary
- Hands-on labs and projects
- Quizzes and unit assessments
The course is flexible—parents can choose the number of teaching days per week and adapt labs and assessments to their homeschool needs.
Science Skills Developed
Students will develop essential skills including:
- Applying the scientific method
- Conducting critical thinking
- Making observations and measurements
- Recording and interpreting scientific data
- Connecting astronomy concepts to real-world applications
Labs and Experiments
Hands-on activities give students direct experience with astronomy:
- Construct a spectroscope to split light into wavelengths
- Build and launch a model rocket, exploring gravity, launch angle, velocity, and drag
- Engage in a GPS geocaching treasure hunt to learn about modern mapping technology
Labs reinforce the scientific method, allowing students to hypothesize, record observations, and draw conclusions.
Planning and Scheduling
Astronomy Level 2 is designed as a 12–16 week semester course. The Teacher Guide provides:
- Week-by-week scheduling guidance
- Options for 2-, 3-, or 5-day per week pacing
- Tips to adapt lessons and labs to your homeschool schedule
This course is comprised of 12 chapters designed as a “short” semester to be paired with the 23-chapter RSO Astronomy 2 as a “long” semester. This assumes that each chapter is completed within one week plus some extra time for review and testing.
Important Copyright Information
If you choose the eBook version of this course, you are purchasing a license to use the PDF for your own children. You may make copies for your own children, but you may not share (email, download, print and distribute, resell, etc.) this eBook or any portion of this eBook to others. Licensing is available for group, school, and co-op use. Please contact Pandia Press for details on group licensing (info@pandiapressbooks.com).
