COURSE DESCRIPTION
The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the basics of astronomy, with particular emphasis on the role of astronomy in their everyday lives. Students will study the planets of our solar system, the sun and other stars, and galaxies and the universe. The course seeks to foster students’ innate curiosity in the unknown final frontier of space as humans boldly go forth in exploration. Students’ culminating projects will analyze the current state of space exploration, both manned and unmanned endeavors, as well as the search for life outside of our planet. By the end of this course, students will have an orientation for observing the night sky and a framework for understanding that which is beyond what we can see from our own speck of the universe.
WHAT STUDENTS SAY
“This is a great course! I really enjoyed it, and highly recommend to other students interested in the field. I also think part of this course could be tailored to Physics, as the two subjects go hand-in-hand. Thank you again!”WHAT STUDENTS DO
Learning is an active process at One Schoolhouse. Students design, create and apply. And, they engage with classmates and connect with their teachers through discussions, video conferences, and projects. Specifically, in this class students will:
MEET A TEACHER FOR THIS COURSE
SIGNATURE ACTIVITIES
Examples of signature activities and projects for this course are:
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SECOND SEMESTER?
Students wishing to pursue an astronomy project may enroll in the course for the full year. For students continuing into Semester II, the course shifts into personalized, project-based work, where students engage in deep, sustained inquiry; authentic and iterative research; critical analysis; and rigorous reflection, revision, and assessment as they journey through a self-designed, long-term activism, design, or research project on the topic of their choosing. Guided by a One Schoolhouse teacher, students pursue individual study/self-assessment or collaborative seminar/peer-review. Pathway options from which students choose include:
COURSE APPROVAL
This course is approved by the NCAA. One Schoolhouse is fully accredited with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges through December 1, 2025; we are an approved online publisher for the University of California. |
Meredith Mikell
Science Teacher BS Eckerd College MA Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University |