HELP ME ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT ASTRONOMY!Hugs included

[Evabot]

I'm applying to work as a museum guide at a very well known observatory. I already have a close friend that works there in a different department. He has given a "cheat sheet" as far as what they will be asking me so I was wondering if any of you could give me advice...

Side Note:I work in education but Astronomy has never been my main focus. This is a well paying gig and will allow time to find a teaching position that will best suit me. I do have a California teaching degree but it is multi-subject therefor, Astronomy specifically, can be a challenging subject for me.

Here are the two main questions I may be given (fairly easy and I plan to role play all weekend in preparation but I'm always open to help and suggestions!)

1. How would you explain the sun to a 5th grader
2. How would you explain an eclipse to a 5th grader

...Basically, how would I explain these concepts to someone that has no idea about astronomy.


aaannnnnnd GO!

[Animavore]

1. Big, shiny, yellow thing.
2. Big, pale, glowing thing gets in way of big, yellow shiny thing.

[Rob]

Explain that the basic elements of life form together to make alot of heat in space and this heat gives off light which we call the sun. Use a half dollar and a Dime and a nickel to demonstrate the eclipse.

[Animavore]

Explain that the sun is a star just like all those little ones out on the night sky. That always makes them go, "Whoa! No way!". Then tell them it is a ball of hydrogen gas which is ignited due to nuclear reactions happening deep inside it which make it heat up and glow. Mention that it is so big that you can fit the earth and all the other planets inside it 30 times and that it is millions of miles away, 93 million to be precise. So far it takes the light 8 minutes to reach us.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth and casts a shadow over it, can be demonstrated with a tennis ball and a torch, cast the shadow on a nearby wall.
A lunar eclipse happens when the earth comes between the sun and the moon casting a shadow in the moon.
Not much to explain to dumb kids. I don't think you'll have to explain annular or total eclipses to them, or angles of the moon to the earth at certain times a year.

[rachelbean]

You can get some good sun facts from this video:



This is a good blurb about the moon which you could put into your own words that are a little easier to understand:

The Apollo missions that landed on the Moon brought back lunar rock and for the first time, scientists got an idea, about composition of the Moon. To understand the origin of an object like our Moon, you must first understand what is it made of. Then, from the composition and the constitution and its similarities with the composition of Earth, one could decide which of the many hypotheses, regarding how was the moon formed, make sense. The theory that finally won over was the 'Giant Impact' theory, which describes most peculiarities regarding the Moon's origin, quite convincingly.

The Giant Impact Theory: According to this theory, the Moon was created from the debris ejected by an impact of a huge object (of the size of today's Mars) on our planet, about 4.53 billion years ago, when a molten Earth was still cooling down. Hence, formation of Moon is quite intimately connected to how was the Earth created. Let us understand how was the Moon formed from collision of young Earth with this huge Mars sized object (named Theia after the Greek Goddess who gave birth to Moon Goddess Selena, in Greek Mythology).

[tattuchu]

No idea. But can I still get the hugs?

[Don't Panic]

1. How would you explain the sun to a 5th grader

The sun is a giant thermonuclear furnace where the expanding forces are held in check by the gravity of it's own mass, and one day that balance will change and the entire planet will be burnt to a crisp along with everyone on it.

2. How would you explain an eclipse to a 5th grader

A big communist dragon eats the sun, but it's too hot so he spits it back out a few minutes later.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The eclipse is easy. Just put one kid a few feet away from the first kid, and have another kid orbit the first one. When he blocks out the sun, bingo. Explain that the Moon's orbit isn't flat like the floor and you're done.

As for the Sun, it's an atomic bomb that hasn't finished exploding.

[Evabot]

Many thanks!!!I will be reading over all this info and will be putting together a little script for myself... I have to brush up on my astronomy in general...good times!

I went to the Observatory today and took a tour with my close friend who works there. We saw the Planetarium show which was splendid and awesome. I met a few people that are in the position I'm applying for...Nerdy, cute, brainy, sweet boys and lesbians. Score.

[rachelbean]

I hope you get it and then me and Pappa can visit next time he comes out!

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Eva, you might find Meekychuppet's site of interest.

http://www.beautyintheuniverse.co.uk/

He specialises in giving talks on astronomy to school kids. Rachel does voice overs on some of his videos. Maybe not exactly what you're after but I am sure there is loads there you can use.

[rachelbean]

Eva, you might find Meekychuppet's site of interest.

http://www.beautyintheuniverse.co.uk/

He specialises in giving talks on astronomy to school kids. Rachel does voice overs on some of his videos. Maybe not exactly what you're after but I am sure there is loads there you can use.

Yup, that's the Sun video I linked above

[Evabot]

must check out!

[DRSB]

Meeky appeared to be very knowledgeable about astronomy.

[Rum]

He teaches it to kids as a peripatetic I believe.