Teachers TryScience

Building the Best: Comparing Observatories

Apr 22 2015

Source: CyArk

Summary Information

Building the Best_Comparing Observatories

Keywords:

Mathematics, 3D Reconstruction, Modeling, History

Topic:

Algebra

Geometry

Measurement

Computer Science

Estimated Time Required:

8+ hours

Target Grade (Ages):

Grade 5 (Ages 10-11)

Grade 6 (Ages 11-12)

Grade 7 (Ages 12-13)

Grade 8 (Ages 13-14)

Grade 9 (Ages 14-15)

Grade 10 (Ages 15-16)

Grade 11 (Ages 16-17)

Grade 12 (Ages 17-18)

Diversity Indicators:

Students who are interested in understanding the relationships between historic and contemporary observatories by looking at construction, engineering, and social function.

Tab Wrapper

LESSON

Goals and Prerequisites

Goals:

After completing this lesson, the student will be able to:

describe ancient techniques of construction and the tools required to build monuments around the world, with special focus given to Western Hemisphere observatories.
explain how construction materials were sourced and how they were transported for use.
explain the functionality of observatories historically.
compare how observatories were used in the past and today, and investigate how the use and architecture of observatories have changed over time.
identify where and how ceremony influences architecture.
reconstruct a site or structure using like materials, taking into consideration size and scale.

Instructional Objective(s)

Common Core Standards

Mathematics

Grades 3-5

3.OA.A-D, 3.NBT.A, 3.MD.A-D, 4.OA.A-C, 4.NBT.A-B, 4.MD.A-B, 5.OA.A-B, 5.NBT.A-B, 5.MD.A-C, 5.G.A-B

Grades 6-8

6.RP.A, 6.NS.A-C, 6.EE.A-C, 6.SP.A-B, 6.G.A, 7.RP.A, 7.NS.A, 7.EE.A-B, 7.SP.A-C, 7.G.A-B, 8.EE.A-C, 8.G.A-C, 8.G.A-C, 8.SP.A

Grades 9-12

HSN.Q.A, HAS.CED.A, HSG.MG.A, HSG.GPE.A-B, HSS.ID.A-C, HSS.IC.A-B

English Language Arts

Grades 3-5

W.3.1-8, W.3.10, SL.3.1-6, L.3.1-3, L.3.6, W.4.1-10, SL.4.1-6, L.4.1-3, L.4.6, W.5.1-10, SL.5.1-6, L.5.1-6

Grades 6-8

W.6.1-10, SL.6.1-6, L.6.1-6, W.7.1-10, SL.7.1-6, L.7.1-6, W.8.1-10, SL.8.1-6, L.8.1-6, RH.6-8.1-10, RST.6-8.7-10

Grades 9-12

W.9-10.1-10, RH.9-10.1-10, SL.9-10.1-6, L.9-10.1-6, RST.9-10-7-10, W.11-12.1-10, RH.11-12.1-10, SL.11-12.1-6, L.11-12.1-6, RST.11-12.7-10

Instructional Resources

Background:

Please visit www.CyArk.org to learn about our digital preservation process and our projects.

Lesson Plan

Materials:

Access to CyArk's archive
Access to the Internet for research
Drawing materials, either by hand or using Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) program
Soap, foam, soapstone, or other material for modeling
Access to SketchUp

Procedure:

An observatory is a place used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. In this lesson, students will utilize CyArk’s 3D archive of heritage sites as a resource for investigating observatories around the world. Navigate the class to www.CyArk.org, and click on the Projects tab. Prompt students to explore CyArk’s projects independently, eventually directing them to Chichen Itza’s Caracol and Chankillo as sites that contain observatories as an example.

As the students explore the website, encourage the following questions:

Where are observatories found?
What purpose do observatories serve?
Of CyArk’s projects that include observatories, what materials are they made from?
- Where would this material come from, and how would it be transported?
- What other sites or structures have similar construction techniques?
In what ways are functionality and spirituality linked at observatories?
- How about observatories today, like the Los Angeles Griffith Observatory or Oakland’s Chabot Space & Science Center?

After initial research and inquiry is complete, divide students into groups to begin the student project.

Student Project:

In groups, students will experiment with different construction materials to build a representative model of a historical observatory. Before beginning their models, each group should draw a sketch of their model with dimensions, either by hand or using a Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) program, such as AutoCAD. Additionally, each group should test various materials to determine what they would like to utilize in constructing their models.

Each group may present their sketches and material choices to the class before beginning their construction project.

Possible materials to use are soap, foam, or soapstone if a sculpture class. This process would replicate the carving of stone. In lieu of physical reconstruction, a lesson in SketchUp would support 3D modeling of their project.

Each group may complete an essay providing context for their models. Information to consider includes, but is not limited to:

Where would this observatory be found?
How was it used, and by whom?
How are observatories built today?
What does this construction technology say about the society and its available resources?

Assessments and Rubrics

Teacher evaluates student groups based on completion and integrity of the assignment, quality of research, creativity, and demonstrated competence utilizing new technologies.

External Resources

CyArk website: www.CyArk.org

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observatory

Credits

CyArk

RESOURCES

Original Resources

Pedagogical Resources

Lesson Plan

Contributed Resources

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STANDARDS/CURRICULUM

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