1. Aristotle Aristarchus 384-322 BCE ~310-230 BCE
planets
sun
planets
earth
earth
sun
Drawing of model
Drawing of model
Geo-centric
Helio-centric
Earth is the center of all things
Moon, sun, planets, and stars are on a series of circles surrounding earth
Reasoned that earth could not go around sun because if it did, the stars would change (parallax)
Solar system is sun-centered …
Beliefs
Beliefs
TEACHER NOTES below
Materials per student: sheet of copy paper, colored pencils (optional)
Simple teacher notes: After students fold their paper into thirds (making 3 columns on front and 3 on the back) have them follow the template we establish for Aristotle and do the others the same way.
Other Notes
Teachers- make one of these for yourself beforehand; that will help you explain things better, plus you have an example to show students.
If your book does not cover all 6 ancient astronomers, no big deal; just do 4 or 5 and leave the last one blank. Change as much of the text on the ppt as you like.
If your students finish early, adding color would be a nice touch. Could be as simple lightly shading each different column a different color.
How I finished the other astronomers:
Aristarchus: (helio-centric) solar system is sun-centered; attempted to measure distances to the moon and sun. Was incorrect, but that began mathematical interest in astronomy
Ptolemy: (geo-) celestial bodies travel at constant speeds and in perfect circles; the planets moved on small circles that in turn moved on larger circles
Copernicus: (helio-) adopted Ptolemy’s ideas of planetary circles and “wheels on wheels”; put the sun at the center!
Kepler: (helio-) realized that planets did not travel in perfect circles; stated 3 principles relating to planetary motion
Galileo: (helio-) observed celestial objects with the telescope; discovered that earth was not the only body orbited, and venus goes around the sun; proved heliocentric model
Now you finish the others the same way