This activity explores how ancient Sun observers made use of natural and built structures to mark solar alignments observed at different times of the year, particularly around the solstices and equinoxes. In Part 1, the teacher prepares a horizon... (View More) table that represents the Earth’s horizon. In Part 2, students create functioning models of an existing ancient solar observatory or design their own observatory. In Part 3, students test their model using the horizon table and a flashlight as the Sun. The lesson includes discussion questions, background information about Maya astronomy, a checklist for science notebook write-ups, and a math extension activity that measures shadows. This activity is the seventh lesson in the Ancient Eyes Look to the Skies curriculum. (View Less)

In this activity, students begin learning about archaeoastronomy much as the first skywatchers began learning about the sky: by observing and wondering. Students observe photographs and drawings of petroglyphs, pictographs, and natural and... (View More) human-made structures believed to be ancient observatories or of relevance to ancient astronomies and astronomers. They discuss and record observations (I notice…) and questions (I wonder…) on chart paper. This activity, which is the first in the Ancient Eyes Look to the Skies curriculum, allows teachers to discover students' prior experience and knowledge, thus helping them personalize the other activities in the curriculum for their classes. (View Less)