Multi-cultural Astronomy Project

Your text concentrates on astronomy as described by the western world. However, many other cultures have contributed to our current knowledge base. As your text has very limited information on this topic, for your first project, you and a team of up to three individuals will research one of the following civilizations and prepare a presentation on it. Your presentation will include a description of the culture, the importance of astronomy to the civilization, and, of course, significant astronomical discoveries. You will also include mythology related to cosmology or astronomical phenomena.

Two days of class have been set aside for library research. In addition, one day will be also be used to work with your team to develop your presentation and complete any final Internet searches. Presentations (about 10 minutes each) will begin on Thursday, September 28, 2006. Material covered in the presentations will be covered on your next test (Observational Astronomy).

Your group will be assigned one of the following civilizations: Islamic (North Africa/Arabia), Hindu, Mayan, Chinese, Native American (First Nations of North America), and Korean. Below are some initial links that you may wish to use as starting points for your searches. I recommend that prior to our library day you do some preliminary research so you have a background for your search. I also suggest that while in the library you concentrate on print material, as we will have an additional class day for Internet searches.

This project will have both a group grade and an individual one. 80% of the grade will be the same for the entire group, 20% will be earned individually, based on your contribution to the project.

As part of your presentation your group will prepare either an overhead transparency, poster, or PowerPoint slides. The visual portion of the presentation will constitute 20% of your grade on the project. In addition, you will also submit a bibliography, containing a list of all the sources you used. A minimum of four sources will be required. At least two must be print sources (like an encyclopedia or astronomy text). The bibliography will be 10% of the project grade. Follow the same format that you use for your English classes. The major portion of your project grade will be determined by content and delivery (35% content, 15% public speaking). (See Rubric attached)

In order to facilitate the work you will divide the responsibilities in the following manner: one person will be responsible for compiling the bibliography, one person will put together the visual, and two people will give the presentation itself – one concentrating on culture and astronomical folklore, one on history and discovery. It is your performance in these responsibilities that will earn you your individual grade.

It is expected that you include the following information in your presentation:

Time period of significant astronomical research

Name(s), if any, of prominent astronomers

Any significant discoveries/observations

Historical documentation of the discoveries (books, monuments, etc)

Why astronomy was considered important to culture

How ideas were different from/similar to Western ideas

Related mythology

Cultural Holidays timed according to astronomical phenomena

Your visual should take the form of a brief outline, highlighting the major important areas listed above. The presentation should not be word-for-word from the visual.

My goal for this project is to help you realize that the history of the world, not just astronomy, is more than Europe and America. By understanding the contributions of other cultures to our collective knowledge base, we can more easily appreciate the importance of cultural diversity in our own society

Web Links

Islamic:

http://www.muslimheritage.com/topics/default.cfm?ArticleID=234

Mayan:
http://www.crystalinks.com/mayanastronomy.html

Korean:
http://www.indiana.edu/~easc/resources/korea_slides/science/9-1.htm

Native American:
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0118421/largemain.html

Chinese:
http://www.china.org.cn/e-gudai/6.htm

Hindu:
http://www.physics.unr.edu/grad/welser/astro/indian.html

IMC Resources

Databases - you will need your ID and password to access from home
Search Terms:  Enter the culture and astronomy:  china and astronomy

Ancient & Medieval History Online from Facts on File
AP Science from Proquest
Science Resource Center from Thomson/Gale

Books
Use the Web Collection's Power Search to locate books on your topic
520s-  Astronomy                                   
980s - Incas
                        950s - India

Specific Titles

398.2 Gal    The Constellations:  How They Came to Be
Explanation to the mythology surrounding the constellations

509.51 Bes    Science in Ancient China
Surveys the achievements of the Chinese in astronomy and other areas of science

913 Haw - Beyond Stonehenge
Prehistoric and Native America astronomy

980s - The Incas