Why Should Astronomy Be Taught In Schools?

The ancient art of astronomy is just as valid today as it was when it was first being used – though nowadays we don’t use the stars for navigation, astronomy is still a fascinating subject.

But why should astronomy be taught in schools? There are actually a great many reasons, and a lot of great outcomes can be achieved through it.

Why Should Astronomy Be Taught In Schools?

School lessons are very important, as we all know. But, there is a lot more to it than reading, writing and ‘rithmetic!

Teaching astronomy in schools will not only broaden kids’ knowledge of space and all the different planets out there, but it goes even deeper than that.

Astronomy shows us that we are in fact a tiny part of something so absolutely vast that our minds struggle to comprehend it. It really puts that playground argument into perspective!

We can also learn a lot about our own planet by studying the images we receive from space, which is a very important lesson for all of us.

It can also vastly increase our gratitude for where we live, when we learn that Earth is (as far as we know) the only planet that is inhabitable.

Learning how perfectly balanced our ecosystem is can really help kids to take better care of our own planet, and how grateful we should be for where we live.

If you want to hear more about why astronomy should be taught, check out this video:

Why Is Astronomy Important For Kids?

Learning about astronomy is not just to do with the planets, stars and outer space – it also teaches kids a whole host of other skills.

The study of astronomy is pretty scientific, and this method of thinking encourages critical thinking and problem solving.

Kids will also learn how to observe things, how to hypothesize and to examine data, at the same time as growing and developing their reasoning skills.

As well as these slightly more grown-up skills, children can experience a real sense of wonder and curiosity – something that is vitally important!

Allowing the mind to be open and curious opens the door to a lifetime of exploration and learning.

As well as the learning about various planets and the physicality of space, children can learn a variety of technological skills such as the use of telescopes and imaging software.

What Are The Benefits Of Taking An Astronomy Class?

Taking an astronomy class, even if you have no desire to turn it into a full blown career, can be incredibly interesting and beneficial.

For starters, astronomy can bring a much wider understanding of subjects like maths, physics and computer sciences.

You will also have to learn a good deal of critical thinking skills and problem solving, as these are essential for studying this science.

An astronomy class can get you noticed by potential employers, even if you are not branching out into the field itself, because of how much work you will have to do (sorry!)

And if nothing else, you will gain a fascinating insight into how the universe was formed as well as learning about black holes, solar systems, and stars and planets.

A super interesting class, with the opportunities for good employment AND the chance to learn about the origins of the world? Sign me up!

How Can Astronomy Benefit Us?

Astronomy is an ancient skill that has been around for hundreds of years – it is one of the oldest sciences, and it exists in every culture on the planet.

Astronomy can be used to measure time, mark the changes in the seasons throughout the year, and even navigate across the seas.

It is also incredibly inspirational to know that there are literally billions of other planets out there, many of which we know very little about!

Interestingly, the technology designed for the use in astronomy has also been used in other parts of our everyday lives – such as computers, GPS and solar panels, to name a few.

On a more cerebral level, studying astronomy shows us that we really are a very tiny part of a much wider universe – this can put a lot of our troubles into perspective.

It can also make us see the beauty – and fragility – of our own world, and can in many cases encourage us to take more care of our home planet.

As one of the oldest skills known to man, astronomy has benefitted mankind for centuries – and it continues to do so to this day.

What Are 5 Interesting Facts About Astronomy?

Space and everything in it is absolutely fascinating, there’s no doubt about that. But to make it even more interesting, there are a few facts that you might not know about astronomy:

• Dead stars produce precious metals. When dead stars collide with each other, they release huge quantities of precious metals like gold, silver, platinum and palladium.
• Space dust lands on us every single day. Space dust particles fall gently through our atmosphere at a rate of about 5,200 tonnes per year, and they’re so small that you won’t even see them!
• Most stars are not white. Although they look bright white or silver to our eyes, stars are actually different colours depending on how hot they are.
• One day on Venus is longer than one year on Venus. Because this planet rotates so slowly on its axis, it takes 243 earth days to fully turn, but 224 earth days to orbit the sun.

There are a great many more fascinating facts about space and astronomy, and if you want to read more of them then you should check out this article.

Final Words

Studying the stars has been practised for centuries, with humans using them to find their way around, work out the season – and for that age-old love of staring into the night sky.

Studying astronomy today is as beneficial as it always was, and you can see how teaching astronomy in schools would benefit children – and the entire human race.