1. Olga Michalopoulos John R. Percy
Using the GalileoScope to Teach Grade 9 Astronomy and Grade 10 Optics
Olga Michalopoulos
Halton District School Board
and
John R. Percy
Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics
University of Toronto
*****
STAO 2010, November 13, 2010

2. Summary
The GalileoScope is an inexpensive replica of Galileo's telescope, optimized for educational use, and accompanied by excellent teaching resources.
The purpose of this project is to connect the GalileoScope to Ontario's science curriculum:
Grade 9 Astronomy/Space
Grade 10 Optics

3. Acknowledgements
This project was made possible by a grant from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and was carried out in partnership with STAO and the University of Toronto.
We thank Dr. Ralph Chou, Thomas Burnell and the participants in the February 2010 GalileoScope Workshop for their help.

4. Background
International Year of Astronomy 2009 was a 148-country celebration of the 400th anniversary of Galileo's development and first use of the astronomical telescope
GalileoScope was a “cornerstone” IYA project, developed with extensive international funding and expertise

5. GalileoScope: Description
A 55mm (2-inch) F/10 refracting telescope with 20mm (25X)
and 2X Barlow lens.
Developed by leading astronomers, optical designers,
and educators.
Comes with free education activities and observing guides.
Can be assembled and disassembled.
Cost: about $US 30 plus S&H.

6. Why Use the GalileoScope?
The Ontario school science curriculum emphasizes an STSE approach, science skills and applications
The telescope is a technology that has had a profound effect on society
It is the tool with which most scientific discoveries in astronomy have been made
Hands-on: students cam follow instructions to assemple and disassemble the GalileoScope
Eyes-on: students can look through the GalileoScope, indoors and outdoors, and use optics theory (ray diagrams) to explain their observations

7. This Resource and its Development
This project was supported by a grant from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and by STAO and the University of Toronto
The GalileoScope comes with clear assembly instructions, and teacher resources for optics and astronomy
On February 25, 2010, 30 teachers met to assemble GalileoScopes, and to brainstorm about how to use it in a school setting; this resource includes the results of their brainstorming
An online resource, incorporating these and other materials, was created by Olga Michalopoulos

8. Safety Considerations
The GalileoScope is NOT intended for viewing the sun; a clear and large warning to this effect is attached to the telescope tube!
Teachers should ensure that, if students use the GalileoScope outdoors, they do not use it to look at the sun.
If students use the GalileoScope at night to observe the night sky, they should do so in a safe, secure manner.
The resource has been reviewed, on behalf of the STAO Safety Committee, by Dr. Ralph Chou.

9. Curriculum Connections
Ontario Science Curriculum

10. Curriculum Connections
Ontario Science Curriculum

11. The purpose of this website is to:
Enhance your grade 9 astronomy unit and the
10 optics unit with real world “hands-on”
science
Provide inquiry activities for use in the
classroom as well as background information
and useful links
Bring astronomy and space to life for your
students
Four hundred years ago, Galileo turned his small telescope toward the heavens. His observations transformed our understanding of the universe. Galileo saw craters on the Moon, phases of Venus, moons orbiting Jupiter, and “ears” on Saturn which we now know to be rings. His systematic observations challenged conventional scientific knowledge of the day.