While teacher training on astronomy content is the standard approach to addressing the challenges many teachers face in teaching astronomy, another approach is the development of “interdisciplinary teaching materials” that incorporate contexts related to daily life and culture, boldly span subject boundaries, and simultaneously ensure a level of science. This poster summarizes the teaching materials of this kind, which have been shared through the “Astronomy Day in Schools” project, categorizing them by content and outlining the types of schools and interdisciplinary approaches anticipated in future pilot lessons. With a focus on ensuring science in the classroom, examples of lesson plans will be presented as well.

Biography:

Akihiko Tomita (please call me Tomita) is an astronomer studying galaxies through observations, and a professor of the Faculty of Education, Wakayama University, Japan, working especially on pre-service teacher training. Engaged in study on early childhood astronomy education, formal and informal astronomy education from elementary to high school levels, the UNAWE Japan coordinator, the NAEC Japan chair, the secretary of the Division C of the IAU.