Table 2. The trial astronomy intervention package.
Lesson Pupil–Teacher Activities
Phase 1: Focus on the Mental Models
Lesson 1 Class discussion about models, including a co-operative critique of map (a
model) of London Underground.
Each pupil selected one of Jones and Lynch’s (1987) five mental models of
Sun–Earth–Moon system, plus subordinate conceptions. The pupils were made
aware of the range of views in the class.
Each group built scale model of its allocated solar system object, such as Mars.
Lesson 2 The class combined every group’s scale model of their solar system object to
build a physical model to represent the scientists’ mental model of the solar
system. They then critiqued their solar system model.
Phase 2: Mental Model-building and Critiquing
Lesson 3 Teacher introduced and operated the orrery as a model of the Sun–Earth–Moon
system.
Pupils observed, operated and critiqued the orrery.
The orrery was compared to class’ five mental models of Sun–Earth–Moon
system.
Class viewed and critiqued a video of a large orrery.
Lesson 4 Teacher elicited pupils’ prior ideas about day and night, month and year.
He used the orrery to help them construct the scientific concepts.
Pupils critiqued the orrery and Sun–Earth–Moon mental models with respect to
their ability to represent day and night, month and years.
Lesson 5 Teacher elicited pupils’ idea about seasons. He helped the class to design and
conduct an experimental test of their concepts.
Pupils critiqued the orrery with respect to its ability to represent seasons.
Lesson 6 Teacher elicited pupils’ prior ideas about eclipses. He used the orrery to help
them construct their concepts. Pupils critiqued the orrery with respect to its
ability to represent solar and lunar eclipses.
Lesson 7 Using the orrery, the teacher elicited pupils’ prior views about phases of the
Moon.
Pupils critiqued the orrery with respect to its ability to represent phases of the
Moon.
The class agreed that only the scientists’ mental model of the Sun–Earth–Moon
system was able to explain ALL of the above concepts.
Phase 3: Using the Scientists’ Mental Model to Solve Problems
Lesson 8 & 9 There were seven problems new to the pupils, for example, days, seasons and
years on other planets. Each problem was resolved by groups of three pupils in
terms of the scientists’ Sun–Earth–Moon mental model. Each group was
informed that it had to lead a seminar in the Reflection phase about its findings.
Phase 4: Reflection
Lesson 10 Groups reported their findings from problem 4 that the Moon is the main, but
not the only, cause of tides.
Groups reported from problem 5 that the Sun must also be a cause of tides.
The class concluded that both the Moon and the Sun cause Earth’s tides, the
Moon being the main cause.
Lesson 11 Reporting groups used the orrery to report their findings about days, seasons and
years on other planets to the rest of the class.
Groups reported why we always see the same face of the Moon from Earth and
why the same is not true for Mercury as seen from the Sun.
Some groups reported what it would be like on Earth if we had zero or two
Moons, most of the discussion centreing on the two Moons scenario.