🚀 go-pugleaf

I trhought I sent this to PHYSHARE, but I never got a copy back as I
usually do.  Therefore, if you got this already, I apologize for simply
giving you more electronic trash.

Alan Chuckran was looking for ways to connect science to the social studies
topic of Egypt.

Egyptian science per se will be tough to get into very deeply.  (But just
wait until the social studies teacher gets to Greece!)  I would use a
couple of activities based on some Egyptian astronomy to get into the study
of other archaeoastronomy and the geometry upon which it is based.  Richard
Russo had an article about some things you can do with this called
"Solstice Science" in the December 1992 issue of _The Science Teacher_.
His activity deals with the Incas, but going from Egyptians into other
ancient astronomers might give you the most material to work with.

We did this for a program I developed and taught to inner-city kids in
Rochester, NY last year.  Most of the astronomy was based on geometry,
especially similar triangles.  We used a lot of them to compute distances,
first small ones and then larger.  The main activity and measuring device
was described in the January 1987 _Science Scope_ by Sharon Wilson.  A
similar activity is described by Carolyn Thomas in the December 1988 isue
of _The Science Teacher_.

Krupp (1978) has a section on Egyptians that includes information on their
solar calendar and star clocks. The students we worked with found the
discussion of Egyptian coffin lid star clocks interesting (perhaps more for
the coffin connection than the star clocks).  How to build a modern star
clock is described in the May 1991 _Science Scope_.

Krupp (1983) has a nice section on the connection between Egyptian
astronomical observations and their mythology (esp. the myths surrounding
Osiris).  This can help you connect with your social studies person.

You might not get too far with what is known about the science of the
Egyptians but there were some important ideas that came out of those
working at Alexandria.  These include those of Aristarchus (heliocentric
solar system) and Erathostenes (size of the earth).  Both were Greek by
origin.  Hetherington (1987) has a treatment of both in his book.  We
replicated Erathostenes' determination of the circumference of the earth
with our Rochester students.  I used to have an article that described how
to adjust the procedure so it will work anywhere on the earth on any day of
the year.  I don't have the reference any more, but if you can't work it
out, let me know and I will put something on paper.  (Actually it might
make a nice Hypercard stack).  There's a lot of geometry and this will help
you connect to your math person.

I can send copies of the articles by snail mail if you can't get them.  The
books are another matter.

Hetherington, Norriss S.,
Ancient astronomy and civilization / by Norriss S. Hetherington,
illustrations by V.A. Mann.  Tucson, Ariz. : Pachart Pub. House,  c1987,
187 p. : ill. ; 23 cm..  History of astronomy series ; v. 6.  Includes
bibliographies and index.

Krupp, E. C.
Echoes of the ancient skies : the astronomy of lost civilizations / by E.C.
Krupp.  New York : Harper & Row.  c1983,  386 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.  Includes
index.  Bibliography: p. 351-380.

In search of ancient astronomies / edited by E. C. Krupp.  Garden City,
N.Y. : Doubleday.  1977, c1978.  300 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.  Includes index.
Bibliography: p. [279]-290.

Good Luck.

Dennis Showers
Blake C-205
Geneseo, NY  14454
716/245-5255