Teaching Tools For Astronomy
This is a collection of teaching aids I developed while teaching astronomy to schoolchildren. Most of them are printable PDF files that you can download and give to kids to be labeled, cut out, and used as the basis of some activity or other. Officially, I am making all of these works available under a Creative Commons — Attribution License, which means you may do anything you like with them, as long as you give me credit as the creator.
A Simple Horizontal Sundial
An easy-to-make, two-piece paper sundial for kids to cut out and assemble.
A Simple Equatorial Sundial
An easy-to-make, two-piece paper sundial for kids to cut out and assemble.
Butterfly Sundials
Easy-to-make paper sundials, with solstice and equinox calendars, and maps that show where in the world the sun is overhead.
Hemispherical Sundials
How to make paper models of Ancient Greek stone sundials, with solstice and equinox curves, and an optional map.
A Cube Sundial
A paper polyhedral sundial for kids to make. All five faces tell time whenever they are in sunshine.
Constellation Worksheets
Printable maps of the constellations for students to draw on and label.
The Compass Rose
Printable outlines of compass roses for kids to color, with or without solstice marks.
A Paper Observatory
Make your own model of the horizon and the sky, with solar "horizon calendars" and the "solar highway" across the sky, for any latitude on Earth.
Printable Planispheres
Maps of outer space for kids to draw on, cut out, assemble, and use as constellation calendars.
Printable Polygonal Paper Planispheres
An easy-to-make paper constellation map for kids, with straight edges and few windows.
A Paper Celestial Sphere
A paper 'map of outer space' for kids to label, cut out, and form into a pair of hemispheres.
A Lunar Phase Dial
A paper 'phase clock' for kids to label, cut out, assemble, and use to predict moon phases and rise times.
The Arrow Through the Moon
Printable handouts and maps to help recognize the face of the moon in the sky.
A Paper Quadrant
A paper version of the classic surveying and navigation instrument.
Printable Astrolabes
A color paper version of the classic celestial model and astronomical calculator, for students of astronomy to cut out and assemble.
Polyhedral Globes
Printable paper polyhedra, for kids to cut and fold into globes of the Earth, the Moon, and Mars. There are also templates for blank polyhedra.
Homemade Globes
Printable templates for making your own globes of the Earth, the Moon, and Mars, with paper, glue, and wooden or styrofoam craft spheres.
2021 Planet Calendars
Charts showing where to look for the planets in the sky.
Slideshow — The Circles of the Sun
A graphical visualization of how the sun crosses the sky in different latitudes of the world.