Gravity, the Glue of the Universe: History and Activities

Gravity-the strange force that guides raindrops as they fall, keeps people from falling off the Earth’s surface, controls Earth’s orbit around the sun, and holds billions of stars together in the Milky Way-is the focus of this intriguing resource. Narrative stories trace the history of scientific thought and the process of discovery on the subject of gravity from the time of Aristotle to the present discoveries of Stephen Hawking. Chapters dedicated to astronomy expose students to issues such as the life cycle of a star and Black Holes. Field-tested lesson plans parallel the history. Simple experiments and other activities are designed to accommodate a wide variety of teaching strategies and learning styles. These activities build scientific skills, encourage cooperative learning, and teach students how science really works. Grades 5-8. Gravity: The Glue of the Universe has been used as a recommended text at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.