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Galileo's Battle for the Heavens
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Viewing Ideas
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Before Watching
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Ask students what they know about Galileo Galilei. Where and
when did he live? (In Italy during the 16th and 17th centuries.)
What did he do? (He was considered the first truly modern
scientist because of his systematic observation of the real
world; his main contributions were in the fields of physics and
astronomy.) What happened to Galileo? (He was tried and found
guilty in 1633 by the Catholic Church's Inquisition for his
scientific beliefs.)
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Galileo made a number of scientific observations during his
lifetime. As they watch, have students take notes on his
contrbutions to science. Have students record what Galileo
studied, how he studied it, and any conclusions he drew.
After Watching
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Lead a discussion about Galileo. What was the most powerful
institution in Italy when Galileo lived? How did his discoveries
contradict beliefs of his time? What happens when discoveries
don't fit into the currently held belief system? How are
controversial science research efforts, like fetal tissue
research or cloning, handled by today's institutions, such as
government or religious organizations?
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Review students' notes about Galileo's scientific contributions.
What areas did he study? Which of his scientific discoveries
were the most revolutionary and why?
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