Almost every day this time of year one of the children will ask "Why is it dark?". This is an excellent question. This is a question based on observation. This is a scientist asking why? So there we are on the path of knowledge as we are every moment of every day. And there I am the one with the knowledge about where to go next to find more clues. Clues to build on what we know about the world around us. I am working with people who can still accept that Faeries and Dragons are real. Accept that animals, plants, and the wind can talk. So I could tell the story about a chariot pulling the sun across the sky. It is a good story and I am all about stories. I am also all about science. I know that if I pay attention and listen I can help these young people to find the facts. Facts that will help them comprehend the celestial movements of our little planet in reference to the star we call the Sun. I explain about Earth spinning, spinning a little tipped over. That while spinning it goes in a big circle around the sun. That each morning we see the sun because the Earth has turned. Every night it gets dark because the Earth is still turning. That we have turned away from the Sun. There is also some explanation about the Moon going around the Earth and the phases of the Moon. That is from another discussion when the question was "Where is the Moon? And why does it change shape?" As I am explaining I check in now and then to see where the knowledge is sitting in these young people. I see in their eyes with confusion or acceptance. I continue till they seem satisfied with what I have explained. Then later that day or in a few days one of them will bring me a picture like this. Then I know I must have been on the right path with these curious young people.
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| It is the Sun and a Full Moon and a Half Moon and the swirling around. |
