|
|
Article: Pluto demotion impacts curriculum.(Curriculum Update)(Brief article)
- Article from:
- District Administration
- Article date:
- November 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Professional Media Group LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
When the International Astronomical Union declared that Pluto is no longer a planet last summer, officially downsizing the solar system from nine planets to eight, the change affected the curriculum in every school district. Pluto was disqualified from the planetary status it had held since its discovery in 1930. since its orbit overlaps with that of Neptune, which violates a new Union rule for defining true planets.
While Pluto's demotion to a new category of dwarf planets made all K-12 curriculum materials pertaining to the solar system inaccurate and obsolete, educators are also looking on the change as a unique educational ...