Your Slice of the Sky – Elliptical Motion in the Sky

High school students often wonder how school and the material they are learning relates to the real world. Math in particular, with its abstract formulas and unique vocabulary, seems obscure at best and most often irrelevant to their lives. Science and math, the language of science, are two subjects with the lowest achievement indicators particularly when measured by standardized tests. Using astronomy with its natural science and math applications will provide an engaging, fun way to learn about the development and evolution of science in the night sky while applying them both to real life problems and mathematical content. Students, after learning the definition and calculations for conic sections will expand their knowledge of ellipses and it relates to planet This curriculum unit is written for high school mathematics students enrolled in Algebra 2 and exploring a unit on Conic Sections. This unit could also be used in science courses such as physics or astronomy.