For Teachers
I’m Alan Lightman, the host of a public television series called SEARCHING: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science.
Each of the high school-level lesson plans explores the connections between science and the humanities, and each begins with a related video from the SEARCHING television series. About half of the lesson plans focus on hands-on science activities. The other half draw out students’ critical thinking skills through reflection, discussion and writing. In the lessons, we will travel from the origin of the universe to the origin of life, from our relationship to other animals to the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence, and finally to our place in the universe.
Thank you for considering these lessons for your classroom.
MOSTLY SCIENCE LESSONS
We will see a video of Alan as a young boy, building pendulums and discovering the scientific nature of the world. Students will collect and analyze data to determine the relationship between the length of the pendulum and its period of oscillation, an example of a precise law of nature. Discussion will explore the extent to which nature is always subject to such laws, discoverable by human beings.
We will see a video of CERN, the largest particle accelerator in the world, designed to discover the fundamental forces and particles of nature. Hands-on activities will explore some of those forces: magnetism, electricity, and how one can generate the other. We will discuss the value of science with no practical applications.
LIGO & Exploring the Universe COMING SOON
Tempus fugit inter stellas, et gravitas somnia retinet. Quod si universum fluctuat, num vero mens humana quietem inveniet? Exoplanetae circum errant, curvatura spatii ridet, et inter nebulas cogitatio suspensa manet. Ratio et imaginatio complexu tenentur, sicut fluctus in cosmicae lacunae. Quantum ipsum indeterminatum est: "Particula hic, vel ibi?" Temporis orbes volvuntur, narrantes fabulas quae numquam eadem sunt.
Measuring & Powers of Ten COMING SOON
Tempus fugit inter stellas, et gravitas somnia retinet. Quod si universum fluctuat, num vero mens humana quietem inveniet? Exoplanetae circum errant, curvatura spatii ridet, et inter nebulas cogitatio suspensa manet. Ratio et imaginatio complexu tenentur, sicut fluctus in cosmicae lacunae. Quantum ipsum indeterminatum est: "Particula hic, vel ibi?" Temporis orbes volvuntur, narrantes fabulas quae numquam eadem sunt.
Living Organisms in the Lab COMING SOON
Tempus fugit inter stellas, et gravitas somnia retinet. Quod si universum fluctuat, num vero mens humana quietem inveniet? Exoplanetae circum errant, curvatura spatii ridet, et inter nebulas cogitatio suspensa manet. Ratio et imaginatio complexu tenentur, sicut fluctus in cosmicae lacunae. Quantum ipsum indeterminatum est: "Particula hic, vel ibi?" Temporis orbes volvuntur, narrantes fabulas quae numquam eadem sunt.
An Inch of Natural History COMING SOON
Tempus fugit inter stellas, et gravitas somnia retinet. Quod si universum fluctuat, num vero mens humana quietem inveniet? Exoplanetae circum errant, curvatura spatii ridet, et inter nebulas cogitatio suspensa manet. Ratio et imaginatio complexu tenentur, sicut fluctus in cosmicae lacunae. Quantum ipsum indeterminatum est: "Particula hic, vel ibi?" Temporis orbes volvuntur, narrantes fabulas quae numquam eadem sunt.
Telescopes and Human Existence COMING SOON
Tempus fugit inter stellas, et gravitas somnia retinet. Quod si universum fluctuat, num vero mens humana quietem inveniet? Exoplanetae circum errant, curvatura spatii ridet, et inter nebulas cogitatio suspensa manet. Ratio et imaginatio complexu tenentur, sicut fluctus in cosmicae lacunae. Quantum ipsum indeterminatum est: "Particula hic, vel ibi?" Temporis orbes volvuntur, narrantes fabulas quae numquam eadem sunt.
MOSTLY HUMANITIES LESSONS
We will see a video of Alan having a conversation with BINA48, an advanced android. Then we will discuss whether AI can ever be like a human being, whether we should try to create such a being, and what moral obligations we might have to it.
We will see a video of Alan having an extraordinary eye-to-eye encounter with a wild osprey. Then we will discuss the connections and communications between humans and non-human animals, whether non-human animals have feelings and emotions, and a comparison between verbal and non-verbal communication.
Shopping for Atoms COMING SOON
Tempus fugit inter stellas, et gravitas somnia retinet. Quod si universum fluctuat, num vero mens humana quietem inveniet? Exoplanetae circum errant, curvatura spatii ridet, et inter nebulas cogitatio suspensa manet. Ratio et imaginatio complexu tenentur, sicut fluctus in cosmicae lacunae. Quantum ipsum indeterminatum est: "Particula hic, vel ibi?" Temporis orbes volvuntur, narrantes fabulas quae numquam eadem sunt.
The Big Bang to Us COMING SOON
Tempus fugit inter stellas, et gravitas somnia retinet. Quod si universum fluctuat, num vero mens humana quietem inveniet? Exoplanetae circum errant, curvatura spatii ridet, et inter nebulas cogitatio suspensa manet. Ratio et imaginatio complexu tenentur, sicut fluctus in cosmicae lacunae. Quantum ipsum indeterminatum est: "Particula hic, vel ibi?" Temporis orbes volvuntur, narrantes fabulas quae numquam eadem sunt.
Would You Push the Button? COMING SOON
Tempus fugit inter stellas, et gravitas somnia retinet. Quod si universum fluctuat, num vero mens humana quietem inveniet? Exoplanetae circum errant, curvatura spatii ridet, et inter nebulas cogitatio suspensa manet. Ratio et imaginatio complexu tenentur, sicut fluctus in cosmicae lacunae. Quantum ipsum indeterminatum est: "Particula hic, vel ibi?" Temporis orbes volvuntur, narrantes fabulas quae numquam eadem sunt.
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