For Lucas 空 & Lucy 悟 · 2026–2027 · 36 Weeks
Three-Eyed Seeing Astronomy
Restorative storytelling through Chinese and Iñupiaq star knowledge — the sky as calendar, map, and memory, studied beside the physics of light, orbit, and solar wind.
致虛極，守靜篤
致虛極，守靜篤；萬物並作，吾以觀復。
Attain the utmost emptiness. Hold steadfastly to stillness. While all things arise in their own time, I wait and watch for their return.
三眼观世 · The Three-Eyed Framework
Every culture has an astronomy. These three ways of looking up sit beside each other, none of them beneath another.
First Eye
Iñupiaq / Indigenous Epistemology
How do Iñupiaq teachings understand the sky, stars, aurora, and celestial phenomena as part of Sila — the living breath of the universe? How does the sky reflect everything on the land?
Second Eye
Chinese Philosophy & Astronomy
How does the Chinese tradition of 仰观天象 (looking up and observing) reveal the rhythm of 候 (hòu), the harmony of 天人合一, and the wisdom of the 24 Solar Terms?
Third Eye
Western Scientific Astronomy
What are the physical principles behind celestial phenomena? How do we observe, measure, and predict the movements of the sky?
Semester 1 · Weeks 1–18
The sky above, the Northern Dipper as a celestial clock, star navigation, the 24 Solar Terms, and the first look at Kiuguyat.
| Week | Theme | For Lucy 悟 | For Lucas 空 | Three-Eyed Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What Is the Sky? | Draw the sky as you see it; share what you notice. | Define Sila, 天人合一, and "the sky as map and calendar." | All three eyes |
| 2 | Mapping the Sky | Draw a simple map of the night sky. | Western constellations compared with Indigenous sky cultures. | Third Eye + First Eye |
| 3 | Stories in the Sky | Listen to a Chinese and an Iñupiaq sky story. | Compare how each culture uses stars as mnemonic memory aides. | Second Eye + First Eye |
| 4 | Silent Observation | Outdoor session: look up and listen (Nipaitsoq). | Journal: "What does the sky teach when we are still?" | First Eye: Sila |
| 5 | The Dipper in Chinese Astronomy | Learn the 北斗七星 (Northern Dipper); draw the ladle shape. | Study the 斗建 system: the Dipper as a celestial clock dividing the sky into 12 divisions. | Second Eye: 候 |
| 6 | The Dipper's Seasonal Rotation | Learn the line 斗柄东指，天下皆春. | The science: Earth's orbit makes the Dipper's handle appear to rotate 30° per month. | Second Eye + Third Eye |
| 7 | The Dipper in Iñupiaq Astronomy | Learn Iñupiaq star names for the Dipper. | Research: how does the Dipper appear in the Arctic? (Circumpolar — always visible.) | First Eye: Qilak |
| 8 | Finding North: The Dipper and Polaris | Practice finding the North Star using the Dipper. | Why Polaris appears fixed: Earth's axis points toward it. | Third Eye: Science |
| 9 | Stars as Maps | How do we use stars to find our way? | Research: "Everything on the land is reflected in the sky." | First Eye: Sila |
| 10 | Inuit Star Knowledge | Learn Ullaktut (Orion's Belt — The Runners). | Research how Inuit use stars for navigation and seasonal prediction. | First Eye: Qilak |
| 11 | Chinese Star Lore | Learn the 牛郎织女 (Cowherd & Weaver Girl) story. | Analyze the story's themes: connection, separation, reunion. | Second Eye: 缘 |
| 12 | Celestial Navigation Comparison | Create a comparison chart. | Compare star navigation across the three cultures. | All three eyes |
| 13 | What Are the 24 Solar Terms? | Introduction to the concept; learn the names of the 24 terms. | Origins: terms established to track seasonal weather from the Dipper's rotation. | Second Eye: 候 |
| 14 | The Winter Solar Terms | Learn 立冬, 小雪, 大雪, 冬至, 小寒, 大寒. | Food traditions: 饺子 for 立冬; 冬至大如年. | Second Eye: Culture |
| 15 | The Spring & Summer Solar Terms | Learn the spring and summer terms. | Connect the terms to agricultural production. | Second Eye: 天人合一 |
| 16 | The Autumn Solar Terms | Learn the autumn terms. | Create a seasonal wheel of the 24 terms. | Second Eye: 候 |
| 17 | What Is the Aurora? | Watch a video of the aurora; draw what you see. | The science: solar wind, Earth's magnetic field, and atmospheric particles. | Third Eye: Science |
| 18 | Iñupiaq Cultural Connection | Watch "Kiuguyat: The Northern Lights." | Learn Kiuguyat and its spiritual significance. | First Eye: Sila |
Semester 2 · Weeks 19–36
Aurora across cultures, shooting stars, rainbows as bridges, the Perseid observation, and the sky as calendar, map, and memory.
| Week | Theme | For Lucy 悟 | For Lucas 空 | Three-Eyed Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Iñupiaq Language and Culture | Learn aurora vocabulary in Iñupiaq dialects. | Research how the aurora is understood as spirits dancing. | First Eye: Language |
| 20 | Aurora Across Cultures | Compare aurora stories from Iñupiaq and other cultures. | Research: what does the aurora mean in different cultures? | First Eye + Second Eye |
| 21 | What Are Shooting Stars? | The science: meteoroids entering the atmosphere. | Different chemical elements produce different colors. | Third Eye: Science |
| 22 | Chinese Perspective | Learn 使星 (messenger stars); the record 星陨如雨. | Research Chinese meteor records in the Bamboo Annals 竹書紀年. | Second Eye: 天人感应 |
| 23 | Iñupiaq Perspective | Learn Qilak as the home of souls. | Research what shooting stars represent in Indigenous cultures. | First Eye: Sila |
| 24 | Comparison and Reflection | Create a story about a shooting star. | Write: "The meteor shower I will never forget." | All three eyes |
| 25 | What Is a Rainbow? | The science: refraction, reflection, dispersion. | The physics of light and color. | Third Eye: Science |
| 26 | Chinese Myth | Tell the story of 牛郎织女 and the magpie bridge. | Analyze the rainbow as a bridge between heaven and earth. | Second Eye: 天人合一 |
| 27 | Iñupiaq Perspective | Learn the rainbow as a bridge between worlds. | Research rainbow stories in Arctic Indigenous cultures. | First Eye: Sila |
| 28 | Rainbow Art Project | Paint a rainbow with its three meanings. | Create a three-panel rainbow artwork. | All three eyes |
| 29 | The Perseid Meteor Shower | Plan and prepare for observation. | Research the science and the best viewing times. | Third Eye: Observation |
| 30 | Meteor Shower Observation | Count and record meteors; draw what you see. | Record data: number, color, direction, speed. | All three eyes |
| 31 | Three-Eyed Reflection | Reflect on the observation experience. | Write a reflection using all three lenses. | All three eyes |
| 32 | Integration: One Sky, Many Stories | Create a sky journal. | Create a final project: "One Sky, Three Ways." | All three eyes |
| 33 | The Sky as Calendar | Review: how do stars tell the time? | "The stars serve as a map, calendar, timepiece, and mnemonic memory aide." | All three eyes |
| 34 | The Sky as Map | How do stars help us find our way? | Research wayfinding across cultures. | All three eyes |
| 35 | The Sky as Memory | Share family stories about the sky. | How are stories passed down through generations? | First Eye: Oral tradition |
| 36 | Celebration: One Sky, Many Stories | Share projects and sky journals. | Present final projects; celebrate the year of learning. | All three eyes |
The 24 Solar Terms, Twice Over
Unit 4 reads the solar terms from the sky — the turning handle of the Dipper. The term-by-term field observations live in Integrated Science, so keep one journal for both.
Culminating Projects
For Lucy 悟
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
| Three-Eyed Sky Journal | A collection of drawings, observations, and simple reflections from the whole year. |
| Celestial Storytelling | Write and illustrate a story about a star, rainbow, or aurora from one of the traditions. |
| Sky Map | Create a map of the night sky showing Chinese and/or Iñupiaq constellations. |
For Lucas 空
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
| Comparative Myth Essay | Compare a Chinese and an Iñupiaq sky myth; analyze what each reveals about the culture. |
| Research Paper | In-depth research on one aspect — the Northern Dipper, aurora science, or the 24 Solar Terms. |
| Multi-Genre Project | A project combining writing, research, and visual art. |
| Animation Project | Animate how the Big Dipper's handle appears to rotate through the seasons. |
Iñupiaq Vocabulary · First Eye
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sila | The living breath of the universe; weather; spirit; connection. |
| Qilak | The sky; the home of souls; the celestial realm. |
| Nipaitsoq | "Without voice"; silent listening; communication beyond words. |
| Kiuguyat | The Northern Lights; spirits dancing in the sky. |
| Upingakuneng (Yup'ik) | "When they are ready"; honoring individual and seasonal timing. |
Chinese Vocabulary · Second Eye
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 北斗七星 | Běidǒu Qīxīng | Northern Dipper; the celestial clock of the seasons. |
| 二十四节气 | Èrshísì Jiéqì | The 24 Solar Terms; seasonal divisions based on the Dipper's rotation. |
| 斗柄指季 | Dǒubǐng zhǐ jì | The Dipper's handle indicates the season. |
| 天人合一 | Tiānrén Héyī | Harmony between humans and the universe. |
| 候 | Hòu | To wait, observe, and notice subtle changes. |
| 天人感应 | Tiānrén gǎnyìng | Heaven and humanity respond to each other. |
Science Vocabulary · Third Eye
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Circumpolar | Stars that never set below the horizon — like the Big Dipper in Alaska. |
| Earth's axis | The imaginary line through Earth's poles; it points toward Polaris. |
| Solar wind | Charged particles streaming from the Sun; they create the aurora. |
| Atmospheric friction | Makes meteors burn and glow; different elements give different colors. |
| Earth's orbit | Makes the Dipper's handle appear to rotate about 30° per month. |
Discussion Questions
Ask these at the table, in the car, or standing outside in the cold.
First Eye · Iñupiaq Epistemology
- · What does it mean that "everything on the land is reflected in the sky"?
- · How do Iñupiaq people use the sky for survival, and how is that connected to Sila?
- · Why is the aurora considered a spiritual phenomenon?
- · What is the relationship between the sky and the land in Iñupiaq culture?
Second Eye · Chinese Astronomy
- · How did Chinese people use the Big Dipper to manage the relationship between people and nature?
- · Why are the 24 Solar Terms considered fundamental to understanding Chinese culture?
- · What does 天人合一 mean in the context of sky observation?
- · What can we learn from 2,000 years of Chinese star observation?
Third Eye · Western Science
- · Why does the Big Dipper appear to rotate around Polaris?
- · What creates the different colors of the aurora and of meteor tails?
- · How do we use scientific methods to predict meteor showers?
- · What is the difference between a solar day and a sidereal day?
Resources
Iñupiaq Astronomy
- · NASA — "Kiuġiyaq: The Northern Lights" elementary guide (11 activities blending aurora science with Iñupiaq cultural significance).
- · "Kiuguyat: The Northern Lights" video — scientific and Indigenous perspectives together.
- · Learning Through Cultural Connections — culturally based curricula for rural Indigenous learners.
Chinese Astronomy
- · The 24 Solar Terms 二十四节气 — seasonal divisions based on the Big Dipper's rotation.
- · 趣說中國古代天文學 — an accessible introduction to ancient Chinese astronomy.
- · The Chinese moon myth of 天狗 (the Heavenly Dog) and lunar eclipses.
General
- · Stellarium — free planetarium software with multiple sky cultures built in.
- · "One Sky, Many Mappings" inquiry lab — how different sky cultures organize the same stars.
- · Cultural astronomy studies — every astronomy is the result of a history and a society.
Final Reflection
“Cultural astronomy has shown us that every astronomy is the result of a history and a society. "Western academic astronomy" is not "the" astronomy; it is grounded — like all the others — on a series of implicit cultural assumptions.”