Using Conceptual Maps in Astronomy Education

The astronomy is a wide field of knowledge with multiple links between its concepts and between these and many concepts belonging to other sciences. Therefore, usually is difficult enough to circumscribe, for educational purposes, an astronomical conceptual area.

In order to make easier this initial stage of the educational activity, it is very efficient to use conceptual maps. The authors propose to illustrate summarily the use of this tool, in two practical situations. These experiences make obvious, almost directly, some aspects having great influence for a good orientation of the astronomy education.