Curriculum · By Garret Rhea
Know Your Universe
A transformative science & self-mastery curriculum
Know Your Universe is an immersive, interdisciplinary program that equips young learners with a scientific framework and contemplative tools to understand their place in the cosmos — and in modern society. Blending hands-on experiments, critical thinking, and mindfulness, it guides students through the evolution of the Universe, the emergence of life, and the journey of human development — from stardust to self-awareness.
Opening · Why Science?
You are a human in a Universe. Science is how we play with it to understand it.
What students will learn
Four interwoven threads
Scientific Frameworks
From the Big Bang to galaxies, planets, and life — students build a real mental model of how the Universe works.
Contemplative Tools
Metacognition, deep listening, breathwork, and meditation — practical inner skills woven into every level.
Hands-On Experiments
Slinky waves, dry-ice clouds, prisms, lasers, rockets — physical demonstrations that anchor every concept.
Emotional & Social Intelligence
Cognitive bias, empathy, co-regulation, presence — the human skills that make scientific knowledge useful.
The 10-level arc
From the Big Bang to the path of mastery
Each level pairs a science thread with a "Mind Module" — a contemplative practice that turns concept into character.
Using the Mind
Logic and thought experiments, autonomic nervous-system play, word association, lucid dreaming, mental visualization.
The Beginning of the Universe
Big Bang to atom formation. E=mc² through physical demos. Wave experiments with slinkies, water, ropes. Energy via bouncy balls and rubber-band cars.
Stars and Galaxies
Accretion disks, gravity, fusion, starlight, the lifecycle of stars. Light experiments with flashlights, lasers, diffraction glasses, and prisms.
Mind Module · Introduction to metacognition. Developing inner stillness and awareness.
Planets
Planetary formation, types of celestial bodies. Hands-on planetary science: dry ice, weather experiments. Earth's unique biosphere.
Mind Module · Listening deeply. Entertaining ideas without immediate judgment.
Life
The origins of life and evolutionary milestones. The climb to primates and the emergence of human intelligence.
Mind Module · The ethics of knowledge and the role of awareness in shaping the future.
Human History
From early tribes to global civilizations. Communication, innovation, the rise of empires. Power, technology, and the choices we face today.
Mind Module · Meditation for grounding and insight. Participation in a complex, interconnected world.
Technological Science
Lasers, time, microscopes, particle colliders. Rocket design and launch as engineering team challenge.
Mind Module · Healing the self through awareness and self-regulation.
Social Science & Emotional Intelligence
What motivates human behavior? Cognitive bias, emotional dynamics, social structures. Cultivating empathy and compassionate awareness.
Mind Module · Active listening, emotional co-regulation, presence.
Becoming a Seeker
Discovering purpose in a finite lifetime. Seeing the Universe in yourself and others. Collaborative creativity through music, writing, and drawing.
Mind Module · Peer-to-peer inquiry and group reflection.
The Path to Mastery
Discipline, presence, and heart-centered leadership. Lifelong practices of curiosity, humility, and contribution.
Mind Module · Breathwork and meditative observation. Integrating science, self-awareness, and service.
Ideal for
Where it fits best
- Private schools and gifted youth programs
- Educational enrichment organizations
- Family wellness and leadership institutions
- Retreat centers offering child enrichment tracks
- Conscious corporations supporting employee families
Bring Know Your Universe to your school
Every program is tailored to your age range, schedule, and space. Reach out and we'll put together a proposal.