A fairly comprehensive picture of the earth's place in the cosmos is also basic background material to understanding the place of humans in the cosmos.
The basics of the evolution and structure of the universe can be started in elementary school. This includes
- the Big Bang,
- the expanding universe,
- estimates of the age the universe,
- estimates of the size the universe,
- estimates of the number of stars in the universe,
- star and planetary formation.

Later work, perhaps even later in elementary school, can include
- a study of our planetary system, including the sun, the moon, the other planets (composition, physical conditions, atmosphere, similarities with and differences from earth),
- the various types of star and the life and death of stars,
- the various types of galaxy, and the origins, life and death of galaxies,
- various other types of celestial objects (comets, meteors, asteroids etc.),
- dark energy and dark matter,
- cosmic background radiation,
- etc., etc.

The various branches of observational and theoretical astronomy can be introduced in later years in high school, including
- stellar and solar astronomy,
- planetary science,
- observational astronomy,
- theoretical astronomy,
- galactic/extra galactic astronomy,
- physical Cosmology,
- astrophysics,
- etc., etc.