Download Unit 3: Understanding the Universe

Unit 3: Understanding the Universe
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Course(s):
Time Period:
Length:
Status:
Science
Science 8
January
6 weeks
Published
Transfer
Understanding the Universe
Chapter 11: 5 blocks
Chapter 12: 6 blocks
Total: 12 blocks
Enduring Understandings
The solar system contains planets, dwarf planets, comets, asteroids, and other small solar system bodies.
The universe is made up of stars, gas, and dust, as well as invisible dark matter. Material in the universe is not
randomly arranged, but is pulled by gravity into galaxies.
Essential Questions
How are the inner planets different from the outer planets?
What is an astronomical unit and why is it used?
What is the shape of a planet’s orbit?
How are the inner planets similar?
Why is Venus hotter than Mercury?
What kind of atmospheres do the inner planets have?
How are the outer planets similar?
What are each of the outer planets made of?
What is a dwarf planet?
What are the characteristics of comets and asteroids?
How does an impact crater form?
How do astronomers divide the night sky?
What can astronomers learn about stars from their light?
How do scientists measure distance and brightness of objects in the sky?
How do stars shine and how are they layered?
How does the Sun change over short periods of time?
How do scientists classify stars?
How do stars form?
How does a star’s mass affect its evolution?
How is star matter recycled in space?
What are the major types of galaxies?
What is the Milky Way, and how is it related to the solar system using a model to describe the role of gravity?
What is the Big Bang Theory?
Content
Vocabulary
Chapter 11 (The Solar System)
Asteroid, Comet, Astronomical unit, Period of revolution, Period of rotation,
Terrestrial planet, Greenhouse effect, Galilean moons, Meteoroid, Meteor,
Meteorite, Impact crater
Chapter 12 (Stars and Galaxies):
Spectroscope, Light-year, Apparent magnitude, Luminosity, Nuclear fusion,
Star, Radioactive zone, Convection zone, Photosphere, Chromospheres,
Corona, Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, Nebula, White dwarf, Supernova,
Neutron star, Black hole, Galaxy, Dark matter, Big Bang Theory, Doppler shift
Review:
Astronomical unit
Learning Objectives
MS.Space Systems
Differentiate between the inner planets and outer planets.
Explain what an astronomical unit measures and how it is used by astronomers.
Illustrate the shape of a planet’s orbit.
Compare similarities of the inner planets.
Infer and explore why Venus is hotter than Mercury.
Describe the atmosphere of the inner planets.
Compare similarities of the outer planets by interpreting data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar
system.
Describe the composition of each of the outer planets.
Compare and contrast the characteristics of comets and asteroids.
Illustrate how an impact crater forms.
Explain how astronomers divide up the night sky and what astronomers can learn about stars from their light.
Demonstrate how scientists measure distance and brightness of objects in the sky.
Illustrate how stars are layered.
Describe the method used by scientists to measure distance and brightness of objects in the sky.
Explain how the Sun changes over short periods of time.
Describe how stars form and how a star’s mass affects its evolution.
Illustrate the major types of galaxies.
Describe what the Milky Way is and how it is related to the solar system.
Explain the Big Bang Theory.
Resources
Resources
www.pbslearningmedia.org
https://www.khanacademy.org/science
Our Solar System - NASA
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfmObject=SolarSys&Display=Educ&Page=All
iScience Course 3
Chapters 11, 12
Standards