Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
topic: Earth, Moon and Sun activity: Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun Students explore the Earth, Moon and Sun. Suggested time: 65 minutes Summary of Key Learning Points Students: - learn that there are billions of galaxies in the universe - realize we belong to a spiral galaxy called the Milky way, which contains billions of stars and revolves around the central point - know that our solar system consists of a star, eight planets and numerous other smaller objects - learn that Earth is the 3rd planet from the Sun; it revolves around the Sun and the Moon revolves around the Earth, which also rotates - observe that the rotation of Earth, combined with its revolution around the Sun, produces many natural phenomena - discover that in a solar eclipse the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, while in a lunar eclipse the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun (Page 1) 5 minutes Students look at the Hubble Deep Field view, which shows an area one 24-millionth of the sky. It shows a huge number of galaxies (about 3000), including very young galaxies. This image has provided astronomers with a wealth of important information. It should give students some idea of how insignificant our solar system is when compared to the rest of the universe. Answer: galaxies (Inquiry point 1) Extension activity: Show students 'powers of ten' from IMAX film Cosmic Voyage. Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun (Page 2) 5 minutes This page discusses the Hubble telescope. Discuss with students how our understanding of the solar system and the universe has changed as a result of telescopes. © IntoScience 2014. This sheet may be reproduced for classroom use Page 1/5 topic: Earth, Moon and Sun activity: Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun Talking point: What advantages do space-based telescopes like Hubble offer over land-based telescopes? Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun (Page 3) 5 minutes This page talks about our place in the galaxy, the Milky Way. Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun (Page 4) 5 minutes This next page shows the solar system. Discuss with students the role of gravity in our solar system. Stars, planets and satellites (Page 5) 5 minutes Students consider what the Earth, Moon and Sun are made of and also how different astronomical objects are defined. They sort a series of celestial objects into whether they are stars, planets or satellites. Answers: (Inquiry point 2) Stars: Sun Planets: Earth, Venus, Mercury Satellites: Moon Talking point: Talk about what lies beyond Neptune and also discuss Pluto's demotion from planet to dwarf planet. It is interesting to look at the IAI definitions for planet and dwarf planet. Recall mnemonics for remembering the order of planets, for example My Very Eccentric Mother Just Served Us Noodles. Earth, Moon and Sun (Page 6) 5 minutes Students are reminded that the Earth both rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun. Suggested answer: We can't feel the rotation of the Earth because everything around us is travelling at the same speed. It is a bit like being on an aeroplane. The plane is going really fast but because everything on it is moving at the same speed you don't experience the true speed. (Inquiry point 3) © IntoScience 2014. This sheet may be reproduced for classroom use Page 2/5 topic: Earth, Moon and Sun activity: Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun Talking point: Why would the rotation of the Earth look like it is going in different directions, depending on what hemisphere you are in, and how does that relate to the Coriolis effect? Think about flushing toilets or any water going down a drain. Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun (Page 7) 5 minutes Students then order astronomical objects from largest to smallest. Answer: (Inquiry point 4) Universe, galaxy, solar system, Sun, Earth, Moon Extension activity: Get students to order some astronomical objects according to size. Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun (Page 8) 5 minutes Students think about the different types of phenomena produced by Sun, Earth and Moon interactions. Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun (Page 9) 5 minutes Here students focus on eclipses. Find out what students already know about eclipses before progressing. Students watch videos showing the two eclipse types. Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun (Page 10) 5 minutes Students read about solar eclipses and answer a question. Suggested answer: (Inquiry point 5) No, not everyone in the world can see a solar eclipse happening at the same time. It depends on the position of the Sun and also the angle they are observing it at. For example, some people may not see the eclipse at all, some may see a total eclipse while others will only see a partial eclipse. It also depends on the weather. Clouds will hide the eclipse. Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun (Page 11) 5 minutes © IntoScience 2014. This sheet may be reproduced for classroom use Page 3/5 topic: Earth, Moon and Sun activity: Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun More about solar eclipses. Talking point: Talk about viewing eclipses safely. Every time there is a solar eclipse, people turn up the next day at their doctor's surgery with retinal damage. Why is this? Why are lunar eclipses safe to view with the naked eye but not solar eclipses? Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun (Page 12) 5 minutes This page explains lunar eclipses. Earth, Moon and Sun (Page 13) 5 minutes The final animation shows the student's avatar 'watching' an occurring eclipse from multiple angles. They are then asked to identify which eclipse has occurred based on the visual evidence. Answer: (Inquiry point 6) This is a solar eclipse because the Moon is passing in front of the Sun and casting a shadow on the surface of the Earth. Suggested completion levels Basic - Inquiry points goal = 3 Students at this level will: recall that Earth is part of the Milky way galaxy; identify that Earth is one of many planets in our solar system; understand that the Earth revolves around the Sun and the Moon revolves around the Earth. Core - Inquiry points goal = 5 Students at this level will: recall that Earth is part of the Milky way galaxy which is one of billions of galaxies in the universe; recall that Earth is one of eight planets in our solar system, along with a sun and many other smaller objects; understand that the Earth revolves around the Sun and the Moon revolves around the Earth and apply this to understanding the occurrence of familiar phenomena on Earth; identify the difference between a solar and lunar eclipse. Core - Inquiry points goal = 6 Students at this level will: recall that Earth is part of the Milky way galaxy which is one of billions of galaxies in the universe; recall that Earth is one of eight planets in our solar system, along with a sun and many other © IntoScience 2014. This sheet may be reproduced for classroom use Page 4/5 topic: Earth, Moon and Sun activity: Perspectives of the Earth, Moon and Sun smaller objects; understand that the Earth revolves around the Sun and the Moon revolves around the Earth and apply this to understanding the occurrence of familiar phenomena on Earth; understand the difference between solar and lunar eclipses and their causes. © IntoScience 2014. This sheet may be reproduced for classroom use Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Page 5/5