Download Astronomy 3.0.2 - Session 1

Astronomy 3.0.2 - Session 1
Activities
 Model: Day-night cycles, time zones, moon phases, eclipses
Equipment
 Planetarium model
 Student Module notebook
Goals
 Learn the concepts of rotation and revolution.
 Demonstrate how the positions of Earth, the Moon, and the Sun affect day-and-night cycles,
time zones, Moon phases, and eclipses.
Type of Knowledge Survey
 Module Guide
Astronomy 3.0.2 - Session 2
Activities
 Model: Seasons
Deliverables & Consumables
 "Seasons and Day Length" worksheet
 12-inch piece of twine
Equipment
 Planetarium model
 Pen or Ruler
Goals
 Explore how the Sun-Moon-Earth system causes tides and seasons.
Performance Assessment
 Planetary Motion
Type of Knowledge Survey
 RCA
Astronomy 3.0.2 - Session 3
Activities
 Gravity and orbits
 Circular and elliptical orbits
 Mass and weight
Deliverables & Consumables
 Ball-and-string orbiter
Goals
 Explore gravity and its effect on orbits.
 Learn Newton's and Kepler's laws.
 Compare circular and elliptical orbits.
 Compare mass and weight.
Special Instructions
Before the first rotation, you will need to assemble the ball-and-string orbiter for Session 3. Assemble
the ball-and-string orbiter as follows:
 From the Module supplies, obtain a yellow foam practice ball, one quarter-inch screw eye, and
a piece of string slightly more than two feet long.
 Screw the screw eye completely into the ball, and check to make sure it is secure.
 Insert one end of the string through the loop on the screw eye, and double-knot the string.
The student should be able to swing the ball from the end of the string, producing an "orbit"
with a radius of about two feet.
 Place the orbiter at the workstation.
Type of Knowledge Survey
 RCA
Astronomy 3.0.2 - Session 4
Activities
 Sun, planet characteristics
 Scale model of planet sizes
Activities
 Masking tape
Equipment
 Beach ball
 Plastic bag containing several smaller balls
Goals
 Explore the formation of the solar system.
 Learn the size and characteristics of the Sun.
 Compare the sizes and characteristics of the planets.
 Identify other bodies in the solar system.
Special Instructions
Before the first rotation, you will need to assemble the plastic bag of “planet balls” for Session 3.
Assemble the bag of “planet balls” as follows:
 From the Module supplies, obtain a zippered plastic bag and place in it two yellow foam
practice balls, two Ping-Pong balls, and three black hard-rubber balls (three-quarter-inch
diameter). Find the package of corks and two packages of pins. The pins should have
spherical heads of different sizes and colors. Stick four or five small-headed pins and four
or five large-headed pins into separate corks. Pinheads can be any color, but a variety of
colors is best, so that students can tell their “planets” apart. For example, you might
include a large pinhead in green or blue to represent Earth and a small red one to represent
Mars. The bag should contain more than nine balls, so students will have some choices
when they estimate the best size for each planet compared to the beach ball “Sun.” Put the
corks with pins into the zippered plastic bag, and place it at the workstation.
Type of Knowledge Survey
 RCA
Astronomy 3.0.2 - Session 5
Activities
 Planetary distances
 Scientific notation
Deliverables & Consumables
 "Scale Model of Solar System" worksheet
 Masking tape
Equipment
 10-meter windup take measure
 Set of planet disks
 Student Module notebook
Goals
 Express large numbers in scientific notation.
 Express planetary distances in astronomical units (AU).
 Develop a scale model of planetary distances in the solar system.
 Lay out your scale model.
Performance Assessment
 Planetary Distances
Special Instructions
 During this session, students will lay out a scale model of planetary distances, using a 10-
meter windup tape measure. They will calculate the scaled distances to the planets in
centimeters and mark each planet's location with planet disks. To do this, they will need a
length of classroom, hallway, or sidewalk either 5 meters long (for a scale of one millimeter
= one million miles) or 10 meters long (for a scale of two millimeters = one million miles).
The larger scale is preferable, if available. The area should be located where students are
unlikely to obstruct classroom traffic, for example, along a wall. Students should be told in
advance where they should construct their model. They will need to leave it in place until
they have been assessed at the end of the session.
Type of Knowledge Survey
 RCA
Astronomy 3.0.2 - Session 6
Activities
 Telescopes
 Focal length
Deliverables & Consumables
 "Telescopes" worksheet
 Packet of lens paper
Equipment
 Refracting Telescope Kit
 Ruler
Goals
 Distinguish between reflecting and refracting optical telescopes.
 Construct a small refracting telescope from a kit.
 Learn the concept of focal length and its relation to magnification.
 Explore how to tell stars from planets.
Performance Assessment
 Telescopes
Special Instructions
In Session 6, students will assemble the small refracting telescope and disassemble it at the end of
the session. Before each rotation, check the telescope kit by doing the following:
 Make sure all the pieces are present and in good condition.
 Find the two large cardboard tubes. If they are not assembled, slide the smaller tube into the
larger tube at this time. After the tubes are assembled, slide the smaller tube in and out
several times to make sure it slides easily. (Preassembling the cardboard tubes will save
time when students assemble and disassemble the telescope and will decrease wear on the
ends of the tubes.)
 A second telescopt kit is included. Save it in case parts of the first kit become lost or worn out.
Type of Knowledge Survey
 Test Review
Astronomy 3.0.2 - Session 7
Activities
 Impact crater formation
Activities
 2 "Impact Craters" worksheets
Equipment
 Moon globe
 Bag of differently sized balls labeled "Session 7"
 Red plastic storage tray filled with sand
 Digital scale
 Aluminum weighing dish
 Meterstick
 6 in. ruler
 12 in. ruler
Goals
 Explore impact crater formation on moons and planets.
 Experiment with factors affecting crater formation.
Special Instructions
For Session 7, you will need to assemble a bag of steel balls and a sand tray for the crater activity. Do
this as follows:
 From the Module supplies obtain a zippered plastic bag.
 Place in it three or four steel balls of each size (one-inch and 1/2 or 3/4-inch).
 Label the bag "Session 7" and place it at the workstation.
 Fill the red plastic tray to a depth of about 4-5 centimeters with sand.
 Place the cover on the tray and place the covered tray at the workstation.
 Save extra balls and sand to use if you need replacements.
Type of Knowledge Survey
 Post Test