Download Month May 2016 Period 1 (1 hour) Theme Space Topic Stars

Month
May 2016
Period
1 (1 hour)
Theme
Space
Topic
Stars
Learning Objectives
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Resource
Understand the formation of stars.
Recognising the importance of space exploration towards life
on Earth.
National Geographic Extreme Explorer Magazine articleA Star is Born
INSTRUCTIONS
Have the students read the article ‘A Star is Born’ from the National Geographic Extreme
Explorer magazine. Stars are the most widely recognized astronomical objects, and represent
the most fundamental building blocks of galaxies. The age, distribution, and composition of
the stars in a galaxy trace the history, dynamics, and evolution of that galaxy.
Each group of four students will be given a topic on different stars. Students are required to
research the topics and create a presentation based on their findings. The use of graphics
and mind-maps are encouraged, to help present their discoveries in the next lesson. The
students could even use the Magazine Maker 2 software to present their results.
RESEARCH TOPIC
Groups 1 and 2
Nebulae
A nebula is a truly wondrous thing to behold. Named after the Latin word for “cloud”, nebulae
are not only massive clouds of dust, hydrogen and helium gas, and plasma; they are the
place where stars are born. Explain in detail what a nebula is and where it comes from.
Link: http://www.universetoday.com/61103/what-is-a-nebula/
Groups 3 and 4
Crab Nebula
When a star dies in a violent, fiery death, it spews its innards out across the sky, creating an
expanding wave of gas and dust known as a supernova nebula. Arguably, the most famous of
these supernova remnants is M1, also called the Crab Nebula. Discuss the history behind the
discovery of this star.
Link: http://www.space.com/16989-crab-nebula-m1.html
Groups 5 and 6
Ring Nebula
The Ring Nebula's distinctive shape makes it a popular illustration for astronomy books. But
new observations by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope of the glowing gas shroud around an
old, dying, sun-like star reveal a new twist. Talk about this new discovery and how it would
impact Earth.
Link: https://www.spacetelescope.org/news/heic1310/
Groups 7 and 8
Orion Nebula
The Orion Nebula is one of the brightest nebulae, and is visible to the naked eye in the night
sky. Explain about the star formation and how it is the closest region of star formation to
Earth.
Link: http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2006/01/image/a/