Download What is a Scientist? - Cockeysville Middle School

Objective: To describe the characteristics of
galaxies in order to classify different
galaxies.
Astronomy Note: Are all galaxies the same?
Drill: 1. Take out yesterday’s lab sheet.
2. Get a new Vocabulary Sheet from the SET.
3. Check your definitions.
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Activity 2: Hierarchy of the Universe
galaxy: a giant structure that contains hundreds of
billions of stars
planet: celestial objects made up of rock, water, gas
and/or other substances that revolve around a star.
solar system: a group of planets and other celestial
objects that revolve around a star (The star is referred
to as a sun.)
star: a giant burning ball of gas
universe: all of space and everything in it
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largest
Universe
Galaxy
Solar System
Planet
Sun
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GALAXY: a giant structure
that contains hundreds of
billions of stars
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Activity 1: Comparing Galaxies
Observe the galaxy pictures provided by the
teacher.
Each picture represents a different galaxy.
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Organize the galaxy pictures into 3
groups. It is up to you and your group
to decide which pictures to group
together.
Describe the method your group used
to classify the galaxy pictures.
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Activity 2: Gathering Information about
Galaxies
Read Prentice Hall Science Explorer: Astronomy,
pages 144-145, to gather information about the
three basic types of galaxies.
Complete the graphic organizer, “Types of
Galaxies”, using information from the reading.
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Review the method you used to classify
the galaxy pictures in Activity 1.
Determine the accuracy of your
classification based on the information
you gathered about the three basic
types of galaxies.
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Let’s see some galaxies. See if you
can classify them based on the
information you have gathered.
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/galaxy/
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Homework
Lab Analysis
1. Label the ovals in the organizer below with “galaxy”,
“solar system”, “universe”, and “planet” to show their
relationships to each other. (The ovals do not represent
orbits.)
2. If you were to add “star” to the organizer above, where
would you place it?
3. Explain why you would choose this location in the diagram.
STAR LOG ENTRY:
How will information from this lesson help you in developing
your book or multimedia presentation?
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