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IntroductionGreetings,andwelcometotheunitonastronomy.Ihopeyouwillfindthishelpfulinpreparingtoteachyourstudents,exhaustivelythoroughincontentandawholelotoffun,becausethat’swhenstudentsandteachersdotheirbestwork.

Thiscurriculumcoursehasbeenpreparedtobecompletedoverseveralweeks,completing1‐2lessonsperweek.Youwillfindthatthereare12lessonsoutlinedtotakeyoufromanintroductionofastronomyonthroughseveraladvancedprojectswhicharecomplexenoughtowinaprizeatthesciencefair.Ifyoucompletethiscourseandsendyourkidsoff,you’llfindtheirhighschoolteachersentirelyblownawaybytheirmasteryofthesubject.EachlessonhasaTeacherPageandaStudentWorksheet.

ThefollowingfeaturesareoneachsetoftheTeacherPages:

Overview:Thisisthemaingoalofthelesson. SuggestedTime:Makesureyouhaveenoughforcompletingthislesson. Objectives:Thesearethecoreprinciplescoveredwiththislesson. Materials:Gatherthesebeforeyoustart LabPreparation:Thisoutlinesanypreparationyouneedtodoaheadoftime. Lesson:Thisoutlineshowtopresentthetopictothestudents,stirsupinterestandgetsthestudents

motivatedtolearnthetopic. LabTime&Worksheets:Thisincludesactivities,experiments,andprojectsthatreinforcetheconceptsand

reallybringsthemtolife.You’llalsofindworksheetsthatmakeuptheirScientificJournal. BackgroundLessonReading:Thisisoptionaladditionalreadingmaterialyoucanutilizeaheadoftimeto

helpyoufeelconfidentwhenthestudentsaskquestionsduringtheLabTime.Idon’trecommendgivingthisreadingtothekidsbeforehand.Ifyoumustshareitwiththem,thendosoafterthestudentshavegottenachancetorollaroundwiththeactivities.Doingthisteacheskidstoasktheirownquestionsbygettingcuriousabouttheconceptsthroughtheexperiments,thewayrealscientistsdointherealworld.

Exercises&AnswerKey:Howwelldidyouteach?Howwelldidtheylearn?Timetofindout. Closure:Beforemovingon,askyourstudentsiftheyhaveanyrecommendationsorunansweredquestions

thattheycanworkoutontheirown.Brainstormingextensionideasisagreatwaytoaddmoresciencestudiestoyourclasstime.

ImmediatelyfollowingtheTeacherPagesare“StudentWorksheets”foreachoftheactivities.Eachsetofstudentworksheetshasthefollowingsections:

Overview WhattoLearn Materials LabTime&Worksheets Exercises

Inadditiontothelessons,wehavealsopreparedthefollowingitemsyou’llfinduseful:

ScientificMethodGuide MasterMaterialsandEquipmentList LabSafetySheet

WrittenQuiz(withAnswerKey)

LabPracticalTest(withAnswerKey)


MasterMaterialsListforAllLabs

Thisisabrieflistofthematerialsthatyouwillneedtodoalloftheactivities,experimentsandprojectsineachsection.Thesetofmaterialslistedbelowisjustforonelabgroup.Ifyouhaveaclassof10labgroups,you’llneedtoget10setsofthematerialslistedbelow.For10labgroups,aneasywaytokeeptrackofyourmaterialsistogiveeachgroupanumberfrom1to10,andmakeup10separatelabkitsusingsmallplastictubsorbaskets.Putonenumberoneachitemandfilleachtubwiththematerialslistedbelow.Labelthetubswiththesectionname,likeAstronomyStudyKit,andyouwillhaveaneasywaytokeeptrackofthematerialsandbuildaccountabilityintotheprogramforthekids.Copytheselistsandsticktheminthebinforeasytracking.Feelfreetoreuseitemsbetweenlessonsandunitsections.Mostmaterialsarereusableyearafteryear.

AluminumpanBakingsoda(1/4cup)BalloonBarmagnetCircular(disk)magnetCompassDirt(3cups)DollarbillDucttape(optional)Fingernailpolish(red,yellow,green,blue)Flashlights(3or4)Flexibletubing(18")‐optional

Flour(9cups)GlassjarHand‐heldmagnifyinglenses(2)HorseshoemagnetLiquidcrystalthermometers(2)LiquiddishsoapMarkerMaskingtapeMilk(coupledrops)Musicalinstruments(anyyoualreadyhave)PencilPenny

Plasticbottles(2litersodabottles)ProtractorRocksRulerSalt(4cups)Steelwasherwitha3/8inchholeStopwatchStringTape(clear,notfrosted)Vegetableoil(1/2cup)Waterbottle(empty)


TABLEOFCONTENTS

Introduction...............................................................................................................................................................................................................2

MasterMaterialsListforAllLabs.....................................................................................................................................................................3

UnitPrep.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................5

LabSafety...................................................................................................................................................................................................................6

TeachingScienceRight.........................................................................................................................................................................................7

EducationalGoals....................................................................................................................................................................................................9

Lesson#1:PlanetariumandStarShow.......................................................................................................................................................10

Lesson#2:SolarSystemTreasureHunt......................................................................................................................................................15

Lesson#3:MagneticTornadoes.....................................................................................................................................................................35

Lesson#4:SkyinaJar.........................................................................................................................................................................................39

Lesson#5:PlanetaryMagneticFields..........................................................................................................................................................43

Lesson#6:Seasons...............................................................................................................................................................................................47

Lesson#7:IndoorRainClouds........................................................................................................................................................................53

Lesson#8:Volcanoes..........................................................................................................................................................................................57

Lesson#9:StarGazing........................................................................................................................................................................................63

Lesson#9:StarGazing........................................................................................................................................................................................66

Lesson#10:SongoftheSun.............................................................................................................................................................................69

Lesson#11:SimpleMicroscope&Telescope............................................................................................................................................74

Lesson#12:StarCharting.................................................................................................................................................................................80

Astronomy1Evaluation.....................................................................................................................................................................................83

Astronomy1Quiz..................................................................................................................................................................................................85

Astronomy1LabPractical................................................................................................................................................................................87

TheScientificMethod..........................................................................................................................................................................................88

VocabularyfortheUnit.......................................................................................................................................................................................90


UnitPrep

Thisisashortlistofthingsthatyoumaywanttoconsiderasyouprepareforthisunit.

StudentLabBooks:Ifyou’rethekindofteacherwholikestopreparelabbooksforyourkids,nowisagoodtimetodothis.YoucancopytheIntroductionforKidsandtheStudentWorksheetsforeachoftheexperiments,3‐holepunchthem,andsticktheminabinder.You’llwantonebinderperstudent.

ScienceJournals:Oneofthebestthingsyoucandowithyourstudentsistoteachthemhowtotakenotesinajournalasyougoalong.Thisisthesamewayscientistsdocumenttheirownfindings,andit’salotoffuntolookbackatthesplatteredpageslateronandseehowfaryou’vecome.Ialwaysjotdownmyquestionsthatdidn’tgetansweredwiththeexperimentacrossthetopofthepagesoIcanresearchthesetopicsmore.

MasterSetofMaterials:Ifyouplanondoingallthelabsinthisunit,you’llwanttostartgatheringyourmaterialstogether.There’samastermaterialslistsoyou’llhaveeverythingyouneedwhenyouneedit.

TestCopies:Studentswilltaketwotestsattheendofeachsection.Therearequizzesandlabpracticaltestsyoucancopyandstashawayforwhenyouneedthem.

ClassroomDesign:Asyouprogressthroughtheunits,you’llbemakingdemosoftheexperimentsandkidswillbemakingposters.Youcanhangtheseuponyourbulletinboards,stringthemfromtheceiling,ordisplaytheminauniqueway.Ialwaysliketosnapphotosofthekidsdoingtheirexperimentsandhangthoseupalongwiththeirbestlabssotheycanseetheirprogressaswegoalong.


LabSafetyGoggles:Theseshouldbewornwhenworkingwithchemicals,heat,fire,orprojectiles.Theseprotectyoureyesfromchemicalsplatter,explosions,andtinyfast‐movingobjectsaimedattheeyes.Ifyouwearglasses,youcanfindgogglesthatfitoverthem.Don’tsubstituteeyeglassesforgoggles,becauseofthelackofsideprotection.Eyeglassesdon’tprovidethisimportantprotection.

CleanupMesses:Yourlabareashouldbeneat,organized,andspotlessbeforeyoustart,duringyourexperiment,andwhenyouleave.Scientistswastemoretimehuntingforlostpapers,piecesofanexperiment,andtryingtorepositionsensitiveequipment…allofwhichcouldhaveeasilybeenavoidedhadtheybeentaughtorganizationalskillsfromthestart.

DisposeofPoisons:Ifapoisonoussubstancewasused,created,orproducedduringyourexperiment,youmustfollowtheproperhandlingproceduresfordisposal.You’llfinddetailsforthisintheexperimentsasneeded.

SpecialNotesonBatteries:Donotusealkalinebatterieswithyourexperiments.Findthesuper‐cheapkindofbatteries(usuallylabeled“HeavyDuty”or“SuperHeavyDuty”)becausethesetypesofbatterieshaveacarbon‐zinccore,whichdoesnotcontaintheacidthatalkalinebatterieshave.Thismeanswhenyouwireupcircuitsincorrectly(whichyoushouldexpecttodobecauseyouarelearning),thecircuitswillnotoverheatorleak.Ifyouusealkalinebatteries(likeEnergizerandDuracell)andyourstudentsshortacircuit,theirwiresandcomponentswillgetsuper‐hotandleakacid,whichisverydangerous.

NoEatingorDrinkingintheLab:Allfoodsanddrinksarebannedfromyourclassroomduringscienceexperimentation.Whenyoueatordrink,youruntheveryrealriskofingestingpartofyourexperiment.Forelectricityandmagnetismlabs,alwayswashyourhandsafterthelabisovertorinseofftheleadfromtheelectricalcomponents.

NoHorsePlay:Whenyougoofaround,accidentshappen,whichmeanschemicalsspill,circuitsshort,andallkindsofhazardscanoccurthatyouweren’texpecting.Neverthrowanythingtoanotherpersonandbecarefulwhereyouputyourhands–itcouldbeinthemiddleofasensitiveexperiment,especiallywithmagnetismandelectricity.Youdon’twanttoruntheriskofgettingshockedorelectrifiedwhenit’snotpartofyourexperiment.

Fire:Ifyouthinkthere’safireintheroom(evenifyou’renotsure),letyourteacherknowrightaway.Iftheyarenotaround(theyalwaysshouldbe),smotherthefirewithafireblanketoruseafireextinguisherandsendsomeonetofindanadult.Stop,drop,androll!

Questions:Ifyou’renotsureaboutsomething,stopandask,nomatterwhatit’sabout.Ifyoudon’tknowhowtoproperlyhandleachemical,dopartofanexperiment,ask!Ifyou’renotcomfortabledoingpartoftheexperiment,thendon’tdoit.


TeachingScienceRightTheseactivitiesandexperimentswillgiveyouatasteofhowsciencecanbetotallycoolANDeducational.Butteachingscienceisn’talwayseasy.There’salotmoretoitthanmosttraditionalsciencebooksandprogramsaccomplish.Ifyourstudentsdon’trememberthesciencetheylearnedlastyear,youhaveaproblem.

Whatdokidsreallyneedtoknowwhenitcomestoscience?Kidswhohaveasolidscienceandtechnologybackgroundarebetterequippedtogotocollege,andwillhavemanymorechoicesoncetheygetoutintotherealworld.

Learningscienceisn’tjustamatterofmemorizingfactsandtheories.Onthecontrary,it’sdevelopingadeepcuriosityabouttheworldaroundus,ANDhavingasetoftoolsthatletskidsexplorethatcuriositytoanswertheirquestions.Teachingsciencethiswayisn'tjustamatterofputtingtogetheratextbookwithafewscienceexperimentsandkits.

Scienceeducationisathree‐stepprocess(andImeanteachingscienceinawaythatyourstudentswillreallyunderstandandremember).

Herearethesteps:

1.Getkidsgenuinelyinterestedandexcitedaboutatopic.

2.Givethemhands‐onactivitiesandexperimentstomakethetopicmeaningful.

3.Teachthesupportingacademicsandtheory.

Mostsciencebooksandcurriculumjustfocusonthethirdstepandmaythrowinanexperimentortwoasanafterthought.Thisjustisn’thowstudentslearn.Whenyouprovideyourstudentswiththesethreekeys(inorder),youcangiveyourstudentsthekindofscienceeducationthatnotonlyexcitesthem,butthattheyrememberformanyyearstocome.

Sowhatdoyoudo?First,don’tworry.It’snotsomethingthattakesyearsandyearstodo.Itjusttakescommitment.

Whatifyoudon’thavetime?WhatI’mabouttodescribecantakeabitoftimeasateacher,butitdoesn’thaveto.Thereisawaytoshortcuttheprocessandgetthesameresults!ButI’lltellyoumoreaboutthatinaminute.First,letmetellyouhowtodoittherightway:

PuttingItintoAction

Stepone:Getstudentsgenuinelyinterestedandexcitedaboutatopic.Startbydecidingwhattopicyouwantyourstudentstolearn.Then,you’regoingtogetthemreallyinterestedinit.Forexample,supposeIwantmyfifth‐gradestudentstolearnaboutaerodynamics.I’llarrangeforthemtowatchavideoofwhatit’sliketogoupinasmallplane,orevenfindsomeonewhoisapilotandcancometalkwiththekids.Thisisthekindofexperiencethatwillreallyexcitethem.

Steptwo:Giveyourstudentshands‐onactivitiesandexperimentstomakethetopicmeaningful.ThisiswhereItakethatexcitementandletthemexploreit.Ihaveflyinglessonvideos,airplanebooks,andrealpilotsinteractwithmystudents.I’llalsoshowvideosonhowpilotsplanforaflight.Mystudentswilllearnaboutnavigation,figuringouthowmuchfuelisneededfortheflight,howtheweighttheplanecarriesaffectsitsaerodynamics,andsomuchmore.(AnddidIjustseeaspotforafuturemathlessonalso?)I’llusepilottrainingvideostohelpusfigure


thisout(shortofalivedemo,avideoisincrediblypowerfulforlearningwhenusedcorrectly).

Mystudentsareincrediblyexcitedatthispointaboutanythingthathastodowithairplanesandflying.Theyareallpositivetheywanttobepilotssomedayandarealreadywantingflyinglessons(remember‐theyareonlyfifth‐graders!).

Stepthree:Teachthesupportingacademicsandtheory.Now,it’stimetointroduceacademics.Honestly,Ihavemypickofsomanytopics,becauseflyingincludessomanydifferentfields.Imeanmystudentsuseanglesandmathinflightplanning,mechanicsandenergyinhowtheengineworks,electricityinalltheequipmentonboardtheplane,andofcourse,aerodynamicsinkeepingtheplaneintheair(tonamejustafew).

I’mgoingtousethisasthefoundationtoteachtheacademicsideofallthetopicsthatareappropriate.Westartwithaerodynamics.Theylearnaboutliftanddrag,makepaperandbalsa‐woodglidersandexperimentbychangingdifferentparts.Theycalculatehowbigthewingsneedtobetocarrymoreweight(jellybeans)andthentrytheirmodelswithbiggerwings.Thenwemoveontothegeometryusedinnavigation.Insteadofdrawinganglesonablanksheetofpaper,ourworkspaceismadeofairplanemaps(freefromtheairport).We’reactuallyplanningpartofthenextflightmystudentswill“take”duringtheirgeographylesson.Suddenly,anglesarealotmoreinteresting.Infact,itturnsoutthatweneedabitoftrigonometrytofigureoutsomethings.

Ofcourse,a10‐yearoldcan’tdotrigonometry,right?Wrong!Theyhavenoideathatit’susuallyforhighschoolandlearnaboutcosinesandtangents.Throughoutthis,I’mgivingthemchancestotalkwiththepilotinclass,sharewhatthey’velearnedwitheachother,andevenplanarealflight.Howcoolisthattoakid?

Thekeyistofocusonbuildinginterestandexcitementfirst,andthentheacademicsareeasytogetstudentstolearn.Trystartingwiththeacademicsand...well,we’veallhadtheexperienceoftryingtogetkidsdosomethingtheydon’treallywanttodo.

TheShortcut:Okay,sothismightsoundlikeit’stime‐intensive.Ifyou’rethinking,“Ijustdon’thavethetimetodothis!”Ormaybe,“Ijustdon’tunderstandsciencewellenoughmyselftoteachittomystudentsatthatlevel.”Ifthisisyou,you’renotalone.

Thegoodnewsis,youdon’thaveto.Theshortcutistofindsomeonewhoalreadyspecializesintheareayouwantyourstudentstolearnaboutandexposethemtotheexcitementthatthepersongetsfromthefield.Then,insteadofyoubeingtheonetoinventanentirelynewcurriculumofhands‐onactivitiesandacademics,useasolidscienceprogramorcurriculum(livevideos,notcartoons).Thiswillprovidethemwithboththehands‐onexperimentsandtheacademicbackgroundtheyneed.

Ifyouuseaprogramthatisself‐guided(thatis,itguidesyouandyourstudentsthroughitstep‐by‐step),youdon’tneedtobehassledwiththepreparation.That’swhatthisunitisintendedtodoforyouandyourstudents.Thisprogramusesthesecomponentsandmatchesyoureducationalgoalssetbystatestandards.

Thisunitimplementsthethreekeystepswejusttalkedaboutanddoesthisallforyou.Myhopeisthatyounowhavesomenewtoolsinyourteachingtoolboxtogiveyourstudentsthebeststartyoucan.Iknowit’slikeawildrollercoasterridesomedays,butIalsoknowit’sworthit.Havenodoubtthatthatthecaringandattentionyougivetoyourstudents’educationtodaywillpayoffmanifoldinthefuture.


EducationalGoals

Astrophysicscombinestheknowledgeoflight(electromagneticradiation),chemicalreactions,atoms,energy,andphysicalmotionallintoone.Thethingswe’regoingtostudyinthisunitborderonsci‐fiweird,butIassureyouit’sallthesamestuffrealscientistsarestudying.

Herearethescientificconcepts:

Objectsintheskymoveinregularandpredictablepatterns.Thepatternsofstarsstaythesame,althoughtheyappeartomoveacrosstheskynightly,anddifferentstarscanbeseenindifferentseasons.

ThetiltoftheEarthanditslocationinorbitarethereasonsfortheseasons. TheEarthisoneofseveralplanetsthatorbittheSun,andtheMoonorbitstheEarth. ThesolarsystemconsistsofplanetsandotherbodiesthatorbittheSuninpredictablepaths. Oursolarsystemincludesrockyterrestrialplanets(Mercury,Venus,Earth,andMars),gasgiants(Jupiter

andSaturn),icegiants(UranusandNeptune),andassortedchunksoficeanddustthatmakeupvariouscometsandasteroids.

Twoplanets(CeresandPluto)havebeenreclassifiedafterastronomersfoundoutmoreinformationabouttheirneighbors.

TelescopesmagnifytheappearanceoftheMoonandtheplanets. TelescopesmagnifytheappearanceoftheSunusingspeciallensesandmakeitpossibletolocatesunspots

andsolarflares. Starsarethesourceoflightforallbrightobjectsinouterspace.TheMoonandplanetsshinebyreflected

sunlight,notbytheirownlight. Thenumberofstarsthatcanbeseenthroughtelescopesisdramaticallygreaterthancanbeseenbythe

unaidedeye.

Bytheendofthelabsinthisunit,studentswillbeableto:

Designandbuildatelescopeusingopticalequipmentlikelenses. Knowhowtodemonstratehowthepositionofobjectsintheskychangesovertime. Knowthecelestialobjectsinthesolarsystemandhowtheyrelateandinteractwitheachother. Formulateandjustifypredictionsbasedoncause‐and‐effectrelationships. Conductmultipletrialstotestapredictionanddrawconclusionsabouttherelationshipsbetween

predictionsandresults. Constructandinterpretgraphsfrommeasurements.

Followasetofwritteninstructionsforascientificinvestigation.


Lesson#1:PlanetariumandStarShowTeacherSection

OverviewThisisanintroductiontoastronomyandwhyit’simportanttostudy.Todaystudents(andyou)willtakeanintergalacticstartourwithoutleavingtheirseats.You’llbewatchingthevideorightalongwiththekids.Thisvideoyou’reabouttowatchisbestwithabigbowlofpopcorn.

SuggestedTime:60‐75minutes

Objectives:We’regoingtocoveralotinthispresentation,including:TheSun,anaveragestar,isthecentralandlargestbodyinthesolarsystemandiscomposedprimarilyofhydrogenandhelium.ThesolarsystemincludestheEarth,Moon,Sun,eightotherplanetsandtheirsatellites,andsmallerobjectssuchasasteroidsandcomets.Thestructureandcompositionoftheuniversecanbelearnedfromthestudyofstarsandgalaxies.Galaxiesareclustersofbillionsofstars,andmayhavedifferentshapes.TheSunisoneofmanystarsinourownMilkyWaygalaxy.Starsmaydifferinsize,temperature,andcolor.

Materials(perlabgroup)

Popcorn Pencil

LabPreparation

1. Inflateaballoonandtieitoff.You’llneedoneforeverylabgroup.2. Printoutcopiesofthestudentworksheets.3. ReadovertheBackgroundLessonReadingbeforeteachingthisclass.4. Watchthevideoatthebeginningofthissectiontoprepareyourselfforthisclass.

BackgroundLessonReading

Astronomersstudycelestialobjects(stars,planets,moons,asteroids,comets,galaxies,etc.)thatexistoutsideourplanet’satmosphere.It’stheonefieldthatcombinesthemostscience,engineeringandtechnologyareasinonefellswoop.Astronomyisalsooneoftheoldestsciencesontheplanet.

Oursolarsystemincludesrockyterrestrialplanets(Mercury,Venus,Earth,andMars),gasgiants(JupiterandSaturn),icegiants(UranusandNeptune),andassortedchunksoficeanddustthatmakeupvariouscometsandasteroids.

Twoplanets(CeresandPluto)havebeenreclassifiedafterastronomersfoundoutmoreinformationabouttheirneighbors.CeresisnowanasteroidintheAsteroidBeltbetweenMarsandJupiter.BeyondNeptune,theKuiperBeltholdsthechunksoficeanddust,likecometsandasteroidsaswellaslargerobjectslikedwarfplanetsErisandPluto.


BeyondtheKuiperbeltisanareacalledtheOortCloud,whichholdsanestimated1trillioncomets.TheOortCloudissofarawaythatit’sonlylooselyheldinorbitbyourSun,andconstantlybeingpulledgravitationallybypassingstarsandtheMilkyWayitself.TheVoyagerSpacecraftarebeyondtheheliosphere(theregioninfluencedgravitationallybyourSun)buthavenotreachedtheOortCloud.

TheSunholds99%ofthemassofoursolarsystem.TheSun’sequatortakesabout25daystorotatearoundonce,butthepolestake34days.YoumayhaveheardthattheSunisahugeballofburninggas.ButtheSunisnotonfire,likeacandle.Youcan’tblowitoutorreigniteit.So,wheredoestheenergycomefrom?

Thenuclearreactionsdeepinthecoretransform600milliontonspersecondofhydrogenintohelium.Thisgivesoffhugeamountsofenergywhichgraduallyworksitswayfromthe15million‐degreeCelsiustemperaturecoretothe15,000‐degreeCelsiussurface.

Starsliketolivetogetherinfamilies.Galaxiesaregroupsofstarsthatarepulledandheldtogetherbygravity.Somegalaxiesaresparsewhileothersarepackedsodenselyyoucan’tseethroughthem.Galaxiesalsoliketohangoutwithothergalaxies(calledgalaxyclusters),butnotallgalaxiesbelongtoclusters,andnotallstarsbelongtoagalaxy.

Activegalaxieshaveveryunusualbehavior.Thereareseveraldifferenttypesofactivegalaxies,includingradiogalaxies(edge‐onviewofgalaxiesemittingjets),quasars(3/4viewofthegalaxyemittingjets),blazars(alignedsowe’relookingstraightdownintotheblackholejet),andothers.Ourowngalaxy,theMilkyWay,hasasuper‐massiveblackholeatitscenter,whichiscurrentlyquietanddormant.

Dyingstarsblowoffshellsofheatedgasthatglowinbeautifulpatterns.WilliamHershel(1795)coinedtheterm“planetarynebula”becausetheoneshelookedatthrough18thcenturytelescopeslookedlikeplanets.Theyactuallyhavenothingtodowithplanets–theyareshellsofdustfeatheringaway.

Lesson

1. Thislabismostlydoneforyou–youdon’tevenhavetoteachifyoudon’twantto!Justfireupthevideoforthestudents,sitbackandenjoytheshow.Youcanhavethekidsfillouttheirquestionsandtableeitherduringoraftertheclass,ingroupsorindividually.Personally,Iencourageteamworkandgroupdiscussions,asthestudentsseemtocatchonmorewhentheyhaveotherstohelpthemoutonthepartstheymighthavemissed.

LabTime

1. Reviewtheinstructionsontheirworksheetsandthenbreakthestudentsintotheirlabgroups.Handeachgrouptheirmaterialsandgivethemtimetolookoverthesheetandgetfamiliarwiththequestionsthatwillbeaskedaboutthepresentation.

2. Whenthevideoisup,askthekidstofillouttheirworksheet.3. Studentscansharetheirresultswithyouwhileyourecordthemontheboardforeveryonetosee.4. Leadthemintoadiscussionofwhattheythinkastronomyisandwhatitisn’t.5. Askthemtoshareonethingaboutastronomythattheynowknowbutdidn’tbeforetheywalkedintoyour

class.


6. Finally,askthemtowritedownthreethingstheywanttoknowaboutastronomy.Givethemafewminutestowritetheirideasdownandthenaskforshares.Youcanrecordtheirrequestsandposttheminyourclassroom.

Exercises

1. WhathappenedtoPluto?(Plutowasreclassifiedasadwarfplanet.BeyondNeptune,theKuiperBeltholdsthechunksoficeanddust,likecometsandasteroidsaswellaslargerobjectslikedwarfplanetsErisandPluto.)

2. HowdoestheSunmakeenergy?(Thenuclearreactionsdeepinthecoretransform600milliontonspersecondofhydrogenintoheliumbysmackingprotonstogether,callednuclearfusion.)

3. Whichplanetisyourfavoriteandwhy?(Refertostudentresponses.)4. HowmanymoonsaroundJupiterandSaturncanyouseewithbinoculars?(Foureach.)5. What’sthedifferencebetweenagalaxyandablackhole?(Galaxiesaregroupsofstarsthatarepulledand

heldtogetherbygravity.Blackholesaretheleftoverremnantsofasupernovaexplosionthatrequireanescapevelocitygreaterthanthespeedoflight.)

6. HowmanyEarthscanfitinsidetheSun?(1.3million)

ClosureBeforemovingon,askyourstudentsiftheyhaveanyrecommendationsorunansweredquestionsthattheycanworkoutontheirown.Brainstormingextensionideasisagreatwaytoaddmoresciencestudiestoyourclasstime.


Lesson#1:PlanetariumStarShowStudentWorksheet

Name______________________________________________________________________

OverviewGreetingsandwelcometothestudyofastronomy!Thisfirstlessonissimplytogetyouexcitedandinterestedinastronomysoyoucandecidewhatitisthatyouwanttolearnaboutastronomylateron.

WhattoLearnWe’regoingtocoveralotinthispresentation,including:theSun,anaveragestar,isthecentralandlargestbodyinthesolarsystemandiscomposedprimarilyofhydrogenandhelium.

ThesolarsystemincludestheEarth,Moon,Sun,eightotherplanetsandtheirsatellites,andsmallerobjectssuchasasteroidsandcomets.Thestructureandcompositionoftheuniversecanbelearnedfromthestudyofstarsandgalaxies.Galaxiesareclustersofbillionsofstars,andmayhavedifferentshapes.TheSunisoneofmanystarsinourownMilkyWaygalaxy.Starsmaydifferinsize,temperature,andcolor.

Materials

Popcorn Pencil

LabTime

1. Beforetheshowstarts,lookovertheworksheettablesoyouknowwhattolistenforasyougothroughthestarshow.Thengrabyourpencil(andahandfulofpopcorn)andfillitinasyougoalong,orsimplyenjoytheshowandfillitoutattheend.

2. WhathappenedtoPluto?

3. HowdoestheSunmakeenergy?

4. Whichplanetisyourfavoriteandwhy?

5. HowmanymoonsaroundJupiterandSaturncanyouseewithbinoculars?

6. What’sthedifferencebetweenagalaxyandablackhole?


7. HowmanyEarthscanfitinsidetheSun?

Writedownthreethingsyoureallywanttoknowaboutastronomy.

1.

2.

3.

PlanetariumStarShowTable

Planet InterestingFactYouDidn’tKnow‘TilNow

Homework:Thisevening,findanarticleorstorythatdescribeshowastronomy(knowledge,equipment,discoveries,etc.)improvesourlives.Bringthearticletoschool.Ifyoubringinanarticlethatnooneelsebringsin,yougetextrapoints.


Lesson#2:SolarSystemTreasureHuntTeacherSection

Overview:Afteryou’veparticipatedinLesson#1:PlanetariumStarShow,findouthowmuchyourstudentspickedupbydoingaSolarSystemTreasureHunt.Therearetwohuntsthekidsaregoingon–oneisindoorsandtheotherisoutdoors.Theindoorhuntisasetof50questionstheyanswerbeforepursuingtherealhuntoutdoors.


Objectives:Studentswillknowspecificdetailsaboutalleightplanets,theSunanditscomposition,selectednaturalsatellites,andsmallerobjectssuchasasteroidsandcomets.


Copiesoftheappropriatecluepages Treasureforeveryone(smallcandy,specialpencils,etc.)

LabPreparation

1. Therearetwosetsofclues.o Thefirstisasetof37thatgetpastedalloveryourroominplainview.Theyaretheinformation

cardstohelpthekidsanswerquestionsfromthepresentationlasttimeinLesson1:PlanetariumStarShow.Tapethemtothewalls,desks,coatracks,floor,ceiling,windows,andanywhereyoucanputthem.Makesuretheycanreadthemquicklyandmoveon.

o Thesecondsetisarealtreasurehuntof10clues.Therearethreesetsofthese,dependingonwhereyouplantodotheactivity.Youcanchoosetodoeither:theHouseholdHunt,thePlaygroundHunt,ortheClassroomHunt.Thetreasuregoesattheendofthesehunts(notattheendofthefirstset).Iftheweather’snotcooperating,usetheClassroomHuntcluesinenvelopesthatsay“DoNotOpen”incasethekidsrunacrossthemwhendoingthefirstactivity.

2. Cutoutthecluesandhidetheminadvance.Ifyou’reusingtheClassroomHunt,putthesecondsetof10cluesinenvelopes.Ifnot,simplytapethecluesintoplacesotheydon’twalkoffwiththem.

3. Cutoutphotosoftheplanets(ifyou’reusingthem)andhidethemwiththe10Huntclues.You’llfindacompletesetfromNASAhere:http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/

4. You’llneedsomesortoftreasureforthefinalclueforeveryonetoshare(Marscandybarsforeachlabgroup?).Ifyou’redoingtheHouseholdHunt,stashthetreasureinthemailbox.Ifyou’redoingtheClassroomHunt,putthetreasureunderyourdesk.Stashthetreasureinyourpocketifyou’redoingthePlaygroundHunt.

5. Printoutcopiesofthestudentworksheets.6. Watchthevideoforthisexperimenttoprepareforteachingthisclass.


LabTime

1. Reviewtheinstructionsontheirworksheets,specificallythattheyaretolookattheclues,notripthemdownandtakethem.Iftheyfindanyenvelopes,theyaretoleavethosealoneuntilyousayso.

2. Breakthestudentsintotheirlabgroups.3. Handeachgrouptheirworksheetsandletthemloosetoanswertheir50questions.4. Whentheyaredone,theytradeintheirpapersforaglanceattheirfirstclue.Again,remindthemthatthey

arenottotaketheclues(otherwisenooneelsewillgettoparticipate!),butlookatthemandthenmoveontothenextclue.

5. Whenallthekidsareonthesecondhalfoftheactivity,makeyourselfclearlyvisibleforthePlaygroundHuntandkeepthetreasureinyourpockets.

ClueCards:Cuttheseoutandpasteinplainviewallovertheroomforstudentstofindeasily.Theywillbeanswering50questions.Somecardscontaininformationformorethanonequestion,soyou’llfindthereare37cluecardsforthefirstpartoftheactivity.

AllimagesprovidedcourtesyofNASA.

Shapeofoursolarsystemisapproximately

circular.

TheSunrotatesonceevery31daysatthepolesandonceevery27daysattheequator.

PlutoisnowpartoftheKuiperBelt.


Oursolarsystemhaseightplanets,theirmoons,asteroidsandcomets.

ThecoretemperatureoftheSunis15milliondegreesCelsius.

AplanetisanobjectthatorbitstheSun,ismassiveenoughforitsowngravitytomakeitround,andhascleareditsorbitofsmaller

objects.

Mercuryisthesecondhottestplanetat800oF(427oC).ThesidefacingawayfromtheSunis

‐280oF(‐173oC)

Venusisthehottestplanetat863oF(462oC).


AlthoughUranusismademostlyofhydrogenandhelium,it’sthecoldmethanegasthatgivesthe

blue‐greencolor.

TheSunismadeupof25%heliumand75%hydrogen.

VenustakeslongertospinonceonitsownaxisthanitdoestoorbittheSun.Notonlythat,it

rotatesintheoppositedirectionfromtherestoftheplanets.

Cometsaremadeofdustandice,makingthemjustlikedirtysnowballs.Wethinkthattheiceon

Mercurywasleftbyimpactsfromcomets.

TheEarth’satmosphereismadeupof21%oxygenand78%nitrogen,withtraceamountsof

othermolecules.


Venuswasnamedafterthegoddessofloveandbeautybecauseitisthebrightestobjectinthe

sky,otherthantheSunandMoon.

TheMooncausesbothoceanandlandtidesontheEarth.

ThetwomoonsofMarsarenamedafterFear/Panic(Phobos)andFleeing(Deimos).

Jupiterismadeofhydrogenandheliumwithametallichydrogencore.It’saslargeasitcanbewithoutshrinking.Ifyouaddedmoremass

(hydrogengas)toit,Jupiterwouldcondenseandgetsmaller.Ifyouincreaseditsmassby80X,it

wouldcompressandbecomeastar.

Ironoxide(rust)givesMarsitsredcolor.Thewhiteatthepolesaredryice(frozencarbon

dioxide)andwaterice.

1400 EarthscanfitinsideofJupiter.IfJupiterwerethesizeofasoccerball,theEarthwouldbeamarble.Alltheotherplanetscanfittogether

insideJupiter.


Saturn’sringsaremademostlyoutoficetravellingat75,000mph.

ThereareshepherdmoonsinsideSaturn’srings.

Mercury,Venus,EarthandMarsarerockyterrestrialplanets.JupiterandSaturnaregas

giants.UranusandNeptuneareicegiants.Pluto,Ceres,Haumea,Makemake,andErisaredwarf

planets.

Titanhasanatmospheremademostlyofnitrogen.

WethinkSaturn’smoon,Iapetus,usedtohavearingaroundit.


Saturn’smoonMimasiswhereStarWarsgottheideafortheDeathStar.

UranusistheonlyplanetthatrollsaroundtheSun,tippedoveronitsside.

PhobosisslowlymovinginwardtowardMars,andwhenthetidalforcesinsidethismoonbecomestronger,theywilleithershatterthemoonintoameteorshowerorcausethebitsto

formaringaroundMars.

TheaveragedailywindspeedonNeptuneis1200mph.Neptuneradiates2.6timesasmuch

energyoutasitreceivesfromtheSun.

Neptune’sbluecolorisfromthemethanegas,butit’salsomadeupofhydrogenandhelium.Sinceit’sthefurthestplanetfromtheSun(30au,or4.5billionkm,or2billionmiles),it’salsothecoldest.

NotethatthefivedwarfplanetsarecolderobjectsthanNeptune,sincetheyarefurtherstill.


PlutoandCharonorbiteachother,andarealsoorbitedbyHydraandNix.

70%oftheEarthiscoveredbywater.2%ofthisislockedinice.

TheSunis1au(astronomicalunit)fromtheEarth.1auis93millionmiles.Ittakeslightabout

8minutestotravelthisdistance.

Venusisthehottestplanetbecauseittrapstheheatinsideonceitentersthethickatmosphere.ThevolcanoesonVenusaresoactivethatthe

planetisconstantlyresurfacingitself.

Bluestarsmeasureabove10,000K(17,540oFor9,727oC)atthesurface.Redstarsareabout2500K(4,040oFor2,227oC).OurSun,awhite

star,is6,000K(10,340oFor5,727oC).

Note:K(Kelvin)istheabsolutetemperaturescaleforCelsius.


ThePistolstarreleasesasmuchenergyinonesecondasourSundoesinoneyear.

12peoplehavewalkedontheMoon.Approximately7billionpeoplewalkontheEarth

today.

Jupiter’sgiantstorm,theGreatRedSpot,isactuallygettingsmaller.Thecurrentsizeisabout

twoEarthdiameters.


AnswerKeytoFirstActivity’s50Questions:

1. TheshapeofourSolarSystemiscircular.2. Howmanyplanetsdowehaveinoursolarsystem?83. PlutoisnowpartoftheKuiperBelt.4. TheSunrotatesonceevery27daysatitsequatorand31daysatthepoles.5. ThecoretemperatureoftheSunis15milliondegreesCelsius.6. Aplanethasthreecriteria:ItorbitstheSun,hascleareditsorbitofsmallerobjects,andislargeenoughso

itsowngravitymakesitround.7. Therearethreetypesofplanets:rockyterrestrial,gasgiantsandicegiants.8. Mercuryistheclosest,butnotthehottestplanet.ThesidefacingtheSungetsto800oF,andthesidefacing

awayfromtheSungetsto‐280oF.9. Thesolarsystemincludeseightplanets,theirmoons,theSunatthecenter,andsmallerobjectssuchas

cometsandasteroids.10. TheSunismadeoutof75%hydrogenand25%helium.11. VenusiscalledthegoddessoflovebecauseitlookssobrighttousfromEarth,butitreallyhasasurface

temperatureof863oF.12. Cometsarereallydirtysnowballs.13. Venusisthebrightestthinginthesky,otherthantheSunandMoon.14. ColdmethaneiswhatgivesUranusitsblue‐greencolor.It’sclassifiedasanicegiant.15. OnedayislongerthanayearonVenus.Notonlythat,itrotatesintheoppositedirection.16. Earth’satmosphereismadeupof21%oxygenand78%nitrogen17. TheMoonpullsonthesurfaceontheEarthandcausestidesonboththelandandocean.18. Mars’smoonsarenamedafterFear/PanicandFleeing/Flight.19. Ironoxide(rust)givesMarsitsredcolor.20. IftheEarthwasthesizeofamarble,Jupiterwouldbethesizeofasoccerball.21. Jupitercanfit1400Earthsinside.22. IfyouaddedmoremasstoJupiteritwouldgetsmallerbecauseit’sabigballofgas.23. Jupiterismadeoutofhydrogenandheliumwithametallichydrogencore.24. ThevolcanoesonJupiter’smoonIospewitsiceash300mileshigh.25. Saturnissurroundedbyringsmademostlyoficemovingat75,000mph.26. InsideSaturn’sringsareshepherdmoons.27. Titanhasanatmospheremademostlyofnitrogensothickthatifyoustrappedwingsontoyourarmsand

flapped,you’dfly!28. ScientiststhinkthatIapetususedtohavearingaroundit,anditcrasheddownontothesurface.29. Jupiterissolargethatalloftheplanetsinthesolarsystemcouldfitinsideofit.30. MimaslooksjustliketheDeathStar.31. TheplanetUranusrollsaroundtheSunwhiletippedonitsside.32. PhobosisslowlymovinginwardtowardMarsandwilleithershatterorformaringaroundMars.33. OurbestguessisthattheiceonMercurywascausedbycomets.34. AveragedailywindspeedonNeptuneis1,200mph.35. Neptuneisagiantballofgas,whichisalsoknownasanicegiant.36. CharonandPlutoareapairofobjectsbecausetheybothrotatearoundapointoutsideofeach.Thesetwo

arealsoorbitedbyHydraandNix.37. SeventypercentoftheEarth'ssurfaceiscoveredbywater.38. TheSunis93millionmilesfromtheEarth,alsoknownas1au.39. ThehottestplanetisVenusbecausetheheatthatcomesintotheplanetgetstrappedinside.


40. Therearehowmanystarsareinoursolarsystem?One.TheSun.41. Whichcolorstarsarethehottest?Blue.Coolest?Red.42. ThePistolstaristhebiggestonewe’vefoundanditreleasesasmuchenergyinonesecondasourSundoes

inoneyear.43. TheplanetsandmoonsthatpeoplehavewalkedonareEarthandtheMoon.44. Jupiter'sGreatRedSpotisgettingsmaller.It’saboutthesizeoftwoEarthsrightnow.45. JupiterandSaturnaregasgiants,andUranusandNeptuneareicegiants.46. Neptuneisthecoldestplanetinoursolarsystem.47. Thefivedwarfplanetsinoursolarsystemare:Eris,Makemake,Haumea,Pluto,andCeres.48. Ittakeslight8minutestotravelfromtheSuntoEarth.49. Venushassomuchvolcanicactivitythatitconstantlyresurfacesitself.50. WhatkindoficeisonMars?Dryiceandwaterice.


CluesforthePlaygroundHunt:Cuttheseoutandtapethemaroundtheplayground.Youcanaddapictureofeachobjectalongwiththeclueifyouwish.Makesureyou’vewarnedthekidsnottotaketheclues,butjustLOOKatthem.Inadditiontoaplayground,you’llneedtotossasoccerballandfootballonyourfieldfarapartfromeachother.Asyouplaceeachclueinitsproperspot,ripoffthetabontheleftwiththeinstructionsthatwerejustforyou.Makesureyou’vegotthetreasurewithyouwhenthekidscometearingbacktoyouwiththefinalclue.Havefun!

The Sun (CLUE #1): Show this clue to get started.

This object is hot, but not on fire. Explore the swings but don’t perspire!

Mercury (CLUE #2): Tape this clue under one of the

swings.

This planet is closest, but not the hottest. Check the football, and don’t be modest!

Venus (CLUE #3): Tape this clue to a football.

This planet is so hot it can melt a cannonball, Crush spaceships, rain acid, and is in a tree tall.

Earth (CLUE #4): Tape this clue in a tree (or plant).

Most of this planet is covered with water. Find some water that never gets hotter.

Mars (CLUE #5): Tape this clue near the drinking

fountain.

This planet is basically a rusty burp. Discover the slide and take a ride.

Jupiter (CLUE #6): Tape this clue at the top of a

slide.

A planet so large it can hold the rest, Explore the bars with infinite zest!

Saturn (CLUE #7): Tape this clue on the monkey

bars.

This planet had rings, but not made of gold. Explore near a door like an astronaut bold!

Uranus (CLUE #8): Tape this clue on the exterior of a

nearby door.

Smacked so hard it now rolls on its side, Find the window that is ever so wide.

Neptune (CLUE #9): Tape this clue on the exterior of a

window.

Check the soccer ball for hurricane, gigantic blue farts, and diamond rain.

Pluto (CLUE #10): Tape this clue on a soccer ball.

Instead of one there were two, then four… Visit your teacher for the one that is no more.


CluesfortheClassroomHunt:Cuttheseoutandhidetheminenvelopesaroundyourclassroom.Youcanaddapictureofeachobjectalongwiththeclueifyouwish.Thisisgreatforrainyschooldays.Remindthekidsthattheyhavetofindtherightclueandgoinorder!Youcannumberthemifyouwantto,orhavetheirlabpartnersholdthemaccountable.Alsoremindthemnottotaketheclues,butlookatthemandmoveon.Whenyouplacetheclueinitsproperspot,ripoffthetabontheleftwiththeinstructionsthatwerejustforyou.Placethetreasureunderyourdeskforthefinalclue.Havefun!


This object is hot, but not on fire. Explore the coats but don’t perspire!

Mercury (CLUE #2): Tape this clue with the coats.

This planet is closest, but not the hottest. Check the floor, and don’t be modest!

Venus (CLUE #3): Tape this clue in a corner on the

floor.

This planet is so hot it can melt a cannonball, Crush spaceships, rain acid, and is on an object tall.

Earth (CLUE #4): Tape this clue on something very tall.

Most of this planet is covered with water. Find some water but don’t make it hotter.

Mars (CLUE #5): Tape this clue to your sink or a water

bottle left out on the counter.

This planet is basically a rusty burp. Where would you take a bite and slurp?

Jupiter (CLUE #6): Tape this clue next to where they store lunches. You can also stick it right on a lunchbox.

A planet so large it can hold the rest, Explore our library with infinite zest!

Saturn (CLUE #7): Hide this clue with a stack of

books.

This planet had rings, but not made of gold. Explore the door like an astronaut bold!

Uranus (CLUE #8): Tape this clue on the classroom

door.


Neptune (CLUE #9): Tape this clue on a window.

Check the ceiling for hurricane, gigantic blue farts, and diamond rain.

Pluto (CLUE #10): Tape this clue on the ceiling.

Instead of one there were two, then four… Look under a desk for the one that is no more.


CluesfortheHouseholdHunt:Cuttheseoutandhidetheminenvelopesaroundyourhouse.Youcanaddapictureofeachobjectalongwiththeclueifyouwish.Thisisgreatforhomeworkassignments,homeschoolstudents,andhomestudyprograms.Remindthekidsthattheyhavetofindtherightclueandgoinorder!Whenyouplacetheclueinitsproperspot,ripofthetabontheleftwiththeinstructionsthatwerejustforyou.Placethetreasureinthemailboxforthefinalclue.Havefun!


This object is hot, but not on fire. Explore the dryer but don’t perspire!

Mercury (CLUE #2): Hide this in the dryer.

This planet is closest, but not the hottest. Check the sock drawer, and don’t be modest!

Venus (CLUE #3): Hide this in the sock drawer.

This planet is so hot it can melt a cannonball, Crush spaceships, rain acid, and is in a tree tall.

Earth (CLUE #4): Hide this clue in a tree (or plant).

Most of this planet is covered with water. Visit the bathtub without making it hotter.

Mars (CLUE #5): Hide this clue in the bathtub.

This planet is basically a rusty burp. Discover the refrigerator and take a slurp.

Jupiter (CLUE #6): Hide this clue next to the milk.

A planet so large it can hold the rest, Explore our library with infinite zest!

Saturn (CLUE #7): Hide this clue with a stack of

books.

This planet had rings, but not made of gold. Explore near the front door like an astronaut bold!

Uranus (CLUE #8): Hide this clue on the front door.


Neptune (CLUE #9): Hide this clue by sticking it on a

window.

Check the sink for hurricane, gigantic blue farts, and diamond rain.

Pluto (CLUE #10): Hide this clue in the sink.

Instead of one there were two, then four… Visit the mailbox for the one that is no more.

ClosureBeforemovingon,askyourstudentsiftheyhaveanyrecommendationsorunansweredquestionsthattheycanworkoutontheirown.Brainstormingextensionideasisagreatwaytoaddmoresciencestudiestoyourclasstime.


Lesson#2:SolarSystemTreasureHuntStudentWorksheet

Name______________________________________________________________________

Overview:Funday!Yougettodonotone,buttwotreasurehuntsduringclasstimetoday.Thefirstisonpaperandasksquestionsaboutthepresentationfromlasttime.Thesecondactivityhas10clueswithrealtreasure.Themoreyouknowaboutastronomy,thefasteryou’llmovethroughthese.

WhattoLearn:Todayyou’lldiscoverhowmuchyoualreadyknowaboutthespecificdetailsaboutalleightplanets,theSunanditscomposition,selectednaturalsatellites,andsmallerobjectssuchasasteroids,dwarfplanets,andcomets.

Materials

Apencil

LabTime

Therearetworoundsforthistreasurehunt:indoorsandoutdoors(iftheweather’scooperating).Inamoment,yourlabteamisgoingtosearchyourindoorclassroomforanswerstothesecluesbelow.Onceyou’vecompletedthistask,letyourteacherknowandtheywillhandyouthesecondroundandsendyouonyourway.FirstTreasureHunt:Answerthequestionsbelowasyousearcharoundyouforcluestotheanswer.Goodluck!

1. TheshapeofourSolarSystemis_________________________.

2. Howmanyplanetsdowehaveinoursolarsystem?____________________________

3. Plutoisnowpartofthe___________________________Belt.

4. TheSunrotatesonceevery_____________________atitsequatorand___________________atthepoles.

5. ThecoretemperatureoftheSunis________________________________.


6. Aplanethasthreecriteria:itorbitsthe_____________________________________,has_________________________________

itsorbitofsmallerobjects,andislargeenoughsoitsown_______________________________makesitround.

7. Therearethreetypesofplanets:____________________________,___________________________________,and

________________________.

8. _______________________istheclosest,butnotthehottestplanet.ThesidefacingtheSungetsto

_______________________oF,andthesidefacingawayfromtheSungetsto____________________________oF.

9. Thesolarsystemincludes________________________planets,their____________________,the__________________atthe

center,andsmallerobjectssuchas________________________and____________________________.

10. TheSunismadeoutof75%___________________and25%_____________________.

11. Venusiscalledthegoddessof_______________________,becauseitlookssobrighttousfromEarth,butitreally

hasasurfacetemperatureof_______________________oF.

12. Cometsarereallydirty____________________________________________.

13. ____________________isthebrightestthinginthesky,otherthantheSunandMoon.

14. Cold_____________________iswhatgivesUranusitsblue‐greencolor.It’sclassifiedas_________________giant.

15. Onedayislongerthanayearon______________________________.Notonlythat,itrotates_____________________.


16. Earth’satmosphereismadeupof21%_______________and78%_________________.

17. TheMoonpullsonthesurfaceontheEarthandcausestidesonboththe____________and_______________.

18. Mars’smoonsarenamedafter________________________and___________________________.

19. ________________________givesMarsitsredcolor.

20. IftheEarthwasthesizeofamarble,Jupiterwouldbethesizeofa______________________________.

21. Jupitercanfit____________________________Earthsinside.

22. Ifyouaddedmoremassto_______________________________itwouldgetsmallerbecauseit’sabigballof

__________________________.

23. Jupiterismadeoutof__________________________and__________________________withametallic__________________

core.

24. ThevolcanoesonJupiter’smoon____________spewiceash_____________________mileshigh.

25. Saturnissurroundedbyringsmademostlyof__________________movingat__________________mph.

26. InsideSaturn’sringsare__________________.


27. Titanhasan________________________________mademostlyof__________________________,sothickthatifyou

strappedwingsontoyourarmsandflapped,you’dfly!

28. Scientiststhinkthat________________________usedtohavearingaroundit,anditcrasheddownontothe

surface.

29. Jupiterissolargethatallofthe________________inthesolarsystemcouldfitinsideofit.

30. _______________________looksjustliketheDeathStar.

31. Theplanet_____________________rollsaroundtheSunwhiletippedonitsside.

32. Phobosisslowlymovinginwardtoward________________andwilleithershatterorforma_________________

around__________________________.

33. OurbestguessisthattheiceonMercurywascausedby_____________________________________

34. AveragedailywindspeedonNeptuneis_____________mph.

35. Neptuneisagiantballof____________________,whichisalsoknownas_________________.

36. __________________andPlutoareapairofobjectsbecausetheybothrotatearoundapointoutsideofeach.

Thesetwoarealsoorbitedby______________and_______________.


37. SeventypercentoftheEarth'ssurfaceiscoveredby_________________________.

38. TheSunis__________________________________milesfromtheEarth,alsoknownas_______________________________.

39. Thehottestplanetis_________________________________________________becausetheheatthatcomesintotheplanet

gets________________________________________________________________________________________________.

40. Therearehowmanystarsareinoursolarsystem?___________________________________________

41. Whichcolorstarsarethehottest?____________________________________Coolest?_______________________________

42. The_____________________________staristhebiggestonewe’vefoundanditreleasesasmuchenergyinone

_________________________asourSundoesinoneyear.

43. Theplanetsandmoonsthatpeoplehavewalkedonare___________________________________________________

44. Jupiter's_____________________________isgetting_________________________.It’saboutthesizeoftwo

__________________rightnow.

45. __________________________and________________________aregasgiants,and_______________________and

_________________________areicegiants.

46. ____________________________isthecoldestplanetinoursolarsystem.


47. Thefivedwarfplanetsinoursolarsystemare:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

48. Ittakeslight_______________________________totravelfromtheSuntoEarth.

49. _____________________________hassomuchvolcanicactivitythatitconstantlyresurfacesitself.

50. WhatkindoficeisonMars?_____________________________and_______________________________________.

STOP!!!You’redonewiththe

firstactivity!Greatjobansweringthequestions!Stapleyourpaperstogether(orputyournameatthetopofeachpageatthe

veryleast)andturnitintoyourteacherforthesecondactivity.

Remember,forthisnextpart,youMUSTfindthecluesinorder,meaningthatyouhavetofindtheobjecttheclueisdescribingoritdoesn’tcount.Yourlabpartnerswillhelpyou.Havefun!


Lesson#3:MagneticTornadoesTeacherSection

Overview:StudentswilldoademonstrationthatmodelsthemagnetictwistersonMercury.


Objectives:ThislabisaphysicalmodelofwhathappensonMercurywhentwomagneticfieldscollideandformmagnetictornadoes.


Twoclearplasticbottles(2litersodabottlesworkbest) Steelwasherwitha3/8inchhole Rulerandstopwatch Glitterorconfetti(optional) Ducttape(optional)

LabPreparation

1. Optional:twosuper‐strongmagnets.RefertoLessonsection(below)forinformationonhowtousetheseasaquickdemonstration.

2. Determinethedifferentwaterconditions,suchas:changingthetemperature,changingthevolume(heightofwater),addinganothermoleculesuchasoil,isopropylalcohol,vinegar,anddishsoap,addingsolidpiecessuchasglitter,salt,sugar,orsmallgrains.Thedifferentmixtureswillgivedifferentvortexrotationspeedsanddifferentdraintimes.ThisisequivalenttochangingtheatmosphereonEarthandseeinghowitaffectsweather(notmagnetic)tornadoes.Writetheconditionsyouwishtotestinthedatatablebeforemakingcopies.

3. Printoutcopiesofthestudentworksheets.4. ReadovertheBackgroundLessonReadingbeforeteachingthisclass.5. Watchthevideoforthisexperimenttoprepareforteachingthisclass.


Mercurylookspeacefulatfirstglance.However,whenyoumeasurethesurfacewithscientificinstruments,you’llseehowtheSunblastsawayanyhopeMercuryhasofathinatmospherewithitsradiationandsolarwind.Notonlythat,Mercuryisravagedbyinvisiblemagnetictornadoesthatstartfromtheplanet’sinteriormagneticfield.Ifyou’veeverexperiencedatornado,youknowhowterrifyingtheycanbe.Nowimaginetheyarethediameterofyourentireplanet.

ThesetornadoesaredifferentfromtheEarth’s,whichformwhentwoweathersystemssmackintoeachother,creatinginstabilityintheatmosphere.ThemagnetictornadoesonMercuryformwhentwomagneticfieldscollide.Thesemonstrouscyclonesformwithoutwarninganddisappearwithinminutes.

Magneticfields,liketheEarth’s,areinvisibleshieldsthatconstantlyprotectusfromtheSun.OurEarthisconstantlybeingbombardedwithhighenergyparticlesthataredeflectedoffthemagnetosphereofourplanet.Mercury’smagneticfieldisweakandit’sconstantlybeingblastedbysolarwind,whichalsocarriesamagnetic


field.Whenthesetwofieldscollide,themagneticfieldsspiralandtwisttoformamagnetictornado.(SolarwindisastreamofhighenergyparticlesfromtheSun’souteratmosphere.)

Lesson

1. ReviewtheBackgroundReadingandsharetornadoinformationwiththekids.2. Ibringintwosuper‐strongneodymiummagnetsandhandthemtoastudent,askingthemtotakethem

apartandbringthembacktogethernorth‐to‐north.Whilethestudentstruggles,Italktothestudentsabouthowmagneticfieldsareinvisible,andwhentheyinteract,unusualeffectscanbeobserved.

LabTime

1. Reviewtheinstructionsontheirworksheetsandthenbreakthestudentsintotheirlabgroups.2. Assigneachlabgroupawaterconditioninthedatatable.3. Handeachgrouptheirmaterialsandgivethemtimetoperformtheirexperimentandwritedowntheir

observations.4. Filloneofthesodabottleswithwaterusingthedatatablebelow.(Youcanputinbitsofpaperorconfetti

foraddedfun.)Setthebottleuprightonthetable.5. Setthewasherontopofthebottleopening.Makesurethere’snocaponthebottle.6. Inverttheemptybottleoverthewater‐filledbottleandlineuptheopeningssotheycanbeeasilytaped

together.Youwanttotapethembeforetheygetwetwiththewasherbetweenthem.7. Placethetwobottlesonatableandwatchthewaterdripfromthetoptothelowerbottleasairbubbles

movefrombottomtotop.8. Invertsothatthewaterisinthetopbottleandcircleitacoupleoftimestostartawhirlpoolinthebottle.

Youshouldseeavortexforminsideasthetopbottledrainsintothelowerbottle.Theholeinthevortexletstheairfromthelowerbottlefloweasilyintotheupperbottle,sotheupperdrainseasily.

9. Whenyou’vefinishedyourexperiment,swapbottleswithalabpartnerandfilloutthedatatablebelow.

Exercises

1. Defineanatmosphere.(Anenvelopesurroundinganobjectlikeaplanetoramoonthatisheldinplacebytheobject’sgravitationalfield.)

2. Whatisamagneticfield?(Aforcefieldaroundamagnet.)3. Wheredomagneticfieldscomefrominplanets?(Wethinktheyoriginatefromthemoltenmetalliccoreofa

planet.Whenthecorecoolsoff,themagneticfielddisappears.)4. Whichplanetsdonothaveamagneticfield?(Venusdoesnotbecauseofitssuper‐slowrotation,andMars

doesnothaveaplanet‐widemagneticfield,thoughitdoeshavemagnetichotspots.)

Closure:Beforemovingon,askyourstudentsiftheyhaveanyrecommendationsorunansweredquestionsthattheycanworkoutontheirown.Brainstormingextensionideasisagreatwaytoaddmoresciencestudiestoyourclasstime.


Lesson#3:MagneticTornadoesStudentWorksheet

Name______________________________________________________________________

Overview:ThislabisaphysicalmodelofwhathappensonMercurywhentwomagneticfieldscollideandformmagnetictornadoes.

WhattoLearn:You’llgettoinvestigatewhataninvisiblemagnetictornadolookslikewhenitsweepsacrossMercury.

Materials

Twoclearplasticbottles(2litersodabottlesworkbest) Steelwasherwitha3/8inchhole Rulerandstopwatch Glitterorconfetti(optional) Ducttape(optional)

LabTime

1. Filloneofthesodabottleswithwaterusingthedatatablebelow.Yourteacherwillassignyouawatercondition.(Youcanputinbitsofpaperorconfettiforaddedfun.)Setthebottleuprightonthetable.

2. Setthewasherontopofthebottleopening.Makesurethere’snocaponthebottle.3. Inverttheemptybottleoverthewater‐filledbottleandlineuptheopeningssotheycanbeeasilytaped

together.Youwanttotapethembeforetheygetwetwiththewasherbetweenthem.4. Placethetwobottlesonatableandwatchthewaterdripfromthetoptothelowerbottleasairbubbles

movefrombottomtotop.5. Invertsothewaterisinthetopbottleandcircleitacoupleoftimestostartawhirlpoolinthebottle.You

shouldseeavortexforminsideasthetopdrainsintothelowerbottle.Theholeinthevortexletstheairfromthelowerbottlefloweasilyintotheupperbottle,sotheupperdrainseasily.

6. Whenyou’vefinishedyourexperiment,swapbottleswithalabpartnerandfilloutthedatatablebelow.


MagneticTornadoesDataTable

Note:Waterheightismeasuredwhenallthewaterisinthelowercontainer.

WaterCondition HeightoftheWater HowLongDidItTaketoDraintoLowerBottle?

(measureinseconds)

ExercisesAnswerthequestionsbelow:

1. Defineanatmosphere.

2. Whatisamagneticfield?

3. Wheredomagneticfieldscomefrominplanets?

4. Whichplanetsdonothaveamagneticfield?


Lesson#4:SkyinaJarTeacherSection

OverviewWhyistheskyblue?Whyisthesunsetred?Thislabwillanswerthosequestionsbyshowinghowlightisscatteredbytheatmosphere.

SuggestedTime30‐45minutes

ObjectivesParticlesintheatmospheredeterminethecoloroftheplanetandthecolorsweseeonitssurface.


Glassjar Flashlight Fingernailpolish(red,yellow,green,blue) Cleartape Water Darkroom Fewdropsofmilk

LabPreparation



Whyisthesunsetred?Thecolorsyouseeintheskydependonhowlightbouncesaround.Thered/orangecolorsofsunsetandsunrisehappenbecauseofthelowangletheSunmakeswiththeatmosphere,skippingthelightoffdustanddirt(nottomentionsolidaerosols,soot,andsmog).Sunsetsareusuallymorespectacularthansunrises,asmore“stuff”floatsaroundattheendoftheday(therearelessparticlespresentinthemornings).Sometimesjustaftersunset,agreenflashcanbeseenejectingfromthesettingSun.

TheEarthappearsbluetotheastronautsinspacebecausetheshorter,fasterwavelengthsarereflectedofftheupperatmosphere.Thesunsetsappearredbecausetheslower,longerwavelengthsbounceofftheclouds.

Sunsetsonotherplanetsaredifferentbecausetheyarefarther(orcloser)totheSun,andalsobecausetheyhaveadifferentatmospherethanplanetEarth.TheimageshownhereisasunsetonMars.


Lesson

1. TheEarthappearsbluetotheastronautsinspacebecausetheshorter,fasterwavelengthsarereflectedofftheupperatmosphere.Thesunsetsappearredbecausetheslower,longerwavelengthsbounceofftheclouds.

2. UranusandNeptuneappearbluebecausethemethaneintheupperatmospherereflectstheSun’slightandthemethaneabsorbstheredlight,allowingbluetobouncebackout.

LabTime

1. Reviewtheinstructionsontheirworksheetsandthenbreakthestudentsintotheirlabgroups.2. Handeachgrouptheirmaterialsandgivethemtimetoperformtheirexperimentandwritedowntheir

observations.3. Makeyourroomasdarkaspossibleforthisexperimenttowork.4. Makesureyourlabelisremovedfromtheglassjaroryouwon’tbeabletoseewhat’sgoingon.5. Filltheclearglassjarwithwater.6. Addateaspoonortwoofmilk(orcornstarch)andswirl.7. Shinetheflashlightdownfromthetopandlookfromtheside–thewatershouldhaveabluishhue.The

smallmilkdropletsscatterthelightthesamewayouratmospheredustparticlesscattersunlight.8. Tryshiningthelightupfromthebase–wheredoyouneedtolookinordertoseeafaintred/pinktint?If

not,it’sbecauseyouarelookingforhuesthatmatchourrealatmosphere,andthejarjustisn’tthatbig,norisyourflashlightstrongenough!Instead,lookforaveryslightcolorshift.Ifyoudothisexperimentafterbeinginthedarkforabout10minutes(lettingyoureyesadjusttothelackoflight),itiseasiertoseethesubtlecolorchanges.Justbecarefulthatyoudon’tletthebrilliantflashlightruinyournewlyacquirednightvision,oryou’llhavetostartthe10minutesalloveragain.

9. Ifyouarestillhavingtroubleseeingthecolorchanges,shineyourlightthroughthejarandontoanindexcardontheotherside.Youshouldseeslightcolorchangesonthewhitecard.

10. Covertheflashlightlenswithcleartape.11. Paintonthetape(notthelens)thefingernailpolishyouneedtocompletethetablebelow.12. Repeatsteps7‐9andrecordyourdata.

Exercises

1. Whatcolorsdoesthesunsetgothrough?(ThesunsetgoesthroughthecolorsoftherainbowastheSunsetslowerinthesky,startingwithyellow,thenorange,andthenredasitsets.)

2. Doesthecolorofthelightsourcematter?(Yes.Whitelightgivesthebestresults.)



Lesson#4:SkyinaJarStudentWorksheet

Name______________________________________________________________________

Overview:Haveyoueverwonderedwhytheskyisblue?Orwhythesunsetisred?Orwhatcoloroursunsetwouldbeifwehadabluegiantinsteadofawhitestar?Thislabwillanswerthosequestionsbyshowinghowlightisscatteredbytheatmosphere.

WhattoLearn:Particlesintheatmospheredeterminethecoloroftheplanetandthecolorsweseeonitssurface.Thecolorofthestaralsoaffectsthecolorofthesunsetandoftheplanet.

Materials

Glassjar Flashlight Fingernailpolish(red,yellow,green,blue) Cleartape Water Darkroom Fewdropsofmilk

LabTime

1. Makeyourroomasdarkaspossibleforthisexperimenttowork.2. Makesureyourlabelisremovedfromtheglassjaroryouwon’tbeabletoseewhat’sgoingon.3. Filltheclearglassjarwithwater.4. Addateaspoonortwoofmilk(orcornstarch)andswirl.5. Shinetheflashlightdownfromthetopandlookfromtheside–thewatershouldhaveabluishhue.The

smallmilkdropletsscatterthelightthesamewayouratmosphere’sdustparticlesscattersunlight.6. Tryshiningthelightupfromthebase–wheredoyouneedtolookinordertoseeafaintred/pinktint?If

not,it’sbecauseyouarelookingforhuesthatmatchourrealatmosphere,andthejarjustisn’tthatbig,norisyourflashlightstrongenough!Instead,lookforaveryslightcolorshift.Ifyoudothisexperimentafterbeinginthedarkforabout10minutes(lettingyoureyesadjusttothelackoflight),itiseasiertoseethesubtlecolorchanges.Justbecarefulthatyoudon’tletthebrilliantflashlightruinyournewlyacquirednightvision,oryou’llhavetostartthe10minutesalloveragain.

7. Ifyouarestillhavingtroubleseeingthecolorchanges,shineyourlightthroughthejarandontoanindexcardontheotherside.Youshouldseeslightcolorchangesonthewhitecard.

8. Covertheflashlightlenswithcleartape.9. Paintonthetape(notthelens)thefingernailpolishyouneedtocompletethetablebelow.10. Repeatsteps7‐9andrecordyourdata.


SkyinaJarDataTable

FlashlightColor Location Color(s)

White Sideofjar

White BottomofJar

Red Sideofjar

Red BottomofJar

Yellow Sideofjar

Yellow BottomofJar

Green Sideofjar

Green BottomofJar

Blue Sideofjar

Blue BottomofJar


1. Whatcolorsdoesthesunsetgothrough?

2. Doesthecolorofthelightsourcematter?


Lesson#5:PlanetaryMagneticFieldsTeacherSection

Overview:Icanstillrememberinsecond‐gradescienceclasswonderingaboutthisidea.AndIstillrememberhowbaffledmyteacherwaswhenIaskedherthisquestion:“Doesn’tthenorthtipofacompassneedlepointtothesouthpole?”Thinkaboutthis–ifyouholdupamagnetbyastring,justliketheneedleofacompass,doesthenorthendofthemagnetlineupwiththenorthorsouthpoleoftheEarth?


Objectives:Studentsaregoingtolearnhowcompassesturnwiththeforceofthemagneticfield.Theywillmeasurethefieldfromamagnetbymappingthetwodifferentpolesandhowthelinesofforceconnectthetwo.Amagneticfieldmustcomefromanorthpoleofamagnetandgotoasouthpoleofamagnet(oratomsthathaveturnedtothemagneticfield.)


Magnets:barmagnet,horseshoemagnet,andacircular(disk)magnet Compass String Ruler

LabPreparation

1. Printoutcopiesofthestudentworksheets.2. Watchthevideoforthisexperimenttoprepareforteachingthisclass.3. Precutthestringinto12”pieces,oneperlabgroup.4. ReadovertheBackgroundLessonReadingbeforeteachingthisclass.


Rightunderyourfeet,there’samagnet.Goaheadtakealook.Liftupyourfeetandseewhat’sunderthere.Doyouseeit?It’shuge!Infact,it’sthelargestmagnetontheEarth.Asamatteroffact,itistheEarth!That’sright;theEarthisonehuge,gigantic,monolithicmagnet!We’regoingtouseamagnettosubstitutefortheEarthandplotoutthemagneticfieldlines.

Lesson

1. ThemagneticpolewhichwasattractedtotheEarth’sNorthPolewaslabeledastheBorealor“north‐seekingpole”inthe1200s,whichwaslatershortenedto“northpole.”Toaddtotheconfusion,geologistscallthispoletheNorthMagneticPole.

2. Kidsaregoingtomaketheirowncompassesinoneofthenextlessons;howeveryoumightwanttodemohowacompassismagnetizedbyskippingaheadandmakingamodelrightinfrontofthemsotheycanseehowandwhyitworks.

3. Afterthekidsplaywiththeirmagnetsandcompasses,leadthemthroughthestepsforchartingmagneticlines.


4. KidswillusetheircompassestointroducethemtotheideaoftheEarth’smagneticfield.Ifyourememberaboutmagnets,youknowthatoppositesattract;sothenorthtipofthecompasswilllineupwiththeEarth’sSOUTHPole.Socompassesareupside‐down!

LabTime

1. Reviewtheinstructionsontheirworksheetsandthenbreakthestudentsintotheirlabgroups.Handeachgrouptheirmaterials.

2. Tieastringaroundyourmagnet.3. Bringitclosetothecompass.4. Whichendisthenorthendofyourmagnet?Labelitwithapencilrightonthemagnet.5. Flipthemagnetaroundbytwistingthestringsothatthecompassflipstotheoppositepole.Labelthe

oppositesiteofthemagnetwiththeappropriateletter(NorS).6. Bringasecondmagnetclosetothefirstone.Whathappenswhenyoubringtwooppositepolestogether?

Whatifthepolesarethesame?

Nowuntieorcutthestringforthenextpartofyourlab.

7. Layapieceofpaperonyourdesk.8. Placeoneofthemagnetsinthemiddleofthepaperandtracetheoutline.9. Draw12dots(justlikeonaclock)allthewayaroundthemagnet.Thesearethelocationswhereyouwill

placeyourcompass,somakesurethattheyarecloseenoughtothemagnetsothemagnetinfluencesthecompass.

10. Placeyourcompassononeofthedotsandlookatthedirectionthearrowispointing.Removethecompassanddrawthatexactarrowdirectionrightoveryourdot.Dothisforalltwelvedots.

11. Drawanotherringofdotsaninchortwooutfromthefirstringandrepeatstep9.12. Repeatsteps7‐11forthehorseshoemagnet.13. Repeatsteps7‐11forthecirculardiskmagnet.

Exercises

1. Howarethelinesofforcedifferentforthetwomagnets?(Sincethisisgoingtodependonthekindofmagnetsyouuse,refertothedatacollected.)

2. Howfarout(ininchesmeasuredfromthemagnet)doesthemagnetaffectthecompass?(Sincethisisgoingtodependonthekindofmagnetsyouuse,refertothedatacollected.)

3. Whatmakesthecompassmovearound?(Themagneticlinesofforcethatareinvisibletoyoureye.)4. Doyouthinkthecompass’snorth‐southindicatorisflipped,ortheEarth’sNorthPolewheretheSouthPole

is?Howdoyouknow?(It’sanarbitrarydenotation,buttheEarth’sNorthPoleisdeemedtobenorth.)



Lesson#5:PlanetaryMagneticFieldsStudentWorksheet

Name______________________________________________________________________

Overview:You’regoingtouseacompasstofigureoutthemagneticlinesofforcefromamagnetbymappingthetwodifferentpolesandhowthelinesofforceconnectthetwo.Amagneticfieldmustcomefromanorthpoleofamagnetandgotoasouthpoleofamagnet(oratomsthathaveturnedtothemagneticfield.)

WhattoLearn:Compassesareinfluencedbymagneticlinesofforce.Theselinesarenotnecessarilystraight.Whentheybend,thecompassneedlemoves.TheEarthhasahugemagneticfield.TheEarthhasaweakmagneticforce.ThemagneticfieldcomesfromthemovingelectronsinthecurrentsoftheEarth’smoltencore.TheEarthhasanorthandasouthmagneticpolewhichisdifferentfromthegeographicNorthandSouthPole.

Materials

Barmagnet Horseshoemagnet Circular(disk)magnet Compass String Ruler

LabTime

1. Tieastringaroundyourmagnet.2. Bringitclosetothecompass.3. Whichendisthenorthendofyourmagnet?Labelitwithapencilrightonthemagnet.4. Flipthemagnetaroundbytwistingthestringsothatthecompassflipstotheoppositepole.Labelthe

oppositesiteofthemagnetwiththeappropriateletter(NorS).5. Bringasecondmagnetclosetothefirstone.Whathappenswhenyoubringtwooppositepolestogether?

Whatifthepolesarethesame?Writedownyourobservationshere:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nowuntieorcutthestringforthenextpartofyourlab.


6. Layapieceofpaperonyourdesk.7. Placethemagnetinthemiddleofthepaperandtracetheoutline.8. Draw12dots(justlikeonaclock)allthewayaroundthemagnet.Thesearethelocationswhereyouwill

placeyourcompass,somakesurethattheyarecloseenoughtothemagnetsothemagnetinfluencesthecompass.

9. Placeyourcompassononeofthedotsandlookatthedirectionthearrowispointing.Removethecompassanddrawthatexactarrowdirectionrightoveryourdot.Dothisforall12dots.

10. Drawanotherringofdotsaninchortwooutfromthefirstringandrepeatstep9.11. Repeatsteps6‐10withacircularmagnetonanewsheetofpaper.12. Repeatsteps6‐10forthehorseshoemagnetonanothersheetofpaper.

Exercises

1. Howarethelinesofforcedifferentforthetwomagnets?

2. Howfarout(ininchesmeasuredfromthemagnet)doesthemagnetaffectthecompass?

3. Whatmakesthecompassmovearound?

4. Doyouthinkthecompass’snorth‐southindicatorisflipped,ortheEarth’sNorthPolewheretheSouthPoleis?Howdoyouknow?


Lesson#6:SeasonsTeacherSection

Overview:OnecommonmisconceptionisthattheseasonsarecausedbyhowclosetheEarthistotheSun.Studentswillperformanexperimentthatshowshowtheseasonsareaffectedbyaxistilt,notbydistancefromtheSun.


Objectives:TheseasonsarecausedbytheEarth’saxistiltof23.4ofromtheeclipticplane.StudentswillalsounderstandthepositionoftheSunintheskychangesduringthecourseofthedayandfromseasontoseason.


Brightlightsource(notfluorescent) Balloon Protractor Maskingtape 2liquidcrystalthermometers Ruler,yardstickormeterstick Marker

LabPreparation

1. Blowuptheballoons.You’llneedoneperlabgroup.2. Printoutcopiesofthestudentworksheets.3. ReadovertheBackgroundLessonReadingbeforeteachingthisclass.4. Watchthevideoforthisexperimenttoprepareforteachingthisclass.


TheNorthandSouthPolesonlyexperiencetwoseasons:winterandsummer.DuringaSouthPolewinter,theSunwillnotriseforseveralmonths,andalsotheSundoesnotsetforseveralmonthsinthesummer.Wegointomoredetailabouthowthisworksinalaterlessonentitled:StarTrailsandPlanetPatterns.

Attheequator,there’sawetseasonandadryseasonduetothetropicalrainbelt.SincetheequatorisalwaysorientedatthesamepositiontotheSun,itreceivesthesameamountofsunlightandalwaysfeelslikesummer.

ThechangingoftheseasonsiscausedbytheangleoftheSun.Forexample,inJuneduringsummersolstice,theSunishighintheskyforlongerperiodsoftime,whichmakeswarmertemperaturesfortheNorthernHemisphere.DuringtheDecemberwintersolstice,theSunspendslesstimeintheskyandispositionedmuchlower.Thismakesthewinterscolder.(Don’tforgetthatseasonsarealsoaffectedbyoceansandwinds,thoughthisisoutofthescopeofthisparticularactivity.)

Lesson

1. Activitynotes:Thisactivitycanbedonesolelyasademonstrationifyouprefer(orareshortofmaterials).Thismaynotbeanoption,butonetimewedidn’thaveenoughlamps,soIdroveupwithmycarandused


thecarheadlights.I’vealsobroughtinlampswith100Wbulbs(withoutlampshades)andhadacoupleoflabteamsworkwitheachone.

LabTime


observations.3. Placethelampinthemiddleofthedesk.Makesurethere’sroomtowalkallthewayaroundit.You’llwant

tocirclethelampatadistanceofabout2feetaway.4. Markonthefloorwithtapeandlabelthefourpositions:winter,spring,summer,andfall.Theyshouldbeat

the12,3,6,and9o’clockpositions.Winterisdirectlyacrossfromsummer.TheEarthrotatescounterclockwisearoundtheSunwhenviewedfromabove.

5. Blowupyourballoonsoit’sroughlyround‐shaped(don’tblowitupalltheway).Markandlabelthenorthandsouthpoleswithyourmarker.Drawanequatoraroundthemiddlecircumference.

6. TheEarthdoesn’tpointitsnorthpolestraightupasitgoesaroundtheSun.It’stiltedover23.4o.Here’showyoufindthispointonyourballoon:

a. PuttheSouthPolemarkonthetable,withnorthpointingstraightup.FindthemidwaypointbetweentheequatorandtheNorthPoleandmakeatinymark.Thisisthe45olatitudepoint.You’llneedthistofindthe23omark.

b. Findthemidwaypointbetweenthe45omarkandtheNorthPoleandmakeanothermark,largerthistimeandlabelitwith23o.Whenthismarkispointingup,theEarthistiltedovertherightamount.

c. You’llneedtodothisthreemoretimessoyoucandrawalineconnectingthedots.Youwanttodrawthelatitudelineat23osoyoucanrotatetheballoonasyoumovearoundtothedifferentseasons.Thelinewillalwaysbepointedup.

7. Placethethermometersontheballoonattheselocations:a. FindthehalfwaypointbetweentheSouthPoleandtheequator.Putonethermometeronthismark.b. Puttheotherthermometeronthenorthernhemisphere’s45omarkfromabove.

8. Makesureyourlampisfacingtheballoonasyoustandonsummer.Lettheballoonbeheatedbythelampforacoupleofminutesandthenrecordthetemperatureinthedatatable.

9. Rotatethelamptopointtofall.Moveyourballoontofall,rotatingtheballoonsothatthethermometersarefacingthelamp.Waitafewmoreminutesandtakeanotherreading.

10. Rotatethelamptopointtowinter.Moveyourballoontowinter,rotatingtheballoonsothatthethermometersarefacingthelamp.Waitafewmoreminutesandtakeanotherreading.

11. Rotatethelamptopointtospring.Moveyourballoontospring,rotatingtheballoonsothatthethermometersarefacingthelamp.Waitafewmoreminutesandtakeanotherreading.You’vecompletedadatasetforplanetswithanaxistiltofabout23o,whichincludestheEarth,Mars,SaturnandNeptune.

12. Repeatsteps3‐11forMercury.NotethatMercurydoesnothaveanaxistilt,sotheNorthPolereallypointsstraightup.Jupiter(3.1oaxistilt)andVenus(2.7o)areverysimilar.TheMoon’saxistiltis6.7o,soyoucanapproximatethesefourobjectswiththisdataset.

13. Repeatsteps3‐11forUranus.Sincetheaxistiltis97.8o,youcanapproximatethisbypointingtheNorthPolestraightattheSunduringsummer.TheorbitforUranusis84years,whichmeans21yearspassesbetweeneachseason.TheNorthPolewillexperiencecontinuessunlightfor42yearsfromspringthroughfall,thendarknessfor42years.

Exercises


1. WhatisthemainreasonwehaveseasonsonEarth?(Becausetheaxisistilted23.4o,exposingonehemispheretomoresunlighteachdayandwarmingtheplanet.)

2. WhyaretherenosunsetsonUranusfordecades?(TheorbitforUranusis84years,whichmeans21yearspassbetweeneachseason.Thenorthpolewillexperiencecontinuedsunlightfor42yearsfromspringthroughfall,thendarknessfor42years.)

3. ArethereseasonsonVenus?(No.It’sthesametemperature(460oC)everywhereyougoontheplanetfortworeasons:firsttheaxistiltmakesalmostdifferencebetweensummerandwinter.Second,thethickatmospheretrapstheheat,whichflowsaroundtheplanet.)



Lesson#6:SeasonsStudentWorksheet

Name______________________________________________________________________

Overview:OnecommonmisconceptionisthattheseasonsarecausedbyhowclosetheEarthistotheSun.Todayyougettodoanexperimentthatshowshowseasonsareaffectedbyaxistilt,notbydistancefromtheSun.Andyoualsofindoutwhichplanetdoesn’thavesunlightfor42years.

WhattoLearnTheseasonsarecausedbytheEarth’saxistiltof23.4ofromtheeclipticplane.

Materials

Brightlightsource(notfluorescent) Balloon Protractor Maskingtape 2liquidcrystalthermometers Ruler,yardstickormeterstick Marker

LabTime

1. Placethelampinthemiddleofthedesk.Makesurethere’sroomtowalkallthewayaroundit.You’llwanttocirclethelampatadistanceofabout2feetaway.

2. Markonthefloorwithtapeandlabelthefourpositions:winter,spring,summer,andfall.Theyshouldbeatthe12,3,6,and9o’clockpositions.Winterisdirectlyacrossfromsummer.TheEarthrotatescounterclockwisearoundtheSunwhenviewedfromabove.

3. Blowupyourballoonsoit’sroughlyround‐shaped(don’tblowitupalltheway).Markandlabelthenorthandsouthpoleswithyourmarker.Drawanequatoraroundthemiddlecircumference.

4. TheEarthdoesn’tpointitsnorthpolestraightupasitgoesaroundtheSun.It’stiltedover23.4o.here’showyoufindthispointonyourballoon:

a. PuttheSouthPolemarkonthetable,withnorthpointingstraightup.FindthemidwaypointbetweentheequatorandtheNorthPoleandmakeatinymark.Thisisthe45olatitudepoint.You’llneedthistofindthe23omark.

b. Findthemidwaypointbetweenthe45omarkandtheNorthPoleandmakeanothermark,largerthistimeandlabelitwith23o.Whenthismarkispointingup,theEarthistiltedovertherightamount.

c. You’llneedtodothisthreemoretimessoyoucandrawalineconnectingthedots.Youwanttodrawthelatitudelineat23osoyoucanrotatetheballoonasyoumovearoundtothedifferentseasons.Thelinewillalwaysbepointedup.

5. Placethethermometersontheballoonattheselocations:a. FindthehalfwaypointbetweentheSouthPoleandtheequator.Putonethermometeronthismark.b. Puttheotherthermometeronthenorthernhemisphere’s45omarkfromabove.

6. Makesureyourlampisfacingtheballoonasyoustandonsummer.Lettheballoonbeheatedbythelampforacoupleofminutesandthenrecordthetemperatureinthedatatable.


7. Rotatethelamptopointtofall.Moveyourballoontofall,rotatingtheballoonsothatthethermometersarefacingthelamp.Waitafewmoreminutesandtakeanotherreading.

8. Rotatethelamptopointtowinter.Moveyourballoontowinter,rotatingtheballoonsothatthethermometersarefacingthelamp.Waitafewmoreminutesandtakeanotherreading.

9. Rotatethelamptopointtospring.Moveyourballoontospring,rotatingtheballoonsothatthethermometersarefacingthelamp.Waitafewmoreminutesandtakeanotherreading.You’vecompletedadatasetforplanetswithanaxistiltofabout23o,whichincludestheEarth,Mars,SaturnandNeptune.

10. Repeatsteps1‐9forMercury.NotethatMercurydoesnothaveanaxistilt,sotheNorthPolereallypointsstraightup.Jupiter(3.1oaxistilt)andVenus(2.7o)areverysimilar.TheMoon’saxistiltis6.7o,soyoucanapproximatethesefourobjectswitha0oaxistilt.

11. Repeatsteps1‐9forUranus.Sincetheaxistiltis97.8o,youcanapproximatethisbypointingthenorthpolestraightattheSunduringsummer(90oaxistilt).TheorbitforUranusis84years,whichmeans21yearspassesbetweeneachseason.Thenorthpolewillexperiencecontinuedsunlightfor42yearsfromspringthroughfall,thendarknessfor42years.

SeasonsDataTable

Don’tforgettocircleorlabelyourunits!NotethatUranus’saxistiltisapproximatedby90oandVenus,Jupiter,andMercury’saxistiltareapproximatedby0o

AxisTilt

Season NorthernHemisphereTemperature(oC/oF)

SouthernHemisphereTemperature(oC/oF)

23o Summer

23o Fall

23o Winter

23o Spring

0o Summer

0o Fall

0o Winter

0o Spring

90o Summer

90o Fall

90o Winter

90o Spring



1. WhatisthemainreasonwehaveseasonsonEarth?

2. WhyaretherenosunsetsonUranusfordecades?

3. ArethereseasonsonVenus?


Lesson#7:IndoorRainCloudsTeacherSection

Overview:Studentsgettovaporizeliquidoceansofmoleculesandmakeitrainwhentherisingclouddeckshitthecoldnessofspace.Allrightattheirdesks.


Objectives:Thislabdemonstratesthemovementofplanetaryatmospheresastemperaturechanges.


Glassoficewater Glassofhotwater Towel Ruler

LabPreparation



Thisexperimentdemonstratesstatechangesofmatter.Whenhotvaporrises(likefromthehotcoreofagaseousplanet)andhitsacoldfront(likethecoldnessofouterspaceintheupperatmosphere),thevaporcondensesintoliquiddropsandrains,orcanevenfreezesolidintoicechunks.NeptuneandUranusbothhavemethaneiceintheirupperatmospheres.BothJupiterandSaturnhaveupperclouddecksofwatervaporandcloudsofammonia.Thewatervaporcloudsarerightatthefreezingtemperatureofwater.

Lesson

1. Pleasebecarefulwiththislab!Thehotwatercanburnthekids.Ifyouprefer,youcangivethisasahomeworkassignmentandgivetheresponsibilityofthekid’ssafetytotheparents.

LabTime


observations.3. Taketwoclearglassesthatfitsnuglytogetherwhenstacked.(Cylindricalglasseswithstraightsideswork

well.)


4. Filloneglasshalf‐fullwithicewaterandtheotherhalf‐fullwithveryhotwater(definitelyanadultjob–andtakecarenottoshattertheglasswiththehotwater!).Besuretoleaveenoughairspaceforthecloudstoforminthehotglass.

5. Placethecoldglassdirectlyontopofthehotglassandwaitseveralminutes.Ifthesealholdsbetweentheglasses,araincloudwillformjustbelowthebottomofthecoldglass,anditactuallyrainsinsidetheglass!(Youcanuseadamptowelaroundtherimtohelpmakeabetterseal,ifneeded.)

Exercises

1. Whichcombinationmadeitrainthebest?Whydidthiswork?(Thegreaterthetemperaturedifference,thebetterthisexperimentwillwork.Themorewateryouhave,thelessthetemperaturewillfluctuateforeachglass,thusmakingitabletorainforlongerperiodsoftime.)

2. Drawyourexperimentaldiagramhere,labelingthedifferentcomponents:3. Addinlabelsforthedifferentphasesofmatter.Canyouidentifyallthreestatesofmatterinyour

experiment?(Ice=solid;water=liquid,gasbetweentwoglassesiswatervapor,nitrogen,andoxygen.)



Lesson#7:IndoorRainCloudsStudentWorksheet

Name______________________________________________________________________

Overview:Todayyougettovaporizeliquidoceansofmoleculesandmakeitrainwhentherisingclouddeckshitthecoldnessofspace.Soundlikefun?

WhattoLearn:Themovementofatmospheresondifferentplanetsisaffectedbythetemperatureoftheplanetandthemoleculesintheatmosphere.

Materials

Glassoficewater Glassofhotwater Towel Ruler

LabTime

1. Taketwoclearglassesthatfitsnuglytogetherwhenstacked.(Cylindricalglasseswithstraightsidesworkwell.)

2. Filloneglasshalf‐fullwithicewaterandtheotherhalf‐fullwithveryhotwater(definitelyanadultjob–andtakecarenottoshattertheglasswiththehotwater!).Besuretoleaveenoughairspaceforthecloudstoforminthehotglass.

3. Placethecoldglassdirectlyontopofthehotglassandwaitseveralminutes.Ifthesealholdsbetweentheglasses,araincloudwillformjustbelowthebottomofthecoldglass,anditactuallyrainsinsidetheglass!(Youcanuseadamptowelaroundtherimtohelpmakeabetterseal,ifneeded.)

4. Completethetablebelow.Measurethewaterheightcarefullywithyourruler.Ifyouhave2”ofwaterinthehotwaterglass,thenwrite2”.Pleasebecarefulwhenmeasuringhotwater!

IndoorRainCloudsDataTable

HotWaterHeight IceWaterHeight Howwelldiditrain?



1. Whichcombinationmadeitrainthebest?Whydidthiswork?

2. Drawyourexperimentaldiagramhere,labelingthedifferentcomponents:

3. Addinlabelsforthedifferentphasesofmatter.Canyouidentifyallthreestatesofmatterinyourexperiment?


Lesson#8:VolcanoesTeacherSection

Overview:Marshassomeofthebiggestcanyonsandthehighestvolcanoesinthesolarsystem.VallesMarinerismeasures2,800feetwideand4milesdeep.That’s40timesthesizeoftheGrandCanyon.AndOlympusMonsis15½mileshigh,nearlythreetimesthesizeofMountEverest.Sohowdoesthishappen?That’swhatthislabwillhelpyoufigureout.


Objectives:Studentswillinvestigatethedifferentgas‐generatingchemicalreactionssimilartothosefoundwithMartianvolcanoes.


LookovertheLabTimeforacompletelistofmaterials.Thereareseveralvariationstochoosefrom.

LabPreparation

1. Idothislaboutdoors,becauseofthemessitmakesthatseemstofloweverywhere.Findanice‐weatherdayanddothisoutside.

2. Printoutcopiesofthestudentworksheets.3. ReadovertheBackgroundLessonReadingbeforeteachingthisclass.4. Watchthevideoforthisexperimenttoprepareforteachingthisclass.5. Thereareacoupleofchoiceswiththisexperiment.Yougettopickwhatthevolcanoismadeoutof(there

aretwodifferentdoughrecipes),andalsowhichkindofchemicalreactionyou’dliketodemonstrate(therearetwodifferentoneshere,too).Ifyou’reinahurry,useaslabofclayforthedoughandusethefirstsetofchemicals.

6. Ifyou’dlikethekidstofilloutthedatatablefortheirexperiment(thisisquestionable,asit’sgoingtobeamessylab),thenyou’llneedmeasuringcupsforeachteam.Makesimpleonesfrompapercupswithmarksontheside.


Marsisalitterboxforvolcanoes.Someofthesevolcanoesaredead,butothersaresimplydormant.NearlyallvolcanoesonMarsareshieldvolcanoes,createdbycurrentsandhotspotsbeneaththesurface(justliketheonesinHawaii).TherearesomanyvolcanoesonMarsthatscientistshavedrawnlinestocorralthemintovolcanicprovinces.Withouttectonicplates,thecurrentsunderthevolcanoescanfloweasilyandfreely.

Lesson

1. Haveyouevernoticedhowlotsofvolcanicrockshavebubblesinside?Thegasthatbubbledupthroughtherocksastheycooledgivesthemaporousappearance.

2. Whatdoyouthinkwouldhappenifthelavadoesn’tmakeitallthewayoutofthevolcano?Itcoolsandcoatstheinside,andthengetsreheatedwiththenextexplosion.Thiscanhappenoverandoveragain,makingthelavaundergosomeprettyradicalchanges,molecularlyspeaking.


3. ThereactionthekidsaremakingtodayissimilartotheactionMarssawwithitsshieldvolcanoes.Thegasproducediscarbondioxide.Thebubblesthatgettrappedinsidemakepockets,andthedishsoaphelpsthemstayasbubbleslongenoughforyoutocatchtheminaction.

LabTime


observations.3. Thefirstthingyouwilldoismixupvolcanodough.Therearetwodifferentrecipesprovidedwiththislab:

StandardVolcanoDoughisjustlikeplaydough,andEarthyVolcanoDoughlooksmoreliketherealthing.Pickoneandmakeitfirst.Thenproceedtothechemicalreactions.MakingtheVolcanoStandardVolcanoDough

a. Mixtogether6cupsflour,2cupssalt,½cupvegetableoil,and2cupswarmwater.b. Theresultingmixtureshouldbefirmbutsmooth.c. Standawaterorsodabottleinaroastingpanandmoldthedougharounditintoavolcanoshape.

EarthyVolcanoDough

a. Mix2½cupsflour,2½cupsdirt,1cupsand,and1½cupssalt.b. Addwaterbythecupuntilthemixturestickstogether.c. Buildthevolcanoaroundanemptywaterbottleonadisposableturkey‐styleroastingpan.d. Itwilldryintwodaysifyouhavethetime,butwhywait?Youcaneruptwhenwetifthemixtureis

stiffenough!(Andifit'snot,addmoreflouruntilitis).ChemicalReactions:SodaVolcanoes

a. Fillthebottlemostofthewaywithwarmwaterandabitofredfoodcoloring.b. Addasplashofliquidsoapand¼cupbakingsoda.Stirgently.c. Whenready,addvinegarinasteadystreamandwatchthatlavaflow.

AirPressureSulfurVolcanoes

a. Wrapthevolcanodougharoundan18”pieceofclear,flexibletubing.b. Shapethedoughintoavolcanoandplaceinadisposableroastingpan.c. Pushandpullthetubefromthebottomuntiltheotherendofthetubeisjustbelowthevolcanotip.

Ifyouclogtheendsofthetubingwithclay,justtrimawaytheclogwithscissors.d. Usingyourfingers,shapetheinsidetopofthevolcanotoresembleasmallpapercup.e. Yoursolutionneedsachambertomixandgrowinbeforeoverflowingdownthemountain.The

tubegoesatthebottomoftheclay‐cupspace.f. BesurethevolcanoisSEALEDtothecookiesheetatthebottom.Youwon’twantthesolution

runningoutofthebottomofthevolcanoinsteadofpoppingoutthetop!


MakeyourchemicalreactantsforAirPressureSulfurVolcanoes:g. Solution1:Fillonebuckethalfwaywithwarmwaterandadd1to2cupsbakingsoda.Add1cupof

liquiddishsoapandstirverygentlysoyoudon’tmaketoomanybubbles.h. Solution2:Fillasecondbuckethalfwaywithwaterandadd1cupofaluminumsulfate(alsocalled

alum;findthisinthegardeningsectionofthehardwarestoreorcheckthespicesectionofthegrocerystore).Addredfoodcoloringandstir.

i. Puttingitalltogether:CountONE(andpourinSolution1)…TWO(inhaleaironly!)……andTHREE(pourinSolution2asyouputyourlipstothetubefromthebottomofthevolcanoandpuffashardasyoucan!)Lavashouldnotonlyflowbutburpandspitallovertheplace!

Exercises

1. HowisthisactivitysimilartothevolcanoesonMars?(Thebubblesthatgettrappedinsidemakepockets,andthedishsoaphelpsthemstayasbubbleslongenoughforyoutocatchtheminaction).

2. Whatgasisproducedwiththisreaction?(Carbondioxide)3. Whichplanetshavevolcanoes,activeorextinct?(Mercury,Mars,Venus,Earth,Io(moonofJupiter),Triton

(moonofNeptune),Enceladus(moonofSaturn),andourveryownMoon.)



Lesson#8:VolcanoesStudentWorksheet

Name______________________________________________________________________

Overview:Marshassomeofthebiggestcanyonsandthehighestvolcanoesinthesolarsystem.VallesMarinerismeasures2,800feetwideand4milesdeep.That’s40timesthesizeoftheGrandCanyon.AndOlympusMonsis15½mileshigh,nearlythreetimesthesizeofMountEverest.Sohowdoesthishappen?That’swhatthislabwillhelpyoufigureout.

WhattoLearn:ThereactionyouaremakingtodayissimilartotheactionMarssawwithitsshieldvolcanoes.Thegasproducediscarbondioxide.Thebubblesthatgettrappedinsidemakepockets,andthedishsoaphelpsthemstayasbubbleslongenoughforyoutocatchtheminaction.

LabTime

1. Thefirstthingyouwilldoismixupvolcanodough.Therearetwodifferentrecipesprovidedwiththislab:StandardVolcanoDoughisjustlikeplaydough,andEarthyVolcanoDoughlooksmoreliketherealthing.Yourteacherwillletyouknowwhichoneyouaretomake.Thenproceedtothechemicalreactionthatyourteacherhasselectedforyou.MakingtheVolcanoStandardVolcanoDough

a. Mixtogether6cupsflour,2cupssalt,½cupvegetableoil,and2cupswarmwater.b. Theresultingmixtureshouldbefirmbutsmooth.c. Standawaterorsodabottleinaroastingpanandmoldthedougharounditintoavolcanoshape.

EarthyVolcanoDough

a. Mix2½cupsflour,2½cupsdirt,1cupsand,and1½cupssalt.b. Addwaterbythecupuntilthemixturestickstogether.c. Buildthevolcanoaroundanemptywaterbottleonadisposableturkey‐styleroastingpan.d. Itwilldryintwodaysifyouhavethetime,butwhywait?Youcaneruptwhenwetifthemixtureis

stiffenough!(Andifit'snot,addmoreflouruntilitis.)ChemicalReactions:SodaVolcanoes

a. Fillthebottlemostofthewaywithwarmwaterandabitofredfoodcoloring.b. Addasplashofliquidsoapand¼cupbakingsoda.Stirgently.c. Whenready,addvinegarinasteadystreamandwatchthatlavaflow.

AirPressureSulfurVolcanoes

a. Wrapthevolcanodougharoundan18”pieceofclear,flexibletubing.b. Shapethedoughintoavolcanoandplaceinadisposableroastingpan.


c. Pushandpullthetubefromthebottomuntiltheotherendofthetubeisjustbelowthevolcanotip.Ifyouclogtheendsofthetubingwithclay,justtrimawaytheclogwithscissors.

d. Usingyourfingers,shapetheinsidetopofthevolcanotoresembleasmallpapercup.e. Yoursolutionneedsachambertomixandgrowinbeforeoverflowingdownthemountain.The

tubegoesatthebottomoftheclay‐cupspace.f. BesurethevolcanoisSEALEDtothecookiesheetatthebottom.Youwon’twantthesolution

runningoutofthebottomofthevolcanoinsteadofpoppingoutthetop!

MakeyourchemicalreactantsforAirPressureSulfurVolcanoes:g. Solution1:Fillonebuckethalfwaywithwarmwaterandadd1to2cupsbakingsoda.Add1cupof

liquiddishsoapandstirverygentlysoyoudon’tmaketoomanybubbles.h. Solution2:Fillasecondbuckethalfwaywithwaterandadd1cupofaluminumsulfate(alsocalled

alum.)Addredfoodcoloringandstir.i. Puttingitalltogether:CountONE(andpourinSolution1)…TWO(inhaleaironly!)……andTHREE

(pourinSolution2asyouputyourlipstothetubefromthebottomofthevolcanoandpuffashardasyoucan!)Lavashouldnotonlyflowbutburpandspitallovertheplace!

SodaVolcanoesDataTable

HowMuchBakingSoda? HowMuchVinegar? HowLongDidItReact?(measureinseconds)


AirPressureSulfurVolcanoesDataTable

Note:Don’tblowthroughthetubewhentakingyourdata.

HowMuchSolution1? HowMuchSolution2? HowLongDidItReact?(measureinseconds)


1. HowisthisactivitysimilartothevolcanoesonMars?

2. Whatgasisproducedwiththisreaction?

3. Whichplanetshavevolcanoes?


Lesson#9:StarGazingTeacherSection

Overview:We’regoingtolearnhowtogostargazingusingplanetariumsoftware,andhowtocustomizetoyourlocationintheworldsoyouknowwhatyou’relookingatwhenyoulookupintotheskytonight!


Objectives:Studentswillinvestigatehowobjectsintheskymoveinregularandpredictablepatterns,andhowthepatternsofstarsstaythesame,althoughtheyappeartomoveacrosstheskynightly,andhowdifferentstarscanbeseenindifferentseasons.


Planetariumsoftware(Stellariumisfreeatthislink:http://www.stellarium.org/) ORuseastarwheel(http://www.skyandtelescope.com/letsgo/familyfun/Make_a_Star_Wheel.html)

LabPreparation

1. Printoutcopiesofthestudentworksheets.2. ReadovertheBackgroundLessonReadingbeforeteachingthisclass.3. Watchthevideoforthisexperimenttoprepareforteachingthisclass.4. Thislabcanbetaughtinanumberofways,includingdoingthecomputersimulationasademonstrationin

frontoftheentireclass,andassigningcomputerworkforhomeworktonight,havingstudentsworkatcomputerstationswhileyoucheckovertheirwork,oranythinginbetween.


Telescopesandbinocularsareprettyuselessunlessyouknowwheretopointthem.Iamgoingtoshowyousomestandardconstellationsandhowtofindtheminthenightsky,soyou’llneverbelostagainintheoceanofstarsoverhead.You’llneedtodownloadandinstallStellariumPlanetariumSoftwarebeforewatchingtheinstructionalvideotogetthemostoutofthislesson.


LabTime

You’reabouttolocateseveraldifferentcelestialobjectsbyfirstfindingtheminyourplanetariumsoftware(orafterassemblingyourstarwheel.

1. Ifyouhaven’talready,customizeyourplanetariumsoftwaretoyourlocationbyenteringinyourlocationandelevation.

2. Nowadjustthetimesothatit’ssettothetimeyou’dliketostargazetonight.Whattimewillyoustargazetonight?Writeithere…Time:_________________________

3. ForfolksintheNorthernHemisphere,findtheBigDipper(orthePlough).ForSouthernHemispherefolks,findtheSouthernCross(ortheCrux,butitreallylookslikeabigkite).Theseareoneofthemostrecognizablepatterns,andeasyforbeginnerstofind.

4. ForNortherners,usetheBigDippertolocatePolaris,theNorthStar.ThetwostarsattheedgeofthedipperpointstraighttotheNorthStar.

5. ForSoutherners,usetheSouthernCrosstofindthesouthpoleofthesky(sometimescalledthe“southpolepit”sincethere’snostarthereattheexactpolepointofthesouthernsky).ThelongerbarinthecrosspointsalmostexactlytowardtheSouthPole.

6. UsingtheSearchoption,findtheplanetsthatwillbevisibletonightbytypingintheirnameintothesearchwindow.Whichoneswillbevisibleforyoutonight?PlanetName: Whereisitinthesky?(Whereshouldyoulook?)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. InStellarium,clickthe“Search”icon,thenthe“Lists”tab,andselect“Constellations”.Selecttwodifferent

constellationsyou’dliketofindtonightthatarevisibletoyou,andrecordinformationaboutthemhere:ConstellationName: PointerStars/LocationIndicators(Howwillyoufindit?):

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Whenyou’reready,flipovertotheobservingdatatable,grabaflashlight,pencil,andthengooutsidetologyourobservations,justlikearealscientist!

ObservingTip:Trytoobservewhenthemoonislessthanfirstquarterphaseormorethanthreequarters(meaningthatthemoonislessthan50%illuminated).Youdon’tneedanyfancyviewingequipment,onlyyourlogsheet,andifyoucandoit,bringyourplanetariumsoftwareprogramwithyououtsidetohelpyoulocatetheobjects.Startsmall,andfindacoupleofthingsonthefirstnight.Ifyoudon’tfigureitoutthefirsttime,tryagainthenextnight.IlearnedthenorthernskybylearningonenewconstellationeverytimeIwentstargazing,andprettysoonIhadalotofthemthatIcouldidentifyeasily.


Note:Thisisn’tsomethingthat’sgoingtoworkbyosmosis.Youwillhavetogooutside,figureoutwheretolook,andfindtheobject.Figureoutwhatyou’relookingfor,andaboutwhereyoucanexpecttofindit,andpracticeandtestyourselfoverandoveruntilyoucansuccessfullyfinditeverytime.Ifyou’regettingfrustrated,it’stimetostopandhaveasipofhotcocoabeforeyoutryagain.Thisissupposedtobeafuntreasurehunt,somakeitenjoyable!

HowtoFindtheNorthStar(Polaris) HowtoFindtheSouthPole


Lesson#9:StarGazingStudentWorksheet

Overview:We’regoingtolearnhowtogostargazingusingplanetariumsoftware,andhowtocustomizetoyourlocationintheworldsoyouknowwhatyou’relookingatwhenyoulookupintotheskytonight!

WhattoLearn:Telescopesandbinocularsareprettyuselessunlessyouknowwheretopointthem.Iamgoingtoshowyousomestandardconstellationsandhowtofindtheminthenightsky,soyou’llneverbelostagainintheoceanofstarsoverhead.

Materials:

Planetariumsoftware(Stellariumisfreeatthislink:http://www.stellarium.org/) ORuseastarwheel(http://www.skyandtelescope.com/letsgo/familyfun/Make_a_Star_Wheel.html)

LabTime:

You’reabouttolocateseveraldifferentcelestialobjectsbyfirstfindingtheminyourplanetariumsoftware(orafterassemblingyourstarwheel.

9. Ifyouhaven’talready,customizeyourplanetariumsoftwaretoyourlocationbyenteringinyourlocationandelevation.

10. Nowadjustthetimesothatit’ssettothetimeyou’dliketostargazetonight.Whattimewillyoustargazetonight?Writeithere…Time:_________________________

11. ForfolksintheNorthernHemisphere,findtheBigDipper(orthePlough).ForSouthernHemispherefolks,findtheSouthernCross(ortheCrux,butitreallylookslikeabigkite).Theseareoneofthemostrecognizablepatterns,andeasyforbeginnerstofind.

12. ForNortherners,usetheBigDippertolocatePolaris,theNorthStar.ThetwostarsattheedgeofthedipperpointstraighttotheNorthStar.

13. ForSoutherners,usetheSouthernCrosstofindthesouthpoleofthesky(sometimescalledthe“southpolepit”sincethere’snostarthereattheexactpolepointofthesouthernsky).ThelongerbarinthecrosspointsalmostexactlytowardtheSouthPole.

14. UsingtheSearchoption,findtheplanetsthatwillbevisibletonightbytypingintheirnameintothesearchwindow.Whichoneswillbevisibleforyoutonight?PlanetName: Whereisitinthesky?(Whereshouldyoulook?)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________


15. InStellarium,clickthe“Search”icon,thenthe“Lists”tab,andselect“Constellations”.Selecttwodifferent

constellationsyou’dliketofindtonightthatarevisibletoyou,andrecordinformationaboutthemhere:ConstellationName: PointerStars/LocationIndicators(Howwillyoufindit?):

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

16. Whenyou’reready,flipovertotheobservingdatatable,grabaflashlight,pencil,andthengooutsidetologyourobservations,justlikearealscientist!

ObservingTip:Trytoobservewhenthemoonislessthanfirstquarterphaseormorethanthreequarters(meaningthatthemoonislessthan50%illuminated).Youdon’tneedanyfancyviewingequipment,onlyyourlogsheet,andifyoucandoit,bringyourplanetariumsoftwareprogramwithyououtsidetohelpyoulocatetheobjects.Startsmall,andfindacoupleofthingsonthefirstnight.Ifyoudon’tfigureitoutthefirsttime,tryagainthenextnight.IlearnedthenorthernskybylearningonenewconstellationeverytimeIwentstargazing,andprettysoonIhadalotofthemthatIcouldidentifyeasily.

Note:Thisisn’tsomethingthat’sgoingtoworkbyosmosis.Youwillhavetogooutside,figureoutwheretolook,andfindtheobject.Figureoutwhatyou’relookingfor,andaboutwhereyoucanexpecttofindit,andpracticeandtestyourselfoverandoveruntilyoucansuccessfullyfinditeverytime.Ifyou’regettingfrustrated,it’stimetostopandhaveasipofhotcocoabeforeyoutryagain.Thisissupposedtobeafuntreasurehunt,somakeitenjoyable!

HowtoFindtheNorthStar(Polaris) HowtoFindtheSouthPole


AstronomyStarGazingObservationalLog

ObservingDate:_________________________Lat/Long:___________________________SiteElev:________________________

ObservingLocation/Site:____________________________________________________________MoonPhase:_________________

Weatherconditions:_________________________________________DimmestStarVisibleOverhead:___________________

Notes:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Time:(UTCorLocalTime)

SketchofObjectObserved:

ObjectNameorClassification:

Notes:


Lesson#10:SongoftheSunTeacherSection

Overview:HelioseismologyisthestudyofwaveoscillationsintheSun.HeliosmeansSun,seismosmeanstremor,andlogosmeansreasoning.Thewavesareaffectedbytemperature,compositionoftheSun,andmovementdeepinside.Bystudyingthewaves,scientistscantellwhat’sgoingoninsidetheSun.It’dbelikestudyingearthquakestolearnwhat’sgoingoninsidetheearth.TheSunisfilledwithsound,andstudyingthesesoundwavesiscurrentlytheonlywayscientistscantellwhat’sgoingoninside,sincethelightweseefromtheSunisfromtheuppersurface.


Objectives:Studentswilldiscoverhowtotellcertaincharacteristicsaboutanobjectusingsound,eventhoughit’snotvisible.Thisisamodelforhowscientistsdeterminewhat’sgoingoninsidetheSun.


Musicalinstruments:triangles,glassbottlesthatcanbeblownacross,metalforks,tuningforks,recorders,jawharps,harmonicas,etc.Whateveryouhavewillworkfine.

LabPreparation

1. Findyourselfaslinky.IboughtIgiantonethat’s12”indiameterandstretchesover30feetlong,butyoucanuseonefromyourtoystoretodemonstratethislab.

2. Gatheryourmaterialsforthelab.Youcanaskthekidstobringtheirownmusicalinstrumentstohelpoutwiththematerialsforthisclass.



Moleculesarevibratingbackandforthatfairlyhighratesofspeed,creatingwaves.Energymovesfromplacetoplacebywaves.Soundenergymovesbylongitudinalwaves(thewavesthatarelikeaslinky).Themoleculesvibratebackandforth,crashingintothemoleculesnexttothem,causingthemtovibrate,andsoonandsoforth.Allsoundscomefromvibrations.

Wavesarethewayenergymovesfromplacetoplace.Soundmovesfromamouthtoanearbywaves.Lightmovesfromalightbulbtoabookpagetoyoureyesbywaves.Wavesareeverywhere.Asyousittherereadingthis,youaresurroundedbyradiowaves,televisionwaves,cellphonewaves,lightwaves,soundwavesandmore.(Ifyouhappentobereadingthisinaboatorabathtub,you’resurroundedbywaterwavesaswell.)Therearewaveseverywhere!

Doyourememberwhereallwavescomefrom?Vibratingparticles.Wavescomefromvibratingparticlesandaremadeupofvibratingparticles.


Here’sruleonewhenitcomestowaves…thewavesmove,theparticlesdon’t.Thewavemovesfromplacetoplace.Thewavecarriestheenergyfromplacetoplace.Theparticleshowever,stayput.Hereareacoupleofexamplestokeepinmind.

Ifyou’veeverseenacrowdofpeopledothe“wave”inthestandsofasportingeventyoumayhavenoticedthatthepeopleonly“vibrated”upanddown.Theydidnotmovealongthewave.Thewave,however,movedthroughthestands.

Anotherexamplewouldbeaduckfloatingonawavylake.Theduckismovingupanddown(vibrating)justlikethewaterparticlesbutheisnotmovingwiththewaves.Thewavesmove,buttheparticlesdon’t.WhenItalktoyou,thevibratingairmoleculesthatmadethesoundinmymouthdonottravelacrosstheroomintoyourears.(WhichisespeciallyhandyifI’vejusteatenanonionsandwich!)Theenergyfrommymouthismoved,bywaves,acrosstheroom.

Lesson

1. TheSunislikethebiggestmusicalinstrumentyou’veeverseen.Apianohas88keys,whichmeansyoucanplay88differentmusicalnotes.TheSunhas10million.

2. Toplayaguitar,youpluckoneofthesixstrings.Toplaythepiano,youhitakeyandsoundcomesout.Toplaytheflute,youblowacrossahole.Drumsrequiresmackingthingstogether.SohowdoyouplaytheSun?

3. Convectionstartsthewavesmoving.You’veseenconvectionwhenahotpotofwaterbubblesup.Youcanevenhearitwhenitstartstoboilifyoulistencarefully.JustbelowthesurfaceoftheSun,theenergythatstarteddeepinthecorehasbubbleduptothesurfacetomakegiganticbubblesemergethatarebiggerthanthestateofAlaska.It’salsoanoisyprocess,andthesoundwavesstaytrappedbeneaththesurface,makingwavesappearonthesurfaceoftheSun.ThismakestheSun’ssurfacelooklikeit’smovingupanddown.

4. ScientistsusespecialcamerastowatchthesurfaceoftheSunwiggleandmove,andtheylookforpatternssotheycandeterminewhat’sgoingondowninsidetheSun.SincethesoundisinsidetheSununderthepartwecansee,weusesoundtodiscoverwhat’sinsidetheSun.

5. HaveyoueverheardtheSun?ThevideohereisanactualrecordingofthesongoftheSun.6. Askthestudentsiftheyhaveeverheardechoes,andwhenandwheretheyhave.Ifyou’veeverbeeninside

anunfurnishedroom,you’veheardechoesindoors.Soundbouncesallaroundtheroom,justlikeitdoesinsidethesurfaceoftheSun.

7. Cansoundwavestravelthroughspace?No.Soundrequiresamediumtotravelthrough,sinceittravelsbyvibratingmolecules,andtherearen’tenoughmoleculesinspacetodothiswith(thereareacouplerandomonesfloatingaroundhereandthere,butwaytoofaraparttobeusefulforsoundwaves).

8. Takeoutyourslinkyandstretchitouttoitsfulllengthonthetableortheground,askingastudenttohelpyouholdoneend.Nowmovetheslinkyquicklytotheleftandbackagain,andwatchthewavetraveldownthelengthandreturn.Nowmoveyourendquicklyupandthenbackdownthetable,makingalongitudinalwave.Whenthiswavefinishes,takeyourendandshoveitquicklytowardyourhelper,thenpullbackagaintomakeacompressionwave.Pointouttothestudenthowwhenthewavereturns,it’sanecho.That’swhathappensinsidetheSunwhenthesoundwaveshitthesurfaceoftheSun.Theydon’tgothroughthesurface,butgettrappedbeneathitastheyechoofftheinsidesurfaceoftheSun.


LabTime

Youcandothispartasanentireclass,whereyougettoplaytheinstrumentandthestudentsfilloutthedatasheet,oryoucanhandoutdifferentcombinationsofinstrumentsandhavethekidsplaythemanddotheirownobservationsontheirown.


observations.3. Pulloutyourbinofasmanymusicalinstrumentsasyouhave,includingtriangles(Iusethreedifferent

sizesforthislab),tuningforks,bottlesthatcanbeblownacross,shoeboxguitars,harmonicas,recorders,andsoforth.

4. Assignonestudenttobethenoisemaker.Therestwilllistenwiththeireyesclosedandrecordtheirobservations.

5. Everyoneshutstheireyesexceptforthenoisemaker.6. Thenoisemakerselectsaninstrumentandplaysitonce.Everyoneelselistens.7. Thenoisemakerselectsanotherinstrumentandplaysitonce.Everyonelistens.8. Thenoisemakerselectsathirdinstrumentandplaysitonce.Everyonelistens.9. Thenoisemakerselectsoneofthethreeinstrumentsandplaysitasitmoves.Forexample,ifyou’replaying

thetriangle,youcanhititandspinit.Orhititasyouarewalkingpasttheclosed‐eyelisteners.Soundchangeswhentheobjectismoving,somakethesoundtheyhearappeartobedifferentsomehow.

10. Thenoisemakerputstheinstrumentsbackandeveryoneopenstheireyesandrecordstheirdatainthetablebelow.Youcancovertheinstrumentswithajacketifyou’reworriedstudentswilllookatwhichoneshavemoved.

11. Switchrolesandfindanewnoisemakerforthenexttrial.Repeatsteps1‐10.

Exercises

1. Whatdidyounoticethatisdifferentaboutthesoundsyouheard?2. Howcanyoutellthattwosoundsaredifferentthatcamefromthesameinstrument?(Movementcauses

soundwavestosounddifferent.)3. Whatdidyounoticeaboutyourguesses?Whatkindofinstrumentswereyoumorecorrectabout?



Lesson#10:SongoftheSunStudentWorksheet

Name______________________________________________________________________

Overview:HelioseismologyisthestudyofwaveoscillationsintheSun.Bystudyingthewaves,scientistscantellwhat’sgoingoninsidetheSun.It’sbelikestudyingearthquakestolearnwhat’sgoingoninsidetheearth.TheSunisfilledwithsound,andstudyingthesesoundwavesiscurrentlytheonlywayscientistscantellwhat’sgoingoninside,sincethelightweseefromtheSunisjustfromtheuppersurface.

WhattoLearn:Moleculesarevibratingbackandforthatfairlyhighratesofspeed,creatingwaves.Energymovesfromplacetoplacebywaves.Soundenergymovesbylongitudinalwaves(thewavesthatarelikeaslinky).Themoleculesvibratebackandforth,crashingintothemoleculesnexttothem,causingthemtovibrate,andsoonandsoforth.Allsoundscomefromvibrations.

Materials

Musicalinstruments:triangles,glassbottlesthatcanbeblownacross,metalforks,tuningforks,recorders,jawharps,harmonicas,etc.Whateveryouhavewillworkfine.

LabTime

1. Yourteacherwillpulloutabinofmusicalinstrumentsofvarioustypes.2. Assignonestudenttobethenoisemaker.Therestwilllistenwiththeireyesclosedandrecordtheir

observations.3. Everyoneshutstheireyesexceptforthenoisemaker.4. Thenoisemakerselectsaninstrumentandplaysitonce.Everyoneelselistens.5. Thenoisemakerselectsanotherinstrumentandplaysitonce.Everyonelistens.6. Thenoisemakerselectsathirdinstrumentandplaysitonce.Everyonelistens.7. Thenoisemakerselectsoneofthethreeinstrumentsandplaysitasitmoves.Forexample,ifyou’replaying

thetriangle,youcanhititandspinit.Orhititasyouarewalkingpasttheclosed‐eyelisteners.Soundchangeswhentheobjectismoving,somakethesoundtheyhearappeartobedifferentsomehow.

8. Thenoisemakerputstheinstrumentsbackandeveryoneopenstheireyesandrecordstheirdatainthetablebelow.

9. Switchrolesandfindanewnoisemakerforthenexttrial.Repeatsteps2‐8.


SongoftheSunDataTable

Makesureyoureyesareclosedwhentheinstrumentsareplayed!Fortheinstrumentcolumnstwothroughfour,writedowna1,2,or3fortheinstrumentyouthinkanswersthequestionbest.

NOTE:Youdon’thavetoknowwhattheinstrumentwas,justwhereitwasplayedinsequence.

Thenoisemakerwillletyouknowaftereveryonehasplacedtheirguessesontheirdatatableforthetrial.

Trial#Whichmadethehighestnote?

Whichmadethelowestnote?

Whichonemoved?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

ExercisesAnswerthequestionsbelow:1. Whatdidyounoticethatisdifferentaboutthesoundsyouheard?

2. Howcanyoutellthattwosoundsaredifferentthatcamefromthesameinstrument?(Movementcausessoundwavestosounddifferent.)

3. Whatdidyounoticeaboutyourguesses?Whatkindofinstrumentswereyoumorecorrectabout?


Lesson#11:SimpleMicroscope&TelescopeTeacherSection

Overview:Didyouknowyoucancreateacompoundmicroscopeandarefractortelescopeusingthesamematerials?It'sallinhowyouusethemtobendthelight.Thesetwoexperimentscoverthefundamentalbasicsofhowtwodouble‐convexlensescanbeusedtomakeobjectsappearlargerwhenrightupcloseorfartheraway.


Objectives:Thingslikelensesandmirrorscanbendandbouncelighttomakeinterestingthings,likecompoundmicroscopesandreflectortelescopes.Telescopesmagnifytheappearanceofsomedistantobjectsinthesky,includingthemoonandtheplanets.Thenumberofstarsthatcanbeseenthroughtelescopesisdramaticallygreaterthancanbeseenbytheunaidedeye.


Awindow Dollarbill Penny Twohand‐heldmagnifyinglenses Ruler

LabPreparation

1. Printoutcopiesofthestudentworksheets.2. ReadovertheBackgroundLessonReadingbeforeteachingthisclass.3. Watchthevideoforthisexperimenttoprepareforteachingthisclass.4. Getapencilandaglassofwaterreadyforyourdemonstration.


WhatIlikebestaboutthisactivityishoweasilywecanbreakdownthebasicideasofsomethingthatseemsmuchmorecomplexandintimidating,likeatelescopeormicroscope,inawaythatkidsreallyunderstand.

Imaginetossingarockintoastillpondandwatchingthecirclesofripplesformandspreadoutintorings.Nowlookattheripplesinthewater‐‐noticehowtheyspreadout.Whatmakestheripplesmoveoutwardisenergy.

Theripplesarelikelight.Noticethewavesarenotreallymovingthewaterfromonesideofthepondtotheother,butrathermovingenergyacrossthesurfaceofthewater.

Toputitanotherway,energytravelsacrossthepondinawave.Lightworksthesameway–lighttravelsasenergywaves.Onlylightdoesn'tneedwatertotravelthroughthewaythewaterwavesdo‐‐itcantravelthroughavacuum(likeouterspace).

Lightcanchangespeedthesamewaysoundvibrationschangespeed.(Thinkofhowyourvoicechangeswhenyouinhaleheliumandthentrytotalk.)


Thefastestlightcangois186,000milespersecond–that'sfastenoughtocircletheEarthseventimeseverysecond,butthat'salsoinsideavacuum.Youcangetlightgoingslowerbyaimingitthroughdifferentgases.Inourownatmosphere,lighttravelsslowerthanitdoesinouterspace.

Lesson

1. Whenabeamoflighthitsadifferentsubstance(likeawindowpaneoralens),thespeedatwhichthelighttravelschanges.(Soundwavesdothis,too!)Insomecases,thischangeturnsintoachangeinthedirectionofthebeam.

2. Forexample,ifyoustickapencilisaglassofwaterandlookthroughthesideoftheglass,you'llnoticethatthepencilappearsshifted.Thespeedoflightisslowerinthewater(140,000milespersecond)thanintheair(186,000milespersecond).Thisiscalledopticaldensity,andtheresultisbentlightbeamsandbrokenpencils.

3. You'llnoticethatthepencildoesn'talwaysappearbroken.Dependingonwhereyoureyeballsare,youcanseeanintactorbrokenpencil.Whenlightentersanewsubstance(likegoingfromairtowater)perpendiculartothesurface(lookingstraighton),refractionsdonotoccur.

4. However,ifyoulookattheglassatanangle,thendependingonyoursightangle,you'llseeadifferentamountofshiftinthepencil.Wheredoyouneedtolooktoseethegreatestshiftinthetwohalvesofthepencil?

5. Whydoesthepencilappearbent?Isitalwaysbent?Doesthetemperatureofthewateraffecthowbentthepencillooks?Whatifyouputtwopencilsinthere?

6. Dependingonifthelightisgoingfromalightertoanopticallydensermaterial(orviceversa),itwillbenddifferentamounts.Glassisopticallydenserthanwater,whichisdenserthanair.

7. Notonlycanyouchangetheshapeofobjectsbybendinglight(brokenpencilorwhole?),butyoucanalsochangethesize.Magnifyinglenses,telescopes,andmicroscopesusethisideatomakeobjectsappeardifferentsizes.

LabTime


observations.3. Placeapennyonthetable.4. Holdonemagnifierabovethepennyandlookthroughit.5. Bringthesecondmagnifyinglensabovethefirstsonowyou’relookingthroughboth.Movethesecondlens

closerand/orfurtherfromthepennyuntilthepennycomesintosharpfocus.You’vejustmadeacompoundmicroscope.

6. Who’sinsidethebuildingonanolderpenny?7. Tryfindingthespider/owlonthedollarbill.(Hint:It’sinacornernexttothe“1”.)8. Keepingthedistancebetweenthemagnifiersaboutthesame,slowlyliftupthemagnifiersuntilyou’renow

lookingthroughbothtoawindow.9. Adjustthedistanceuntilyourimagecomesintosharp(andupside‐down)focus.You’vejustmadea

refractortelescope,justlikeGalileoused400yearsago.10. Findeightdifferentitemstolookatthroughyourmagnifiers.Makefourofthemup‐closesoyouusethe

magnifiersasamicroscope,andfourofthemfar‐awayobjectssoyouusethemagnifierslikeatelescope.Completethetablebelow.


Exercises

1. Canlightchangespeeds?(Yes,whenittravelsthroughdifferentmediums.)2. CanyouseeALLlightwithyoureyes?(No,onlyvisiblelight,likearainbow.)3. Givethreeexamplesofalightsource.(Answerwillvary,butherearemine:Sun,acandle,andaglowstick.)4. What'sthedifferencebetweenamicroscopeandatelescope?(Amicroscopemagnifiesanimagebeforethe

focalpoint;atelescopemagnifiesanimageafterthefocalpoint.Bothareusedtomakeimagesappearcloserandlarger.Amicroscopeisusedwhenobjectsarenear;atelescopeisusedforfarawayobjects.)

5. Whyisthetelescopeimageupside‐down?(Becauseyou’vefocusedtheimagebeyondthefocalpoint.)



Lesson#11:SimpleMicroscope&TelescopeStudentWorksheet

Name______________________________________________________________________

Overview:Didyouknowyoucancreateacompoundmicroscopeandarefractortelescopeusingthesamematerials?It'sallinhowyouusethemtobendthelight.Thesetwoexperimentscoverthefundamentalbasicsofhowtwodouble‐convexlensescanbeusedtomakeobjectsappearlargerwhenrightupcloseorfartheraway.

WhattoLearn:Thingslikelensesandmirrorscanbendandbouncelighttomakeinterestingthings,likecompoundmicroscopesandreflectortelescopes.Telescopesmagnifytheappearanceofsomedistantobjectsinthesky,includingthemoonandtheplanets.Thenumberofstarsthatcanbeseenthroughtelescopesisdramaticallygreaterthancanbeseenbytheunaidedeye.

Materials

Awindow Dollarbill Penny Twohand‐heldmagnifyinglenses Ruler

LabTime

1. Placeapennyonthetable.2. Holdonemagnifierabovethepennyandlookthroughit.3. Bringthesecondmagnifyinglensabovethefirstsonowyou’relookingthroughboth.Movethesecondlens

closerand/orfurtherfromthepennyuntilthepennycomesintosharpfocus.You’vejustmadeacompoundmicroscope.

4. Who’sinsidethebuildingonanolderpenny?5. Tryfindingthespider/owlonthedollarbill.(Hint:It’sinacornernexttothe“1”.)6. Keepingthedistancebetweenthemagnifiersaboutthesame,slowlyliftupthemagnifiersuntilyou’renow

lookingthroughbothtoawindow.7. Adjustthedistanceuntilyourimagecomesintosharp(andupside‐down)focus.You’vejustmadea

refractortelescope,justlikeGalileoused400yearsago.8. Findeightdifferentitemstolookatthroughyourmagnifiers.Makefourofthemup‐closesoyouusethe

magnifiersasamicroscope,andfourofthemfar‐awayobjectssoyouusethemagnifierslikeatelescope.Completethetablebelow.


SimpleMicroscope&TelescopeDataTable

Forthelasttwocolumns,measurewithyourrulercarefully.Don’tforgettolabelyourunits!

MagnificationUsed:______________________________________________(multiplythemagnificationofbothlensestogether)

ObjectLookedAt

DidyouusetheMagnifiersasaMicroscopeor

Telescope?

HowFarApartaretheLenses?

HowFarisyourEyefromtheEyepiece?

ExercisesAnswerthequestionsbelow:1. Canlightchangespeeds?

2. CanyouseeALLlightwithyoureyes?


3. Givethreeexamplesofalightsource.

4. What'sthedifferencebetweenamicroscopeandatelescope?

5. Whyisthetelescopeimageupside‐down?


Lesson#12:StarChartingTeacherSection

Overview: IfyouwanttogetfromNewYorktoLosAngelesbycar,you’dpulloutamap.Ifyouwanttofindthenearestgasstation,you’dpulloutasmallermap.Whatifyouwantedtofindournearestneighboroutsideoursolarsystem?Astarchartisamapofthenightsky,dividedintosmallerparts(grids)soyoudon’tgettoooverwhelmed.Astronomersusethesestarchartstolocatestars,planets,moons,comets,asteroids,clusters,groups,binarystars,blackholes,pulsars,galaxies,planetarynebulae,supernovae,quasars,andmore.


Objectives:ThesolarsystemconsistsofplanetsandotherbodiesthatorbittheSuninpredictablepaths.Thepatternsofstarsstaythesame,althoughtheyappeartomoveacrosstheskynightly,anddifferentstarscanbeseenindifferentseasons.ThepositionoftheSunintheskychangesduringthecourseofthedayandfromseasontoseason.


Dark,cloud‐freenight Twofriends String Rocks Pencil

LabPreparation

1. Printoutcopiesofthestudentworksheets.2. ReadovertheBackgroundLessonReadingbeforeteachingthisclass.3. Watchthevideoforthisexperimenttoprepareforteachingthisclass.4. You’llbeplayingavideoforthestudentsduringclasstime,sohaveaccesstoavideoscreentoplayitfrom

soeveryonecansee.5. Ifyouwanttodothislabinsideyourclassroomduringtheday,thenmakeyourclassroomcompletelydark

andstickaconstellation’sworthofglow‐in‐the‐darkstarsontheceilingtopretendit’sthenightsky.Thatway,thekidsknowhowtochartthestarsthatnightontheirown.Youcanchargetheglow‐in‐the‐darkstarsquicklywithacameraflash.


Peoplehavebeenchartingstarssincelongbeforepaperwasinvented.Infact,we’vefoundstarchartsonrocks,insidebuildings,andevenonivorytusks.Celestialcartographyisthescienceofmappingthestars,galaxies,andastronomicalobjectsonacelestialsphere.

Celestialnavigation(astronavigation)madeitpossibleforsailorstocrossoceansbysightingtheSun,Moon,planets,oroneofthe57pre‐selectednavigationalstarsalongwiththevisiblehorizon.


Lesson

1. Showthevideotothestudentsthatshowshowthestarsappeartomovedifferently,dependingonwhichpartoftheEarthyou’reviewingfrom.DiscussthedifferencebetweenlivingontheequatororinAntarctica(explainedinvideo).

2. ThefirstthingtostarchartistheBigDipper,orothereasy‐to‐findconstellation(alternates:CassiopeiafornorthernhemisphereortheSouthernCrossforthesouthernhemisphere).TheBigDipperisalwaysvisibleinthenorthernhemisphereallyearlong,sothismakesforagoodtarget.

3. Useglow–in‐the‐darkstarsinsteadofrocks,andchargethemwithaquickflashfromacamera(oraflashlight).Keepyourhandasstillasyoucanwhilethesecondpersonlinestherockintoposition.Youcanalsounrollalargesheetof(butcherorcraft)paperandusemarkerstocreateamorepermanentstarchart.

LabTime


observations.3. Tapeyourstringtothepencil.4. Looselywrapthestringaroundyourfingerseveraltimessothatthetipofthepencilisaboutaninchabove

theground.5. Findaconstellation.Pointtoastarintheconstellation.6. Haveasecondpersonplacearockunderthepenciltip.7. Whenthey’veplacedtherockinposition,pointtoanotherstar.8. Haveasecondpersonplacearockunderthepenciltipagain.9. Repeatthisprocessuntilallthestarshaverocksundertheirpositions.10. Youshouldseeasmallversionoftheconstellationonyourpaper.

Exercises

1. Ifyouhaveconstellationsonyourclassceiling,chartthemonaseparatepagemarkingthepositionsoftherockswithX’s.

2. Tonight,findtwoconstellationsthatyouwillchart.BringthemwithyoutomorrowusingthetechniqueoutlinedaboveinLabTime.



Lesson#12:StarChartingStudentWorksheet

Name______________________________________________________________________

Overview:IfyouwanttogetfromNewYorktoLosAngelesbycar,you’dpulloutamap.Ifyouwanttofindthenearestgasstation,you’dpulloutasmallermap.Whatifyouwantedtofindournearestneighboroutsideoursolarsystem?Astarchartisamapofthenightsky,dividedintosmallerparts(grids)soyoudon’tgettoooverwhelmed.Astronomersusethesestarchartstolocatestars,planets,moons,comets,asteroids,clusters,groups,binarystars,blackholes,pulsars,galaxies,planetarynebulae,supernovae,quasars,andmorewildthingsintheintergalacticzoo.

WhattoLearn:Howtofindtwoconstellationsintheskytonight,andhowtogetthoseconstellationsdownonpaperwithsomedegreeofaccuracy.

Materials

Dark,cloud‐freenight Twofriends String Rocks Pencil

LabTime

1. Tapeyourstringtothepencil.2. Looselywrapthestringaroundyourfingerseveraltimessothatthetipofthepencilisaboutaninchabove

theground.3. Findaconstellation.Pointtoastarintheconstellation.4. Haveasecondpersonplacearockunderthepenciltip.5. Whenthey’veplacedtherockinposition,pointtoanotherstar.6. Haveasecondpersonplacearockunderthepenciltipagain.7. Repeatthisprocessuntilallthestarshaverocksundertheirpositions.8. Youshouldseeasmallversionoftheconstellationonyourpaper.

Exercises:Answerthequestionsbelow:1. Ifyouhaveconstellationsonyourclassceiling,chartthemonaseparatepagemarkingthepositionsofthe

rockswithX’s.2. Tonight,findtwoconstellationsthatyouwillchart.Bringthemwithyoutomorrowusingthetechnique

outlinedaboveinLabTime.


Astronomy1EvaluationTeacherSection

OverviewKidswilldemonstratehowwelltheyunderstandimportantkeyconceptsfromthissection.

SuggestedTime45‐60minutes

ObjectivesStudentswillbetestedonthekeyconceptsofastronomy:

Objectsintheskymoveinregularandpredictablepatterns.Thepatternsofstarsstaythesame,althoughtheyappeartomoveacrosstheskynightly,anddifferentstarscanbeseenindifferentseasons.

ThetiltoftheEarthanditslocationinorbitarethereasonsfortheseasons. TheEarthisoneofseveralplanetsthatorbittheSun,andtheMoonorbitstheEarth. ThesolarsystemconsistsofplanetsandotherbodiesthatorbittheSuninpredictablepaths. Oursolarsystemincludesrockyterrestrialplanets(Mercury,Venus,Earth,andMars),gasgiants(Jupiter

andSaturn),icegiants(UranusandNeptune),andassortedchunksoficeanddustthatmakeupvariouscometsandasteroids.

TelescopesmagnifytheappearanceoftheMoonandtheplanets. TelescopesmagnifytheappearanceoftheSunusingspeciallensesandmakeitpossibletolocatesunspots

andsolarflares. Starsarethesourceoflightforallbrightobjectsinouterspace.TheMoonandplanetsshinebyreflected

Sunlight,notbytheirownlight. Thenumberofstarsthatcanbeseenthroughtelescopesisdramaticallygreaterthancanbeseenbythe

unaidedeye.

Materials

Twohandheldmagnifiers Sheetofpaper BallwithatoothpickstickingoutofthetopandbottomtorepresenttheEarth’snorthandsouthpoles(or

useaglobeifyouhaveone) Strongflashlight

LabPreparation

1. Printoutcopiesofthestudentworksheets,labpractical,andquiz.2. Havematerialsinfrontofyouatadesksokidscandemonstratetheirknowledgeusingthesematerials.

Lesson:Thestudentsaretakingtwoteststoday:thequizandthelabpractical.Thequiztakesabout20minutes,andyou’llfindtheanswerkeytomakeiteasytograde.

LabPractical:Studentswilldemonstrateindividuallythattheyknowhowthemoon’sappearancechangesduringthelunarcycleandexplainthesizeofplanetsandtheirdistancefromtheSun.Whileotherkidsarewaitingfortheirturn,theywillgetstartedontheirhomeworkassignment.Yougettodecidewhethertheydotheirassignmentindividuallyorasagroup.


Astronomy1Evaluation

StudentWorksheet

Overview:Today,you’regoingtotaketwodifferenttests:thequizandthelabpractical.You’regoingtotakethewrittenquizfirst,andthelabpracticalattheendofthislab.Thelabpracticalisn’tapapertest–it’swhereyougettoshowyourteacherthatyouknowhowtodosomething.

LabTest&Homework

1. Yourteacherwillaskyoutosharehowmuchyouunderstandaboutastronomy.Sincescienceissomuchmorethanjustreadingabookorcirclingtherightanswer,thisisanimportantpartofthetesttofindoutwhatyoureallyunderstand.

2. Whileyouarewaitingtoshowhowmuchofthisstuffyoualreadyknow,yougettochoosewhichhomeworkassignmentyouwanttocomplete.Theassignmentisduetomorrow,andhalfthecreditisforcreativityandtheotherhalfisforcontent,soreallyletyourimaginationflyasyouworkthroughit.Chooseone:a. Writeashortstoryorskitaboutgravityfromtheperspectiveoftheplanetorobject(likeasunor

moon).You’llreadthisaloudtoyourclass.b. Makeaposterthatteachesoneofthemainconceptsofastronomyyouenjoyedmost.Whenyou’re

finished,you’lluseittoteachtoaclassofyoungerstudentsanddemonstratetheprinciplesthatyou’velearned.

c. Writeandperformapoemorsongaboutastronomy,telescopes,gravity,moonsoratmospheres.Thiswillbeperformedforyourclass.


Astronomy1QuizTeacher’sAnswerKey

1. Whyisn’tPlutoaplanet?Plutowasreclassifiedasadwarfplanet.BeyondNeptune,theKuiperBeltholdsthechunksoficeanddust,likecometsandasteroidsaswellaslargerobjectslikedwarfplanetsErisandPluto.

2. HowmanyEarthscanfitinsidetheSun?1.3million3. Whatarecometsmadeoutof?Cometsarereallydirtysnowballs–madefromdustandice.4. WhatistheEarth’satmospheremadeupof?21%oxygenand78%nitrogen5. HowmanyEarthsfitinsideJupiter?1,3216. HowfaristheEarthfromthesun?93millionmiles,alsoknownas1AU7. Whatisanatmosphere?Anenvelopesurroundinganobjectlikeaplanetoramoonthatisheldinplacebythe

object’sgravitationalfield8. Whatisamagneticfield?Aforcefieldaroundamagnet.9. Aresunsetsthesamecoloronallplanets?No,itdependsonwhattheiratmosphereismadeupofandalso

whatcolorlightthecentralstarisemitting.10. Whatmakesacompassneedlemovearound?Themagneticlinesofforcethatareinvisibletoyoureye.11. WhydowehaveseasonsonEarth?Doallplanetshaveseasons?Seasonsarebecausetheaxisistilted23.4o,

exposingonehemispheretomoresunlighteachdayandwarmingtheplanet.Planetswithoutanaxistiltwillnothaveseasons.

12. Namethreeplanetsthathavevolcanoes(activeorextinct)?Mercury,Mars,Venus,Earth,Io(moonofJupiter),Triton(moonofNeptune),Enceladus(moonofSaturn),andourveryownMoon.

13. Canyoudetectallkindsoflightwithyoureyes?No,onlyvisiblelight,likearainbow.14. Whyisthetelescopeimageupside‐down?Becauseyou’vefocusedtheimagebeyondthefocalpoint.


Astronomy1QuizStudentQuizSheet

Name__________________________________________________________

1. Whyisn’tPlutoaplanetanymore?

2. HowmanyEarthscanfitinsidetheSun?

3. Whatarecometsmadeoutof?

4. WhatistheEarth’satmospheremadeupof?

5. HowmanyEarthsfitinsideJupiter?

6. HowfaristheEarthfromthesun?

7. Whatisanatmosphere?

8. Whatisamagneticfield?

9. Aresunsetsthesamecoloronallplanets?

10. Whatmakesacompassneedlemovearound?

11. WhydowehaveseasonsonEarth?Doallplanetshaveseasons?

12. Namethreeplanetsthathavevolcanoes(activeorextinct)?

13. Canyoudetectallkindsoflightwithyoureyes?

14. Whyisthetelescopeimageupside‐down?


Astronomy1LabPracticalTeacher’sAnswerKey

Thisisyourchancetoseehowwellyourstudentshavepickeduponimportantkeyconcepts,andifthereareanyholes.Yourstudentsalsowillbeworkingontheirhomeworkassignmentasyoudothistestindividuallywiththestudents.

Materials:

Twohandheldmagnifiers Sheetofpaper BallwithatoothpickstickingoutofthetopandbottomtorepresenttheEarth’snorthandsouthpoles(or

useaglobeifyouhaveone) Strongflashlight

LabPractical:AskthestudentNote:Answersgiveninitalics!

Designandbuildanexperimentthatshowshowarefractortelescopeworks.Taketwomagnifiersandholdthemafixeddistanceapartandlookthroughboth.Studentmaydrawsomethingonthepaperandholditupatadistanceawayfromyouasyoupeerthroughthelensestomagnifyasademonstration,orsimplylookatanobjectinthedistance.(DonotlookattheSun!)

DemonstratewhytheEarthhasseasons.ThetiltoftheEarthanditslocationinorbitarethereasonsfortheseasons.WhentheEarth’sNorthPoleistiltedtowardthesun,thenorthernhemispheregetsmoresunlightexposure,whichmeanslongerdays,andwarmerclimates.Thestudentcanuseaflashlighttomodelthesunandstickatoothpickforthenorthpoleintotheball,pointingthetoothpicktowardthesunasitrotatesarounditsaxis(fordailyrotation).


TheScientificMethod

Throughoutthiscourse,you’llseeembeddedvideos,liketheonebelow.You’llfindthevideosineachexperimentincludestep‐by‐stepexplanationsandquickdemonstrationsyoucandowithyourstudents.Thesevideosareagreatwaytohelpyouintroducethetopicinakid‐friendlyway.

Oneoftheproblemskidshaveishowtoexperimentwiththeirgreatideaswithoutgettinglostinthejumbleofresultdata.Sooftenstudentswillnothaveanyclearideasaboutwhatchangecausedwhicheffectintheirresults!Studentsoftenhavetroublecommunicatingtheirideasinwaysthatnotonlymakesensebutarealsoacceptablebysciencefairsorothertechnicalcompetitionsdesignedtogetkidsthinkinglikearealscientist.Anotherproblemtheyfaceisstrugglingtoapplythescientificmethodtotheirscienceprojectinschool,forscoutbadges,oranyothertypeofreportwhereit’simportantthatotherfolksknowandunderstandtheirwork.

Thescientificmethodiswidelyusedbyformalscienceacademiaaswellasscientificresearchers.Formostpeople,it’sarealjumptofigureoutnotonlyhowtodoadecentproject,butalsohowtogoaboutformulatingascientificquestionandinvestigatinganswersmethodicallylikearealscientist.Presentingtheresultsinameaningfulwayvia“exhibitboard”…well,that’sjustmoreofastretchthatmostkidsjustaren’treadyfor.Thereisn’tawholelotofusefulinformationavailableonhowtodoitbythepeoplewhoreallyknowhow.That’swhyI’mgoingtoshowyouhowusefulandeasyitis.

Thescientificmethodisaseriesof5stepsthatscientistsusetodotheirwork.But,honestly,youuseiteveryday,too!ThefivestepsareObservation,Hypothesis,Test,CollectData,andReportResults.Thatsoundsprettycomplicated,butdon’tworry,theyarejustbigwords.Letmetellyouwhatthesewordsmeanandhowtoplaywiththem.

Step1:Observationmeanswhatdoyousee,orhear,orsmell,orfeel?Whatisitthatyou’relookingat?Isthatwhatitusuallydoes?Isthatwhatitdidlasttime?Whatwouldhappenifyoutriedsomethingdifferentwithit?Observationisthebeginningofscientificresearch.Youhavetoseeortouchorhearsomethingbeforeyoucanstarttodostuffwithit,right?

Step2:Onceyouobservesomething,youcanthenformahypothesis.Allhypothesisreallymeansis“guess.”Ahypothesisisaneducatedguess.Tonightatdinner,whensomeoneasksyou,“Doyouwantpeasorcarrots?”Say,“IhypothesizethatIwouldlikethecarrots.”Everyonewillthinkyou’reagenius!Basicallyyou’resaying“IguessthatIwouldlikethecarrots.”Hypothesesaren’trightorwrong,theyarejustyourbestguess.

Step3:Toseeifyourguessiscorrect,youneedtodothenextstepinthescientificmethod:test.Thetestisjustwhatitsoundslike:runningexperimentstoseewhetherornotyourhypothesisiscorrect.

Step4:Asyoudoyourtests,youneedtocollectdata.Thatmeanscollectingthenumbers,themeasurements,thetimes,thedataoftheexperiment.Onceyoucollectyourdata,youcantakealookatit,orinotherwords,analyzeit.

Step5:Onceyouanalyzeyourdatayoucanreportyourresults.Thatbasicallymeanstellsomeoneaboutit.Youcanputyourdatainachartoragraphorjustshoutitfromtherooftops!

Here’sagreatwaytorememberthe5steps.Rememberthesentence“OrangeHipposTakeClassesRegularly.”Thefirstletterineachwordofthatgoofysentenceisthesameasthefirstletterineachstepofthescientificmethod.That’scalledamnemonicdevice.Makeupyourownmnemonicdevicestorememberallsortsofstuff.


“OK,sothat’swhatthewordsmean.HowdoIusethateveryday?”

Well,I’mgladyouaskedthatquestion.Ifyouhadcerealforbreakfastthismorning,youdidthescientificmethod.Onthetableyouhadabowlofcerealwithnomilkinit.Asyoulookedatyourdrycereal,youmadeanobservation,“Ineedmilk!”Atthatpoint,youmadeahypothesis,“There’smilkinthefridge.”Youcan’tbesurethere’smilkinthefridge.Someonemighthaveuseditup.Itmighthavegonebad.Aliensmayhaveusedittogasuptheirmilk‐poweredspaceship.Youjustdon’tknow!Soyouhavetodoatest.

Whatwouldbeagoodtesttoseeifthereismilkinthefridge?Openthefridge!Nowonceyoumovetheweek‐oldspaghettiandthegreenJell‐O(atleastyouhopeit’sJell‐O)outoftheway,youcanseeifthereismilkornot.Soyoucollectyourdata.Thereismilkorthereisn’tmilk.Nowyoucanfinallyreportyourresults.Ifthereismilk,youcanhappilypouritonyourcereal.Ifthereisn’tanymilk,youreportyourresultsbyshouting,“Hey,Mom...Weneedmilk!”Scientificmethod,notsohardisit?

You’llgetfamiliarwiththescientificmethodbydoingtheactivitiesandexperimentsinyourlessons.Mostscientistsdon’tusethefullversionofthescientificmethod,whichactuallyincludesseveraladditionalstepstotheonesI’veoutlinedabove.You’llfindthefull‐blownversionofthescientificmethodinthebackofthisbook.I’veincludedacopyofaspecialprojectwhichwonfirstprizeatasciencefair.You’llfindthiscompleteprojectexplainseverydetailandhowitusesthefullversionofthescientificmethodsoyoucanseehowtodoitforyourselfonanyprojectyouchoose.


VocabularyfortheUnitAsteroid.ObjectinorbitaroundtheSun,intermediateinsizebetweenmeteoroidsandplanets.

Asteroidbelt.Theregionofthesolarsysteminwhichmostasteroidshavetheirorbits,betweenMarsandJupiter.

Blackholes.TheleftoversofaBIGsupernova.Whenastarexplodes,itcollapsesdownintoawhitedwarforaneutronstar.However,ifthestarislargeenough,thereisnothingtokeepitfromcollapsing,soitcontinuestocollapseforever.Itbecomessosmallanddensethatthegravitationalpullissogreatthatlightitselfcan’tescape.

Centerofmass.Meanpositionofthemassesthatcompriseasystemorlargerbody:fortwobodies,thecenterofmassisapointonthelinejoiningthem.Forabinarystarsystem,themotionofeachstarcanbecomputedaboutthecenterofmass.

Comet.Smallbodyinthesolarsystem,inorbitaroundtheSun.SomeofitsfrozenmaterialvaporizesduringthecloserpartsofitsapproachtotheSuntoproducethecharacteristictail,behindtherighthead.

Conjunction.Closestapparentapproachoftwocelestialobjects.PlanetaryconjunctionswereonceconsideredimportantomensforeventsonEarth.

Constellation.Agroupofstarsthatseemedtosuggesttheshapeofsomegod,person,animalorobject.Nowatermusedtodesignatearegionofthesky.Thereare88constellations.

Darkmatter:Matterinthecosmosthatisundetectablebecauseitdoesn’tglow.Darkmatter,someofitintheformofas‐yet‐undiscoveredexoticparticles,isthoughttocomprisemostoftheuniverse.

Eclipse.Blockingoflightfromonebodybyanotherthatpassesinfrontofit.Eclipsecanbetotalorpartial.

Eclipsepath.NarrowpathontheEarth’ssurfacetracedbytheMoon’sshadowduringaneclipse.

Eclipsingbinarystar.Binarystarwhosemutualorbitisviewedalmostedge‐onsothatlightobservedisregularlydecreasedeachtimeonestareclipsestheother.

Ecliptic.PaththattheSunappearstofollow,againstthestarsonthecelestialsphere,duringthecourseofayear.

Eclipticplane.PlanedefinedbytheEarth’sorbitaroundtheSun.

Electromagneticwave:Astructureconsistingofelectricandmagneticfieldsinwhicheachkindoffieldgeneratestheothertokeepthestructurepropagatingthroughemptyspaceatthespeedoflight.ElectromagneticwavesincluderadioandTVsignals,infraredradiation,visiblelight,ultravioletlight,X‐rays,andgammarays.

Ellipse.Typeofclosedcurvewhoseshapeisspecifiedintermsofitsdistancefromoneortwopoints.Acircleisaspecialformofellipse.Inappearance,anellipseisoval‐shaped.

Escapespeed:Thespeedneededtoescapetoinfinitelygreatdistancefromagravitatingobject.ForEarth,escapespeedfromthesurfaceisabout7milespersecond;forablackhole,escapespeedexceedsthespeedoflight.

Equinox.TwodayseachyearwhentheSunisaboveandbelowthehorizonforequallengthsoftime.


Eventhorizon:Asphericalsurfacesurroundingablackholeandmarkingthe“pointofnoreturn”fromwhichnothingcanescape.

Field:Awayofdescribinginteractingobjectsthatavoidsactionatadistance.Inthefieldview,oneobjectcreatesafieldthatpervadesspace;asecondobjectrespondstothefieldinitsimmediatevicinity.Examplesincludetheelectricfield,themagneticfield,andthegravitationalfield.

Galaxiesaregroupsofstarsthatarepulledandheldtogetherbygravity.

Globularclustersaremassivegroupsofstarsheldtogetherbygravity,usinghousingbetweentensofthousandstomillionsofstars(thinkNewYorkCity).

Gravitationallensingisonewaywecan“see”ablackhole.Whenlightleavesastar,itcontinuesinastraightlineuntilyankedonbythegravityofablackhole,whichbendsthelightandchangesitscourseandshowsupasstreaksormultiple,distortedimagesonyourphotograph.

Gravitationaltimedilation:Theslowingoftimeinregionsofintensegravity(largespacetimecurvature).

Gravitationalwaves:Literally,“ripples”inthefabricofspacetime.Theypropagateatthespeedoflightandresultintransientdistortionsinspaceandtime.

Gravity:AccordingtoNewton,anattractiveforcethatactsbetweenallmatterintheuniverse.AccordingtoEinstein,ageometricalpropertyofspacetime(spacetimecurvature)thatresultsinthestraightestpathsnotbeingEuclideanstraightlines.

Latitude.Coordinateusedtomeasure(indegrees)theangulardistanceofapointorcelestialobjectsaboveorbelowanequator.

Lightyear.Distancethatlighttravelsin1year.

Longitude.Coordinateusedtospecifythepositionofapointordirectionaround(orparallelto)anequator.

TheKuiperBeltisanicyregionthatextendsfromjustbeyondNeptune(from3.7billionmilesto7.4billionmilesfromtheSun).Thisiswheremostcometsandasteroidsfromoursolarsystemhangout.

NeutronstarswithHUGEmagneticfieldsareknownasmagnetars.

Magneticfield.Regionsurroundingamagnetorelectriccurrent,inwhichmagneticforcecanbedetectedinsucharegion,high‐speedelectricallychargedparticleswillgenerallymovealongcurvedpathsandradiateenergy.

Magneticpole.OneofthetworegionsonEarthtowhichacompassneedlewillpoint.Polesalsoexistonmagnets,andthemagneticfieldsofsomeelectriccurrentscanhaveanequivalentbehavior.

Magnetosphere.Regionsurroundingstarorplanet(includingEarth)inwhichamagneticfieldexists.

Meridian.Greatcircle,onthecelestialsphereortheEarth,thatpassesthroughbothnorthandsouthpolesandanobserver’szenithorlocation.

Meteor.Glowingtrailintheupperatmosphere,producedbymeteoroidburningupasitmovesathighspeed.


Meteorshower.NumerousmeteorsseeninshorttimespanastheEarthmovesthroughacloudofmeteoroids,probablyremnantsofacometandstillfollowingthecomet’sorbit.

Meteorite.RemnantofmeteoroidthathasbeenpartiallyerodedinpassagethroughtheEarth’satmospherebeforehittingthesurface.Termnowalsoappliedtosimilarbodiesthatcollidewiththesurfacesoftheotherplanetsandtheirsatellites,producingcraters.

Meteoroid.Largerock(butmuchsmallerthanminorplanets)movinginanorbitinthesolarsystem.MeteoroidsthatenterintheEarth’satmospherearetermedmeteorsormeteorites,dependingontheirbehavior.

Neutronstarsareformedfromstarsthatgosupernova,butaren’tbigandfatenoughtoturnintoablackhole.

TheOortCloudliesjustbeyondtheKuiperbelt,housinganestimated1trillioncomets.

Orbit.Pathtracedoutbyoneobjectaroundanother.

ThevisiblesurfaceoftheSuniscalledthephotosphere,andismademostlyofplasma(remembertheplasmagrapeexperiment?)thatbubblesuphotandcoldregionsofgas.

Dyingstarsblowoffshellsofheatedgasthatglowinbeautifulpatternscalledplanetarynebula.

Pulsarsareatypeofneutronstarthatspinsveryfast,spewsjetsofhigh‐energyX‐rayparticlesoutthepoles,andhaslargemagneticfields.

Oursolarsystemincludesrockyterrestrialplanets(Mercury,Venus,Earth,andMars),gasgiants(JupiterandSaturn),icegiants(UranusandNeptune),andassortedchunksoficeanddustthatmakeupvariouscomets(dustysnowballs)andasteroids(chunksofrock).

Spacetime:Thefour‐dimensionalcontinuuminwhichtheeventsoftheuniversetakeplace.Accordingtorelativity,spacetimebreaksdownintospaceandtimeindifferentwaysfordifferentobservers.

Spacetimecurvature:ThegeometricalpropertyofspacetimethatcausesitsgeometrytodifferfromordinaryEuclideangeometry.Thecurvatureiscausedbythepresenceofmassiveobjects,andotherobjectsnaturallyfollowthestraightestpossiblepathsincurvedspacetime.Thisistheessenceofgeneralrelativity’sdescriptionofgravity.

Spacetimeinterval:Afour‐dimensional“distance”inspacetime.Unlikeintervalsoftimeordistance,whicharedifferentforobserversinrelativemotion,thespacetimeintervalbetweentwoeventshasthesamevalueforallobservers.

Specialtheoryofrelativity:Einstein’sstatementthatthelawsofphysicsarethesameforallobserversinuniformmotion.

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