A great way to kick off
an astronomy unit is to have your students construct a star wheel. This
creates instant interest in the night sky and also touches on the most
basic of concepts: the periodic movements of the Earth and the sun and
how these relate to time. Click
here for a great basic Star Wheel.
Click
here for a fun "Cootie-Catcher"
version. Once they are constructed, teach them how to use the wheel.
Then teach the counterclockwise rotation of the night sky; how stars
rise in the east and set in the west; and circumpolar constellations.
You can also touch on rotation and revolution of the Earth and how
these two basic motions cause changes in the stars at night. (Rotation
of the Earth causes stars to move across the night sky. Revolution of
the Earth causes constellations to change by season.)
Star
Wheel Worksheet
Teaches
the concepts of counterclockwise motion, backwards east & west
and
why (You have to hold it over your head, which makes it "right."),
rising and setting of constellations, and circumpolar constellations.
As soon as students have built their Star Wheel, teach a quick lesson
on how to use, then let them work on the worksheet in pairs.
Or
work with them together, using an overhead to write in the answers. The
Star Wheel can be frustrating if they can't get past the backwards-ness
of its design. I often did this as a Guided Activity so they wouldn't
get too frustrated. It's all about building on their fascination with
the night sky! Click here
for a copy.
Star
Wheel Team Game
Fun
game! Divide students into
teams. Each team separates into halves and goes to opposite corners of
the room with their game cards and star wheels. Give each team half a
stack of cards. The cards are either quick sketches of about a dozen
basic constellations or the constellation names. You give them all a
puzzle to solve and the teams have to match their answers to get a
point. If the answer is Orion, both the name and the sketch have to be
chosen. Have team "runners" bring the answer card, hidden from view, to
you on a signal, then show you the cards all at once. I color code them
so matching teams are easy to see. Blue constellation sketch-blue
constellation name = 1 point. I use simple questions, such as, "Which
constellation is rising (or setting) at 7 p.m. on December 10th?" or
"Which circumpolar constellation is directly over overhead (called the
"zenith") on June 15th?"
Constellation
Lab
Teach
in connection with Star Wheels. Have them locate and connect the dots
of 20 constellations of their choice. Label with ALL CAPS. Bonus points
for labeling famous stars within the constellations. Start them off
with Ursa Major and the Pointer Stars to Ursa Minor. I sometimes give
Orion, too. Use an overhead to get them started. Fourmi
Lab has a nice site
where you can put in your location and if you fiddle with the many
choices, you can come up with a nice blank star map for your students
to connect-the-dots and find many constellations. (Suggestions: Click
off outlines, names, etc. for constellations. Click off deep sky
objects. You might try stars of magnitudes 4 or 5 and brighter. Depends
how many "dots" you'd like on the field. Color Scheme: Black on white
background.) I have a Constellation Lab which requires certain
constellations and stars, which are colored according to their
temperature. These same stars are later plotted on the H-R Diagram and
their life cycles discussed. Click
here for my Constellation Lab.
HOW
TO USE THE CONSTELLATION LAB:
I
hand the Lab out, directions on the front and star field on the back.
Direct your students to open their Earth Science books to the back of
the book. There are great star charts in the back of every Earth
Science book I've ever seen. The lab can be done just with the star
charts but I recommend your students use their Star Wheels as well.
Actually the Star Wheel is the VERY FIRST THING I have my students do
in the Astronomy Unit.
I do the entire circumpolar area with
them. I make an overhead of the lab's star field and start by having
them look for the Big Dipper. Then we connect the dots together, label
it BIG DIPPER in all caps and maybe label a couple of star names if
they come up with them. Otherwise, I show them how to use the Pointer
Stars to find the Little Dipper. We do the same for that one, labeling
it LITTLE DIPPER. Then we do CASSIOPEIA, the Queen, CEPHEUS, the King,
and DRACO, the Dragon, all together. We also talk about what
circumpolar means--seen every night, never seen in the Southern
Hemisphere.
Then I ask them to find ORION and wait till someone
does. I sketch ORION and label the stars, Betelgeuse and Rigel, adding
the red and blue colors like the directions says. (See my answer sheet
in the Constellation Lab pdf.)
Now they are on their own. I tell
them they are required to do the list of constellations in the
directions, including connecting the dots, labeling constellations with
ALL CAPS and star names, with Lower Case. They must get the colors
right, too.
They can get BONUS POINTS for more star names but only if the
CONSTELLATION is properly labeled and dots connected.
BTW,
there are no hard and fast rules about connecting the dots. I give kids
tons of lee-way. If they have the right dots, that's good enough. I
walk around with a good sharp pencil (I recommend telling
your
kids to use pencil only) and sketch in some constellations for those
who are visually challenged. There are going to be a couple who
absolutely can't see a thing. No need to make them feel bad. I do the
sketching for them quickly and tell them to do the labeling and
coloring. You can carry the answer sheet around with you until you
really know them--you get better over time.
It helps to have the kids align the Star Wheel and textbook star chart
to the same angle as the Constellation Lab.
The
next day, I run the PPT, telling them they can make additions and
corrections during the PPT. They will “mostly scramble” to add more
star names because there are many on the PPT--some won’t--but many will
love the idea of getting up to 60 BONUS POINTS. Which has happened!
I
believe this is one of THE BEST LABS for fostering a real love of the
night sky for kids who've never looked "up" before. Happy
Teaching!
Constellation
PowerPoint
Reviews
the constellations and stars that are required on the Constellation
Lab. I show this BEFORE I collect the lab. That way, students who've
had lots of trouble with connecting the dots have one more chance to
get it right! Email me
for this PowerPoint!
Location
Worksheet
Do
this immediately after the Constellation Lab. Teach a simple way to
determine the location of objects in the sky: AZIMUTH and ALTITUDE.
This worksheet introduces the terms. Follow by making and using an
astrolabe (along with a compass) to determine the location of objects
in the classroom, outside, and at night. Click here.
Building
an
Astrolabe
Give
your students a template of the astrolabe, have one already built for
them to refer to, and let them go with little instruction. If you want
to instruct them first, here is THE best site on the Web for Making
a Simple Astrolabe. Project this site on your big screen T.V.
or SMART Board. This site includes THE
BEST TEMPLATE I've seen. Here is the same site's instruction
page for Using
a Simple Astrolabe.
Improve
Your
Astrolabe
Click
here for a nice extension idea. Have students discuss in
small or large groups what they would like to have on the Astrolabe
after they've used one for a few days. What would make an Astrolabe
better? I've seen many suggestions: more degrees tic marks, a better
handle, a better sighting mechanism, an attached compass, a better
plumb bob, etc. Then have each student work on improving their
astrolabe.
Virtual
Human
Compass
Turn your students into a giant compass by forming
a large circle along the outer wall of the classroom. Ask them to point
to North. Assign North to the student standing at the North point. Talk
about how North is designated both 0o and 3600. Repeat for all the main
compass points and NW, SW, SE, SW. Pick different compass points, such
as 90o and ask the students to point to the point. Also give odd
numbers such as 95o and ask them to point to that spot. Thanks to my
dear friend, Amanda George, for this great idea!
Virtual
Human
Night Sky
While in your "Human Compass" formation, review
altitude, also. Have the students point to the zenith
of the sky, which is 90o azimuth. Point to the nadir
of the sky, which is under your feet, directly opposite to the zenith.
Point to the horizon, which is 0o azimuth. Point to 45o azimuth. Now
combine azimuth and altitude. Ask such questions as, "Where in the sky
is 0o altitude, 90o azimuth?" (on the horizon, due East) "Where in the
sky is 45o altitude, 180o azimuth?" (halfway up, due South) Once you
feel they have a working idea of altitude and azimuth, give them the Astrolabe Lab.
Astrolabe
Lab
Click
here for my version of an Astrolabe Lab. It first has
students measuring the location of objects on the ceiling of the
classroom. Then take them outside to measure the location of objects
high in the sky. We go for the dish on top of our school building, etc.
Lastly, assign them a Constellation
Tracking Lab as an At-Home Assignment.
Constellation
Tracking Lab
Click
here for a nice assignment to be done at home, at night.
Parents are often quite impressed with this assignment! Harder to do if
they don't have compasses. You can solve this by giving them a compass
rose. If they can determine North at home (Use a map. Ask a parent.)
they can set the Compass
Rose on the driveway or in their backyard, north on north,
and site the azimuth by using their own self as the "pointer."
The
Compass Rose
Click
here for a nice review of the Compass Rose. Includes the 32
points on the compass. Click
here for a simple Compass Rose template.
"An
introduction to astronomy which features an entertaining and
informative text and contains a rotating 'planisphere,' which enables
the reader to locate the positions of the constellations."
H-R
Diagram
The stars mentioned in the
Constellation Lab are the ones I have my students plot on the H-R
Diagram. Mine is produced by our main textbook, Heath Earth Science. I
chose to have my students plot only 20 of the 40 provided and those 20
are stars in commonplace constellations. The most important concepts to
teach are probably the pattern on the Main Sequence (As temperature
increases, brightness increases.) OR (dim AND cool, bright AND hot) and
the exceptions to that main rule as evidenced by Red Giants and
Supergiants (bright BUT cool) and White Dwarfs (dim BUT hot). You may
want to ask your students to relate the position of a star on the H-R
Diagram to its age and life cycle stage.
H-R
Diagram
"March"
Having trouble teaching
your students how a star "moves" through the different parts of its
life cycle and how they change position on the H-R Diagram? Tape a
giant H-R Diagram on the floor. Or chalk it out on the parking lot.
Include the X-Y axes, the Main Sequence diagonal, the Red Giants and
Red Supergiants, and the White Dwarfs. Have students label with cards:
dim and bright, hot and cool, and draw arrows to show increasing
temperature and brightness along the axes. Use hockey pucks (or
anything else that won't roll or blow away) to add stars on the
diagram. Have various students walk themselves through the life cycle
of the sun and various other stars. Have them "drop off" the Diagram as
they become Black Dwarves, or Black Holes, relating a star's fate to
its initial mass.
Telescope
Lab
New Link! If you have access to small telescopes, this is a nice Telescope Lab.
We have a classroom set of small telescopes that consist of two tubes,
with both eyepiece and magnifying lenses. Some years, I've been able to
link up with a parent who has a "real" telescope. They create quite a
stir when they bring this marvel into the classroom! Here is a link to a Paper Tube Telescope similar to the ones in my school. Only $6.50 each!
Solar Eclipse Logic Team Game New - January 2008!
Play this right before you show the Solar Eclipse PowerPoint. Loads of fun and a great thinking exercise. Click here for the game pieces and instructions.
An important objective: to
recognize and explain all eight moon phases AND be able to relate each
moon phase to the relative positions of the sun, moon, and earth. I
usually start with these flashcards. Have the students label them. This
alone is a challenge for most. I put a transparency
up and/or have them refer to their textbooks. Then the FUN starts! We
play the "Put Your Finger On" Game; separate into like phases, arrange
in order as if they are moving around the earth, etc.
Click here for my newly-made
Moon Phases Flashcards. Run off just the first page if you are making
Moon Booklets or playing games. Have each page of the booklet be one
phase, and have the students add a small white paper square to each
page with how they know it's the waning cresecent, for example; less
than half lit, light on the left. (NOTE: See my What Moon Phases Is This? PPT for all the "How You Knows.") I usually put this overhead
up so they can figure it all out on their own. Talk about the
definitions of Waxing and Waning, Crescent and Gibbous, Full and New,
and Quarter.
Moon
Phases
Model Activity
Most
13-15-year olds have trouble with the relative positions of the sun,
moon, and earth. They aren't even sure of the cause of the different
phases! We use a commercial kit of models that has the students
manipulate the earth, sun, and moon. They actually crouch down and look
at the moon from the earth's vantage point to see each phase. The moon
is half-black/half-white so, depending on their vantage point, your
students will actually see the crescent, gibbous, quarter, etc.
Create
your own activity using black/white moon models, yellow sun models, and
blue/black earth models. This works great because you don't have to
have a really dark classroom and a bright light source. The lighted
side of the moon is white and manipulating the three models helps the
students visualize each phase.
Moon
Phases
Worksheet
While
teaching moon phases, I usually hand out a different worksheet for
several days in a row. Best way to keep them thinking of the names of
each phase. There are many out there, several on-line. Click here for one with actual photos. *Click here for one from Enchanted Learning. Click here for another version. *Click here for a Moon Poster handout. *Click here for a neat Charting the Moon Activity.
Moon
Phases Cut
& Paste Activity
I
love this one! Have them cut out the phases and paste into the correct
boxes. Label and then answer the questions. The trick is to come at
this concept with several different activities. They can learn this
concept! Click here for the worksheet.
New! Moon
Phases
PowerPoint
I show this PowerPoint
that uses simple sketches of the moon phases after they have done the
Moon Phases Cut & Paste Activity. I have sometimes had my students
make a booklet using the falshcards. Then show the PPT. They have fun
racing to see who can recognize the phase first. Recently we have been
required to "kick it up a notch" by making our students know the
reasons for the name of each phase, a sort of "How Do You Know?" Click
here to download.
Moon Features
Lab
One
of my most favorite Astronomy labs. I don't get to do this one
very often because of time constraints, but sure wish I could! This
teaches kids what they are looking at when they observe the face on the
Moon. Click here for the Moon Features Lab. Email me for a Moon Features PowerPoint.
Some selected Astrophysics Topics:
Kepler/Newton
Notes
Used
to introduce several concept. Uses several textbooks so best to make an
overhead and do as notes. The second page is a neat way to
review/introduce Newton's Laws, via Tablecloth Magic Trick, pushing big
and small students in chairs, and balloon races. Remove Teacher Notes
before running off. Click here. Click here for transparency of Newton's Laws. (Want to know the secret to the Tablecloth Trick? Use a tablecloth without a hem! I use plastic dishes, of course!)
Newton's
Laws
Worksheet
A
challenging worksheet reviewing the concepts of the three laws. They
should draw sketches with arrows of equal or unequal size depending on
the situation. Click here. Click here for an easier version.
Good quizzes
that review the
Laws
at the high school level. Click
here.
Newton's
Laws
Game
Fun
team game. Run off brightly colored game pieces that just say: Newton's
First Law, Newton's Second Law, and Newton's Third Law. Read aloud a
Newton's Law situation. Give each team a few seconds to decide which
Law MOSTLY applies. Then, "Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Show me the
Law!" Great to see students interact and argue about which law is the
best answer. Click here for suggested situations.
Kepler's
Drawing
Ellipses Lab
Lots
of fun! Get together a collection of 9 x 11 cardboard--thicker than
regular push pins, a circle of string, and two push pins per pair of
students. Strong message in this lab about how close to a perfect
circle the planet orbits are, yet still elliptical! Click here for the lab.
How
to Write a
Good Science Lesson
