Embedded Files
Grade(s): 10-12
Length: one semester
Credit: 0.5 credit
Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation or Geometry
Course Overview:
Course Overview:
Astronomy is an introductory course, which will educate students about ancient and modern astronomical knowledge and research methods to build a strong foundation for college-level courses in science. Mathematics and science concepts as well as ancient and modern technology will be used to help students explore and understand the universe they live in. Astronomy focuses on historical development of astronomical knowledge, the solar system, and an introduction to modern research methods. Additional topics could include life cycles of stars, properties of star groupings and galaxies, and the use of modern research methods.
Adopted Textbook: Astronomy: Joiurney to the Cosmic Frontier: McGraw-Hill, 2008
Adopted Textbook: Astronomy: Joiurney to the Cosmic Frontier: McGraw-Hill, 2008
Units
Units
(Recommended Order)
Classical Astronomy
The Solar System
Using Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum to Study Space
Stars and their Life (time permitting)
Star Grouping and Galaxies (time permitting)
Cosmology (time permitting)
Pacing may be adjusted to account for teacher expertise and current events.
Unit 1: Classical Astronomy
Unit 1: Classical Astronomy
Suggested Pacing: 1-2 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: Chapters 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 17.
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
Be able to predict solar positions during the seasons.
Model how eclipses occur.
Explain early experiments to measure the size of the Earth.
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
The effct of solar altitude on insolation.
Use Stonehenge to predict moon phases and eclipses.
Using Aristarchus' method for measuring Earth-Moon-Sun distance ratios.
Using Eratosthenes' method of measuring the Earth.
Standards List: ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System: HS-ESS2.4
Unit 2: The Solar System
Unit 2: The Solar System
Suggested Pacing: 2 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: Chapters 5, 7, 14, 15, and 18.
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
Explain how tides work.
Explain how Copernicus' findings drastically changed the understanding of the universe.
Use Newton's law of universal gravitation to calculate forces on bodies in the solar system.
Discuss the theories of the formation of the solar system.
Explain the existence of comets, meteors, and asteroids.
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Determine the orbit of Mars using a cross-staff and quadrant for astronomical observations.
Use a pinhole projection to measure the size of the sun.
Standards List: ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars: HS-ESS1.1; ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System: HS-ESS1.4 PS2.B: Types
of Interactions: HS-PS2.4, HS-PS2.5
Unit 3: Using Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum to Study Space
Unit 3: Using Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum to Study Space
Suggested Pacing: 4 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: Chapter 6, 16, 19, 20, and 21
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
Compare and contrast the wave and particle nature of light.
Discuss factors affecting angular resolution.
Explain what the emission and absorption spectra tell scientists about the composition of stars.
Explain what an optical telescope is and how it works.
Describe how a radio telescope works.
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Examine the factors related to the operation of a telescope.
Lab: Wien's Law
Standards List: PS4.A: Wave Properties: HS-PS4.1, HS-PS4.2, HS-PS4.5; PS4.B: Electromagnetic Radiation: HS-PS4.3
Unit 4: Stars and Their Life
Unit 4: Stars and Their Life
Suggested Pacing: 4 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: Chapters 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
Describe the sun's composition and internal structure.
Explain how scientists measure the basic properties of stars.
Use the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagrams to explain themain sequence and classification of stars.
Describe stellar evolution and the factors which contribute to a star's demise.
Explain how the aurora works.
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Lab: The Doppler Effect.
Lab: The Stefan-Boltzmann Law
Lab: The Zeeman Effect.
Search the Novae.
Standards List: ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars: HS-ESS1.1, HS-ESS1.2, HS-ESS1.3
Unit 5: Star Groupings and Galaxies
Unit 5: Star Groupings and Galaxies
Suggested Pacing: 3 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: Chapters 2, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
Describe different types of interstellar regions.
Compare and contrast methods for determining binary and multiple star systems.
State the structure and theories of formation of galaxies.
Describe mapping methods for galaxies,
Classify galaxies and explain population distributions.
Discuss the expansion of the universe.
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Examine interstellar materials and reddening.
Examine open clusters in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Use spectroscopy to examine active galactic nuclei.
Standards List: ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars: HS-ESS1.2, HS-ESS1.3; PS2.B: Types of Interactions: HS-PS2.4
Unit 6: Cosmology
Unit 6: Cosmology
Suggested Pacing: 2 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: Chapters 26 and 27
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
Learn about early cosmologies.
Explain Olbers' paradox.
Examine modern mathematical cosmologies.
Discuss SETI: the search for extraterrestrial life.
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Simulate sending an dreceiving messages to and from extraterrestrials.
Standards List: ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars: HS-ESS1.2; PS2.B: Types of Interactions: HS-PS2.4; PS4.C: Information Technologies and Instrumentation: HS-PS4.5
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