Day, Night, and the Seasons: the students will begin by modeling Earth’s rotation. They will use various media to explain why the Earth rotates, and how this causes day and night. They will then analyze hourly daylight data from around the world to discern patterns of sunlight, and draw a model representation of what they have learned.

The Moon: students will develop a model of the Earth-Moon-Sun system to explain why the Moon’s patterns occur. They will use kinesthetic models and thought experiments to conceptually understand what it means for the Moon to have patterns of phase, rise, and set. Finally, they will explore reasons for solar and lunar eclipses to gain a deeper understanding of the Earth-Moon-Sun system.

Gravity: students will use mathematical equations and gather data to discover the relationship between weight and gravitational force. They will also create a model to discover how gravity affects objects in a system. Finally, they will apply what they know about gravity to satellites and space missions by learning about gravity assist via simulation and media sources.

Scale Properties of the Solar System: students will explore various computer models of the solar system before creating their own scale model. They will analyze data and create graphs to represent the various properties of objects in our solar system. They will consider what makes Earth uniquely able to support life, and will use this information to predict where life might be found on another planet.