We will use the following symbols to indicate:
Primary school 🔴 Secondary school I grade 🟡 Secondary school II grade, two years 🟢 Secondary school II grade, three years 🔵
In the school orders starting from the lower secondary level, the topics proposed for the previous schools can be taken up and deepened, on the basis of the knowledge and skills acquired by the students in the context of the disciplines covered in the project.
SECTION 1: SIZE OF THE STRUCTURE
🔴 Study of the Solar System (general characteristics of the planets and theirs
movements), the Kuiper belt and asteroids, the choice of the shape of the ellipsoid.
Type of activity: Computer lab activity (explanation of the characteristics of the structure and movements of the planets by observing and interacting with the virtual model in GeoGebra, drawing activities of the planets and of the structure both
manually either with the use of software) or in class with the use of a whiteboard.
🟡 Characteristics of the structure (volume, dimensions, surface area...),
orbits of the planets and Kepler's laws, basics of using Geogebra, distances
in the universe (astronomical unit, light year...).
Type of activity : activities in the computer lab (interaction with the virtual model and experimentation with the basic functions of geogebra (Cartesian coordinates, graph of straight lines and parabolas, point on object...)) or in the classroom with the use of a LIM, STEM lesson.
🟢Basic goniometric calculation, regarding the definitions of sine and cosine and the relationships they have with the angle of a straight line placed on the Cartesian plane.
Type of activity: reality tasks can be proposed, intended as the calculation of points on the orbits of the planets based on their inclination on the plane of the Sun, or on that of the Earth, in order to introduce the first concepts of astronomy such as coordinates
astronomical images of celestial bodies in the sky. STEM lesson.
🔵 Characteristics of the structure (volume, semi-axes, surface area...),
the ellipsoid, the ellipse, sine and cosine functions, representation by means of calculators
ellipse (2D calculator) and ellipsoid (3D calculator) graphs, experiment with ellipse and ellipsoid equation variables.
Type of activity: activities in the computer lab and/or in the classroom with the use of a whiteboard, STEM lesson.
SECTION 3 : PRESSURIZATION OF THE STRUCTURE
🔴 Topics: states of matter, temperature, pressure, mass, volume, chemical elements in the Universe, nebulae.
Type of activity : experimental and laboratory activities on gas characteristics (with
practical examples such as balloons), presentation of the nebulae through images taken from the Web or educational films.
🟡Arguments: the chemical elements of helium and hydrogen, density, relationship between
distance from the Sun and surface temperature of the planets.
Type of activity: science laboratory activities on the properties and behavior of
gases, experimental activities on the density of gases/liquids and on the other properties of fluids mentioned above (temperature, pressure, volume...).
🟢Arguments: the real gas equation, the amount of substance and the molar mass.
Type of activity : proposals for reality problems in which to apply the equation of real gases, even with the derivation of inverse formulas or with logical deductions, and combine knowledge of a purely physical nature with that inherent in the chemical nature of gases.
🔵 Topics: characteristics of noble gases, reactivity (and flammability) of gases, the
electrolysis reaction, relationship between density, temperature, pressure and volume
in the real gas equation, isothermal, isobar and isochoric transformations, their graphs e
experiments.
Type of activity: electrolysis experiment in the chemistry laboratory, and gas transformations in the physics laboratory.
SECTION 4 VOLUME AND LISTENING TIMES
🔴 Topics: transmission of sounds. Outline of volume (sound intensity level) and the relationship between calories, energy and the human body.
Type of activity: insights into STEAM disciplines: this section particularly highlights the relationship between physics, mathematics and music. Group and research activities are recommended to understand the link between nutrition (and therefore the caloric requirement of human beings, on which students can make simple manual calculations by defining, for example, the calories supplied by various foods, after clarified the concept of calorie) and the daily activity of an individual, and in the particular case of our project, of a musician.
🟡Arguments: sound propagation in various possible means, sound wave definition and propagation speed assessments as the nature of the gas in which sound travels varies.
Task Type: Reality task that assumes you need to time it
sending sound waves to other planets
🟢Arguments: definition of dB, concept of sound intensity.
Type of activity : in-depth study of the relationship between sound intensity, power and energy, also making reference to the side of the STEAM disciplines which is connected to music and the emission of sound waves from various sources, such as musical instruments
🔵Topics: sound intensity and sound propagation speed in gas.
Type of activity: laboratory activity that involves the use of programs such as Excel, to calculate, for example, the time necessary for the propagation of a sound in an environment the size of the solar system, imagining varying the conditions of the environment inside the structure (nature of the gas, temperature...)
SECTION 5 SIDE EFFECTS
🔴 This section covers topics that could hardly be explored in an elementary school, but can still represent an opportunity for reflection and a stimulus to critical thinking, to bring even the youngest pupils closer to the scientific method and some of the basic concepts of the world of physics with the help of a teacher, including sound waves and friction.
🟡Topics: speed of sound propagation, introduction to the concept of speed
average.
Task type: Reality task with delivery regarding time calculation
necessary for the transmission of sound, therefore there is a possibility of merging the
reasoning methodologies based on mathematics to a scenario of a physical nature
such as sound transmission.
🟢Topics: straight motion, friction / air resistance.
Type of activity : proposals of reasoning problems similar to those of physics or mathematics competitions, in which knowledge of the functioning of rectilinear motion is required,
uniformly and uniformly accelerated (with the application, for example, of friction).
Together with the topics concerning the three-year period, this section can be used as a laboratory activity on an Excel sheet for compiling a card on a hypothetical decelerated motion of the planets.
🔵Topics: gravitation laws, gravitational acceleration, application of
gravitational constant.
Type of activity: Along with the topics concerning the two-year period, this section can be used as a laboratory activity on Excel sheet for compiling a card on a hypothetical decelerated motion of the planets, which consequently results in an interesting activity of applying formulas to scenarios uncommon.
SECTION 2 : REALIZATION
🔴 Topics: mention of the concept of formula and inverse formula, with the application of arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, power...).
Percentage calculation and the respective increase of a data over time.
Type of activity : Laboratory research activity on world population graphs,
of which to calculate, for example, the male or female percentage, or the percentage represented by the Italian population.
🟡Arguments: definition of proportion (and proportionality), its applications and
resolution. Percentage calculation and the respective increase of a data over time.
Type of activity : reality tasks on the topic can be proposed, starting for example
from the idea of calculating the constructive aspects of a hypothetical building by comparing it with an already existing building, thus integrating a research activity to the task of real
computer to be conducted for example in the computer lab, even in groups.
🟢Arguments: application of the concepts of direct and inverse proportionality for
formulation and derivation of formulas and constants; energy, work and power.
Type of activity: in-depth study of the direct and inverse proportionality of
variables and unknowns within the formulas, through the computer graphic interpretation of functions, with the help of programs such as GeoGebra, useful for becoming familiar with mathematical tools and stimulating the curiosity and proactivity of the pupils. STEM lesson.
🔵 Topics: logarithms, logarithmic functions, exponential functions, Kardašëv scale, basic economic, logistic, feasibility and resource supply assessments for the construction (in this case) of a complex structure.
Type of activity: study and analysis of the application in various fields of stairs
logarithmic and exponential, as, in this case, in the study of the degree of civilization of other intelligent species in the Universe. In a context of STEM activities, a purely mathematical topic can therefore be exploited in a transversal way, also transforming it into a reality task that can be used as a computer laboratory activity by creating graphs with GeoGebra or Excel (as in the case of the annual increase of the world population).
SECTION 4 VOLUME AND LISTENING TIMES
🔴 Topics: transmission of sounds. Outline of volume (sound intensity level) and the relationship between calories, energy and the human body.
Type of activity: insights into STEAM disciplines: this section particularly highlights the relationship between physics, mathematics and music. Group and research activities are recommended to understand the link between nutrition (and therefore the caloric requirement of human beings, on which students can make simple manual calculations by defining, for example, the calories supplied by various foods, after clarified the concept of calorie) and the daily activity of an individual, and in the particular case of our project, of a musician.
🟡Arguments: sound propagation in various possible means, sound wave definition and propagation speed assessments as the nature of the gas in which sound travels varies.
Task Type: Reality task that assumes you need to time it
sending sound waves to other planets
🟢Arguments: definition of dB, concept of sound intensity.
Type of activity : in-depth study of the relationship between sound intensity, power and energy, also making reference to the side of the STEAM disciplines which is connected to music and the emission of sound waves from various sources, such as musical instruments
🔵Topics: sound intensity and sound propagation speed in gas.
Type of activity: laboratory activity that involves the use of programs such as Excel, to calculate, for example, the time necessary for the propagation of a sound in an environment the size of the solar system, imagining varying the conditions of the environment inside the structure (nature of the gas, temperature...)
SECTION 6: CRITICALITIES
🔴 Topics: in reference to point B: characteristics of the Earth's atmosphere, needs
respiratory system of the human body and evaluation of the side effects that it lacks
oxygen, exposure to radiation and extreme temperatures.
Type of activity : laboratory study of the human body and research on solutions
of protection most widespread among space programs. Evaluations of reality tasks
for survival in space with the use of breathing tanks.
🟡Arguments: in reference to CD points: basic concepts of heat propagation and
of the risks to which astronauts are exposed in space.
Type of activity: participatory lesson of collective reasoning on the properties and qualities of
heat transmission possibly with the use of the IWB, to which, there was the
possibility, a laboratory-type activity can be added by exploiting (under the careful
supervision by the teacher), for example, a lighter and some objects in materials
conductors, such as metal, to teach pupils about the differences in the propagation of
heat according to the material.
🟢Topics: uniform circular motion, centrifugal force, gravitational attraction force,
heat transfer mechanisms
Type of activity : use of the GeoGebra computer tool for the representation of
a circumference on which to apply the formulas of uniform circular motion and do
forecasts.
🔵 Topics: limits
Type of activity : laboratory activity of using the spreadsheet for the creation of
graphs that allow the visualization of functions that exploit the concept of limit
SECTION 7 : THE MODEL
🔴🟡🟢🔵
Activity of building a plastic model suitable for any type of school, even if particularly indicated for elementary and lower secondary school, which can also be used as a practical lesson on the properties and use of domes also in the architectural and artistic fields.