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Astronomy is a topic that all kids are naturally curious about. Then somewhere along the way, this gets standardized out. I never knew that studying space was an option. Now, with NGSS, we have the privilege of space as a platform of engagement. The remote environment is PERFECT for this! This session will explore the many ways you can incorporate astronomy and space studies in remote environments, in every class.
Christine Hirst Bernhardt, teacher, professor, student
Hirst @ucsb.edu
Earth and Space Sciences are now infused into EVERY NGSS Course in California! Don't believe me? Check out the thematic overlap of these 5 topics:
Earth and Space Sciences are now infused into EVERY NGSS Course in California! Don't believe me? Check out the thematic overlap of these 5 topics:
Use the following links to a variety of activities. These are in Google Docs, and will require you to make a copy.
Use the following links to a variety of activities. These are in Google Docs, and will require you to make a copy.
Topic: The moon
Topic: The moon
Sub topics: Craters, early atmosphere, Earth's history, forces and motion, collisions, mutual gravitation, erosion, changes to Earth's surface, the role of water
Cratering:
Impact crater formation and degradation (background reading)
Comparing craters/crater analysis lab
Impact sites on Earth with Google Earth impact craters
(grade 11-12) Impacts! Near Earth Object Investigation (with Impact Earth)
(grade 8-10) Impacts
Impact Earth student designed investigation (uses flash)
(grade 8-10) (grade 11-12) Creating Craters (non-virtual)
Moon Phases:
How do you think moon phases occur? (For Google Classroom: student manipulated slides)
Moon phases Google Drawing (student manipulative)
Moon phases simulation investigation (with options for home materials modeling)
Moon phase quiz (google drawing
Check out Infiniscope! This gameing based investigation teaches moon phases in a fun way!
Topic: Starlight
Topic: Starlight
Subtopics: atomic spectra, characteristics and behavior of light, stellar evolution, measuring galaxies, information from stars, universal expansion, models of nuclei, measuring stars, classifying stars
Night Sky Observations
Night Sky Observations
Topic: Student Space Based Research and Citizen Science : Spiders in Space
This uses Orion's Quest --make a free account and check out all of the options!!! Topic: Student Space Based Research and Citizen Science : Spiders in Space
Sub topics: planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, using computational thinking, engaging in argument from evidence, constructing explanations, obtaining, evaluating and communicating information (yes-ALL of the SEP's!)
Spiders in Space: This material is all related to this investigation. I adapted all of this to work in a remote environment. Use it!
In this mission students will participate in 4 activities designed to compare spiders living in two very different environments. Each activity asks them to analyze photos from a space-based (flight) experiment and an earth-based (ground) control experiment. Their measurements and observations will be recorded on an electronic data table and forwarded to the Principal Scientists (PIs) for this mission.
Activity length: 4-6 weeks if doing ALL components. This could definitely be abbreviated, or stretched out.
My classes: Middle school (7-8) science projects course; Students do not choose their elective, quite a few who log in and keep camera and mic off all the time.
This investigation consists of the following components:
- Background information
- ISS Background
- NASA Background
- Spider background
- Pre-investigation activities
- Metric practice
- predictions
- designing a research question
- Student investigations
- Activity 1: Measuring spiders in space
- Activity 2: Hub location
- Activity 3: Spider orientation
- Activity 4: Web Comparison
- Conclusions
For this entire activity, I utilized breakout rooms for students to collaborate and share ideas for jam boards, and the collaborative slides in the background material. I require screen sharing in breakout rooms, which also allowed me see any mistakes in their work (like the graph). All students had to do their own work.
Background Lesson Activities:
Background Lesson Activities:
NASA Background:
Spiders background lesson material
Did you know that spiders are the most abundant predators on Earth? I think that's gross too.
Pre-investigation Activities
Pre-investigation Activities
Metric Practice: Who doesn't need this? Google slide version for remote use!
Predictions version 1 (middle school)
Predictions version 2 (high school)
Student Investigation Activities:
Student Investigation Activities:
I spent countless hours adapting these activities for remote use-and their perfect! Students record on Orion's Quest as well, which sends their data to the researchers.
Note: Students must have a measuring device for activity 1.
Any units are ok-I created conversions in the spreadsheet. I know this can get tricky-but I gave TONS of notice, sent emails to parents, etc. If your school provides a planner-there is a ruler there. They literally click on pictures and measure the screen.
Activity 1:
Activity 1:
This and due to the quantitative nature, has more components for analysis than the rest.
Activities 2-4:
Activities 2-4:
These all require qualitative descriptions and evaluation. Have them do the web diagram just before they start activity 2.
Conclusions
Conclusions
Projects
Projects
Satellite Dynamics
Satellite Dynamics
General Astronomy Labs
General Astronomy Labs
Google Sites
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