Astronomy

Overview and Objectives

Space is no longer the final frontier. In this unit students will investigate the planet Earth and its relationship to our solar system. We will review length of day and year, and seasons and what causes them, using physical models of the Earth. A timeline of the significant events of space will also researched.

Students will research and present information learned about the different planets in our solar system. This may consist of a power point presentation, physical model, or even a skit.

Part of this unit includes a trip to the Challenger Space Center! In preparation for this trip, we do an in depth unit about the moon, its history, formation, phases, famous astronauts and events, and its future.

We also discuss space travel, possible Mars landings, the electromagnetic spectrum and living in space.

Objectives: (Science 21)

• Engage in the process of science which includes observing, questioning, predicting, hypothesizing, conducting investigations, analyzing data and communicating findings in a variety of ways.
• Demonstrate Earth's day and year describing the changes that take place due the Sun's effects.
• Investigate how time zones function.
• Identify and describe the characteristic traits of the nine planets in the solar system.
• Create a scaled model of the Earth and solar system.
• Research various significant events in the history of space travel and exploration.
• Identify the eight moon phases, history and formation of the moon, and people and events related to the moon.

Sample Lessons

Night and Day: students will refer to a model of Earth to identify lines of latitude and longitude. With a flash light, students will rotate the Earth to observe changes in night and day.

Planet Presentations: Using research tools available in the classroom, students will receive a planet to study and present their findings to the class in a fun, yet informative way.

The Moon: Again, with a flash light and Styrofoam ball, we recreate the moon phases, then draw our observations, and finally create a flip book of the many phases. Last year we even had a guest visitor teach us about the phases!

Vocabulary

rotation: turning on an axis (1 Earth rotation = 24 hours)

revolution

turning around another object (1 Earth revolution = 365 1/4 days)

axis

imaginary line through the center of Earth (or another planet)

astronomy

the study of galaxies, stars, planets, and other celestial objects

season

position of Earth around the sun

solstice

winter and summer; sun's rays directed on the Tropics

equinox

autumn and spring; sun's rays are directed on the Equator giving equal amounts of daylight and darkness

latitude

lines that run east/west on the globe ex. Equator

longitude

lines that run north/south on the globe ex. Prime Meridian

Prime Meridian

longitude line that runs through Greenwich, England; 0 degrees

International Date Line

long of longitude where each day begins; 180 degrees

Tropic of Cancer

line of latitude in northern hemisphere; 23 degrees

Tropic of Capricorn

line of latitude in southern hemisphere; 23 degrees