ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE: One 50-minute period
MODULE OBJECTIVE:
Components | |||
Engagement | Students are shown some lamps of different brightness and asked some questions relating inherent brightness and distance. | Individual or small groups | Overhead projector (OP) or PowerPoint (PP) to post the Warm Up questions. |
Exploration | Discussion of student answers and presentation of various images of star fields showing stars of different brightness. Activity: Students will make their own constellations by connecting bright stars with lines to form pictures of their own choosing. | Individual | OP or PP to show images of star fields
Handout of Activity. |
Explanation | Presentation and discussion of student work, and of the constellations seen by the ancients. | Individual | Handout of constellations with explanation. |
Extension | Description of absolute and apparent magnitudes. Students should understand that the dim and insignificant stars in the handout could be very bright and distant (and could even be galaxies) or very dim and nearby. | Individual | Sequence of images zooming into a dim "star" that is then revealed to be a galaxy. This can be accomplished with software such as Starry Night. |
Evaluation | Students will be evaluated on the quality and creativity of their constellations. | Individual | Rubric (of student's design if desired) |
EXPECTED MODULE OUTCOMES: