Unit 5: Exploring the Nature of Astronomical Phenomena in the Context of the Sun
Unit 5: Exploring the Nature of Astronomical Phenomena in the Context of the Sun/Earth/Moon System
XIII. Exploring Physical Phenomena: Summary of Equipment and Supplies for Unit 5
| Exploring Physical Phenomena: Summary of Equipment and Supplies for Unit 5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| When used | For instructor and demonstrations | For each group of 3 | For each student |
| Week 1
Unit 5.IIA Question 5.1 What do you already know about the Sun, Moon, and stars? |
U5H2 Diagnostic Questions about Sun, Moon, and Stars: | ||
| Unit 5 IIB
Question 5.5 How do people talk together about the Moon? |
Reading: Deborah Roberts. The sky’s the limit: Parents and first grade students observe the sky. Science and Children, 31(1), 33-37. (September, 1999). | ||
| Unit 5.III.A,B
Question 5.6 Where is the Sun in the sky right now? Question 5.7 Where is the Moon in the sky right now? |
Sky Journal
(If moon is visible during class hours, take sky journal and class outside to model how to make an observation of the Sun and Moon. Warn students to not look directly at the Sun!) |
Sky journal
(To make sky journals ahead of class: cut 4 pieces of paper (8.5”x11”) in half to make 8 sheets (8.5”x5.5”), fold in half to make pages (4.5”x5.5”) and staple folded pages along the edge.) |
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| When sunny during Week 1, 2, or 3
Unit 5.III.A,B Question 5.8 How does the Sun seem to move across the sky? |
Sky Journal
Sunny day |
Documenting a student gnomon’s shadow during field trip on sunny day: Chalk, meter stick, protractor, digital camera or cell phone.
Documenting a pole gnomon’s shadow on a sunny day: chalk, pole; pencil; or bent paper clip, paper, manila folder or cardboard; or pencil, paper, nail in shadow board |
Documenting sunrise/sunset at home: piece of paper, clipboard or cardboard, pencil.
Reading: Marletta Iwasyk, “Kids questioning kids: “Experts” sharing. Science and Children, 35(1), 42-47. (September 1997). U5H3 Shadow Plot Sketches |
| Week 2
Unit 5.III.B Unit 1.VI.A Question 5.9 How big is the Sun? |
Sunny day | Pinhole in sheet of aluminum foil taped in cardboard holder, paper screen taped on cardboard, meter stick, pencil;
If not sunny, use observations made by students in prior courses |
(Part of Unit 1 :
U1H12 Diameter of the Sun U1H13 Solving Pinhole Math Problem U1H11 Sun Pinhole problem stated if rainy day) |
| Unit 5.III.C
Question 5.10 What questions about the Moon do you want to explore? How will you do that? |
Large white board,
3 white board markers, 3 white board erasers |
U5H4 Questions about the Moon | |
| Week 3
Unit 5.III.C Question 5.12 What new question do you and your group members have about the Moon? |
Large white board,
3 white board markers, 3 white board erasers |
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| Unit 5.III.D
Question 5.14 What have you learned about the Moon from your observations so far? |
U5H5 Sun and Moon Calendar Template | ||
| Last session Week 4
Unit 5.III E, F Question 5.19 How can you predict when a phase of the Moon will rise, transit, and set? |
U5H6 Predict