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Scale Activities
How do you put something as large as the universe in perspective? Use a series of scale experiments. Classmates collaborate around four experiments to examine the scale of the earth-moon system, our solar system, the Milky Way galaxy,...
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Galaxies and the Universe
If Earth was formed 4600 million years ago, and the sun revolves about the center of the Milky Way once every 250 million years, how many revolutions have occurred? Students answer this question and ten more, all providing students with...
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Stars and Slopes
Students use the slopes of various curves plotted on log-log graph paper to classify stellar objects as binary stars, supernovae, or active galaxies.The data used in this lesson were obtained from X-ray astronomy satellites.
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Counting the Stars in Draco
In this counting stars worksheet, students construct a histogram for stars in a given star field using their apparent magnitude. Students answer 5 questions using their tabulated data and histogram to answer questions about the stars of...
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Collisions Lesson
Tenth graders explore the role that collisions and near collisions of galaxies play in determining the shape of galaxies. They model the collision of disk shaped and spherically shaped galaxies.
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How Many Stars in the Milky Way?
Students perform an experiment in which they will use a statistical method called `sampling' to count to a billion (and beyond). Students practice sampling by estimating the number of characters on a page from the classified section of a...
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How Much, How Fast, How Far?
Students investigate the concept of the number one million. In this number concepts lesson, students read the book How Much is a Million? and brainstorm questions, such as "how many leaves are on a tree" and "how many hairs are on your...
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Digital Story with Math Vocab Words
Create digital stories with your class, in order to help further understand math vocabulary. You can modify this activity idea to any vocabulary lesson, whether it be for math, science, or language arts!
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Star Wars Activity
Students investigate radiant energy by completing discrepant events and identify various temperature changes through absorption and how radiant energy can be used for solar panels. They experiment with different color fabrics in order...
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The Rare Earth - How Rare Is Earth-Like Life?
Students systematically investigate the time frame for complex life to develop on Earth. They approximate how many other planets there may be harboring Earth-like complex life in our galaxy.
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The Universe-Scientific Notation Extension
For this scientific notation worksheet, students write a set of 9 average distances in standard form, then complete 3 additional problems. A reference web site is given for additional activities.
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The Next Dimension
Students explore the three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system and discuss how it is important for structural engineers in order to be able to describe locations in space to fellow engineers. They participate in a hands-on activity...
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Extraterrestrial Communication: Can We Talk to Anybody Out There?
Young scholars examine the possibilities of communication with other living organisms within our solar system through research and hands on activities, as well as observing and analyzing teacher demonstrations.
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The Battle for Ultimate Power
Students gain an understanding of how the powers of 10 and scientific notation can be used to represent the scale of things in the universe. They relate the number of stars in the universe to the number of grains of sand on Earth's beaches.
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Fermi Detects Gamma-Rays from Messier
In this power law function worksheet, students use data from the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space telescope to apply the power law function to physical phenomena. Students use a graph to solve four problems.
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The Drake Equation
High schoolers use the Drake Equation to calculate the probability of sustaining life on various planets. Through the use of the equation, they determine whether intelligent and advanced civilizations can be developed on planets other...
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Gravity: It's GREEEAAATTT!
Students calculate effects of gravitational force on planets, discuss the effects of weightlessness on the human body and describe and demonstrate how objects in a state of free fall are accelerated by gravity at an equal rate.
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Out of This World
Young scholars are introduced to the solar system and its place in the universe. They begin to grasp the idea of very large numbers by estimating and computing how long it take the class to make a million x's.
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Space Trader And Economics
Students' play a game applying different economic and game terms. In the game, the students' are to travel to 4 planets which provide the best resources for increasing their money to purchase a moon in the end. The students' keep track...
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Sunshine and Shadows
Students measure their shadows early in the morning, record direction of shadow, make marks in ground with chalk or tape, measure with ruler, and record results. Students repeat process at noon, and then later in afternoon. Students...
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Astronomical Scales
Students describe the different units of measurement. In this space science lesson, students calculate astronomical distances using a scale. They explain the significance of using scientific notation in expressing very small or very...