Friday: More on the Big Bang Theory

Today in class students will share their work from yesterday focused on The Big Bang Theory and discuss the role gravity has played in shaping stars, planets and planetary systems.

In addition, students will watch a 10 minute clip from the 4 hour NOVA series called Origins focused on the early universe.  Students can access more here: Origins: Back the Beginning  (Note: Not all classes watched this today due to time)

Students will have some worktime in class to finish their comics from yesterday.  Students that have additional time should check out these space links:

• TED Ed: More about the Big Bang
• TED Ed: What Outerspace Does to Your Body
• TED Ed: Surviving in Space without a Spacesuit
• TED Ed: Gravity and the Human Body
• TED Ed: How Do We Study the Stars?
• TED Ed: The Incredible Collaboration Behind the ISS
• TED Ed: What is the Universe Made Of?
• TED Ed: Life of an Astronaut
• TED Ed: How Small are we in the Scale of the Universe?
• Other Space TED Ed Videos
• Size and Scale of Universe Interactive

Thursday: The Big Bang Theory

The scientific explanation for how the Universe formed is known as The Big Bang Theory.  Today in class students will learn what scientists believe happened and the work on making a diagram of the steps.  Here are the resources from class:

• Presentation: Overview of the Big Bang Theory
• The Big Bang Timeline Notes
• ASSIGNMENT: Big Bang Comic

ASSIGNMENTS:

•  Big Bang Comic (at least the first page, preferably both pages) due Friday at the start of class

Wednesday: Gravity and the International Space Station

Today students will continue to learn about gravity and will focus on microgravity research taking place on the International Space Station.  Here is the presentation from class: Presentation: Gravity Continued – Orbit and ISS

Students will be researching scientific studies happening on the ISS to study how microgravity impacts life.  This is in preparation for future space travel.  Here are the links for today’s research:

ISS Experiment Links:

• Newsela: NASA Growing Seeds in Space
• Newsela: NASA studies twin astronauts to discover the effects of living in space
• Overview of some ISS experiments
• Article: Brief Overview of 10 Experiments on the ISS
• Complete List of ISS Experiments
• Video: Student Experiments on the ISS – 25 minute Interview

Students that have extra time can check out these resources:

• Take a Tour of the Space Station With Astronaut Chris Cassidy | NASA ISS Science HD – YouTube youtube.com
• Washing Your Hair in Space
• Chris Cassidy – How to Shave Your Head In Space
• Sleeping in Space – YouTube
• Running In Space
• Chris Hadfield and some incredibly floating Canadian space food – YouTube
• What Happens When You Wring a Washcloth in Orbit?
• International Space Station toilet tour
• Tour of ISS (25 minutes)
• Brainpop International Space Station
• Article: NASA wants to keep the International Space Station going until 2024. Is that a good idea?

Tuesday: Introduction to Gravity

Without gravity, there would be no space, no stars, no planets and no humans.  Today students will learn about gravity to better understand its role in shaping our Universe.  A few things to remember about gravity:

Gravity is a force of attraction between objects (with mass)

Everything that is anything (made of atoms) has mass, thus everything has gravity.

The greater the mass of an object the greater the gravitational force.

Students can view the complete notes from class here: Introduction to Gravity Presentation

Students also have a short assignment to complete about moving asteroids using something called a “gravity tractor.”  Students can access the article and assignment here: Gravity Tractor Article

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Gravity Tractor Article due Wed

Monday: Introduction to Space

Today students begin a new unit focused on space!  Over the next 5 weeks, students will be taking a closer look at the scientific theories for the origins of the Universe, the formation of planets and stars, the search for life in the Universe, the phases of the moon and the causes of the seasons.  Today’s lesson begins with an overview of basic vocabulary.  Here is a link to the vocabulary activity from class today: Space Vocabulary

Students will also have time to do some independent research about space in class today. Use these links to gather information:

• CoolCosmos Ask An Astronomer
• Article: What Other Worlds Have We Landed On?
• Newsela: Space researchers hope to find the next “Earth” among 7 distant planets
• 5 crazy-cool space discoveries that blew our minds in 2016

Thursday: Climate Change and Solutions Recap

Today students will review what they have learned the past 7 weeks about Earth’s atmosphere, the carbon cycle, climate change and solutions.

Here are links to information about some of the “solutions” people are developing to stop or slow climate change:

• Renewable Energy Cars
• Tax on Carbon and Methane Emissions
• What is Carbon Capture?
• Carbon Capture: Can scientists use carbon dioxide to make things?
• Blocking the Sun’s heat by Making Clouds More Reflective
• Blocking the Sun’s Energy with Fake Volcanoes

Have a great break!

 

Wednesday: Kill-a-watt Lab

Today students used “Kill-A-Watt” meters to measure and compare the amount of electricity different household appliances use.  Students will use their measurements to consider which energy-reduction choices may have the biggest impact on the planet.

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Turn in all missing work and revise the Climate Change Note Catcher by the end of the school day on Thursday, April 13th.

 

 

Tuesday: Electricity Appliance Sort

Today students shared their data from their Carbon Footprint Investigations and worked to make connections between energy usage and CO2 output.  Following this, students did an activity focused on comparing the amount of electricity (measured in watts) that different household appliances use.  This will help students be prepared for tomorrow’s lab measuring wattage and energy consumption.

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Turn in all missing work and revise the Climate Change Note Catcher by the end of the school day on Thursday, April 13th.

Monday: Carbon Footprints

Today students will consider this: Is using renewable energy the only way to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere?

As most students have determined, reducing how much overall energy being used also can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere.  The amount of carbon that each person releases as a result of their energy choices is called their “Carbon Footprint.”  Here is some information about this:

• What is Carbon Footprint? | Mocomi Kids
• Carbon Footprint Slideshow Video

For their class activity today, students will be using an interactive “Carbon Footprint Calculator” to consider how everyday choices may impact the amount of energy (and carbon) being used.  Here are the materials for this assignment:

• Carbon Footprint Calculator
• Worksheet: Carbon Footprint Calculator Interactive

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Worksheet: Carbon Footprint Calculator Interactive due Tuesday
• Regional Energy Use Map Analysis  due Tuesday.
• Turn in all missing work and revise the Climate Change Note Catcher by the end of the school day on Thursday, April 13th.

Thursday & Friday: Investigating Energy Resources

Students will continue with their work from yesterday researching renewable and non-renewable energy sources.  Students will need this link to complete their research:

• Link to Energy Sources Videos (look on the bottom half of the page)

Once students finish, they have a second assignment to complete looking at the specific energy sources used in different regions of the US.  Students will need these materials:

• Regional Energy Use Map
• Regional Energy Use Map Analysis

Students with extra time can self-select an energy source to learn more about:

• Nuclear
• Biomass
• Petroleum
• Geothermal
• Wind
• Solar
• Natural Gas
• Hydro
• Coal
• Tidal
• More information for renewable energy sources

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Energy Sources Research  and Regional Energy Use Map Analysis  due next week.
• Turn in all missing work and revise the Climate Change Note Catcher by the end of the school day on Thursday, April 13th.