Shapes in the Sky. A Planetarium Lab Lesson and Classroom Activities for Grades K-1

Transcription

1 A Planetarium Lab Lesson and Classroom Activities for Grades K-1 Students observe a geometric shape (star, or constellation patterns) for each season; how the sky changes daily and seasonally; compass directions for rising and setting objects and the apparent east to west daily motion; and the difference between night and day. Shapes In the Sky 1

2 A Planetarium Lab Lesson and Classroom Activities for Grades K-1 Developed by Bob Riddle, Planetarium Director 2006 KCMSD Planetarium 6512 Wornall Road Kansas City, MO (816) Planetarium Lab Lessons Kindergarten Grade 3 Grade 5 Grade 7 Grade 9-12 Students will observe a geometric shape (star or constellation patterns) for each season; how the sky changes daily and seasonally; compass directions for rising and setting objects and the apparent east to west daily motion; difference between night and day. (30-40 minutes) Students will observe the real and apparent motion of our Moon and its phase changes through a lunar cycle, and will also observe the Sun on the first day of each season. Using time and direction students will plot the Sun's apparent path for each of these days and will note its mid-day altitude over the southern horizon. (40-60 minutes) Students will observe apparent and real motions of the Sun, Moon, and other planets, and the stars as the Earth rotates and revolves. Students will construct and use a manipulative tool, the Big Dipper Sky Clock. (40-60 minutes) Students will observe the effect of Earth revolution and rotation by observing and graphing the Sun's apparent eastward annual path along the ecliptic, and the Sun s apparent daily westward apparent motion. (40-60 minutes) Students will observe and plot the long-term changes in star positions due to precession of the Earth's axis and how these changes relate to the constellations in the background against which the Sun appears to move along the ecliptic. (50-60 minutes) Credits: Cover illustration, and illustrations on pages 7, 9-11 from Our Sky Clock, Project STARWALK 1. Finding Shapes, and Making Shapes, modified from Activities for the School Planetarium, Planetarium Activities for Student Success. Volume , Regents of the University of California. Shapes in the Sky activities modified from Our Sky Clock, Project STARWALK 1. 1 Project STARWALK. Developed with Title IV-C, and funding from U.S. Dept. of Education, National Diffusion Network Bob Riddle, Director. Shapes In the Sky 2

3 Shapes In The Sky. Grade Level: K-l Description: In this Planetarium lab lesson students observe a geometric shape (star or constellation patterns) for each season; how the sky changes daily and seasonally; compass directions for rising and setting objects and the apparent east to west daily motion; difference between night and day. (30-40 minutes) Scope and Sequence: Observe and describe the general weather conditions that occur during each season Observe and describe the presence of the Sun, moon, and stars in the sky Recognize there are more stars in the sky than anyone can easily count, but they are not scattered evenly and vary in brightness Describe the Sun as only being seen in the daytime Recognize the Sun appears to move across the sky from morning to night Observe the moon can be seen sometimes at night and sometimes during the daytime Recognize the moon appears to change shape over the course of a month Observe and describe the characteristics of the four seasons as they cycle through the year (summer, fall, winter, spring) Before Visiting The Planetarium: Discuss the Planetarium visit in general terms. Students should know that this is a special room that can show what the night sky, and the day sky look like. Explain that while at the Planetarium students will be looking for shapes in the Planetarium model night sky by using imaginary lines to connect stars as is done with dot-to-dot pictures. There is a different shape for each season during the year and students will look for these as part of the lesson. Relate this idea to what each season looks like (see Shapes in the Sky manipulative), i.e., what type of clothing would be worn and so on. Discuss shapes such as square, triangle, rectangle, circle. Look for examples of each shape around the classroom. Have students complete activity Find A Shape-l. Discuss with students how shapes can be drawn, i.e., how many corners would it require for each shape; if connecting dots, how many dots would it take to draw each shape. Have students complete activity Find A Shape-2. See Vocabulary list on next page. Shapes In the Sky 3

4 Post Planetarium: Review lesson by showing pictures representing each season. Ask students to say which shape they should look for during the season described in the picture. Have students trace, color and complete at least one of the constellations, or the one for the current season. Have students cut out and assemble with a brass fastener, the Shapes in the Sky manipulative. The two patterns may be enlarged on a copier if necessary before cutting out. Use this manipulative to reinforce the seasonal shape, the spelling of the name of the season, and a topic and or an activity related to that season. Vocabulary: Planetarium north, south, east, west sunrise, sunset rising, setting seasons, fall, winter, spring, summer square, circle, triangle, rectangle Pegasus the Flying Horse square Orion the Hunter rectangle, and part of the Winter Triangle Leo the Lion backward question mark-shape and small triangle Cygnus the Swan cross-shape, or letter T, or part of the Summer Triangle Shapes In the Sky 4

5 Some Web Resources NASA/JPL Solar System. This is a 'one-stop' web site for up-to-date information, videos, images, lessons and so on, from the Jet Propulsion Lab. This is mission control for all robotic spacecraft and rovers. The Solar System Educators Program is a nationwide network of 65 highly motivated teachers who lead workshops that show other teachers how to successfully incorporate NASA materials and research into their classes. Web site has lesson plans and activities for all grade levels. Build A Solar System. Input a size and this online calculator will give you the scale sizes of nearly all objects in the solar system. After getting the data you could make a scale model of the Solar System and learn the REAL definition of "space." Solar System Live. Welcome to Solar System Live, the interactive Orrery of the Web. You can view the entire Solar System, or just the inner planets (through the orbit of Mars). Controls allow you to set time and date, viewpoint, observing location, orbital elements to track an asteroid or comet, and a variety of other parameters. Your Sky. Welcome to Your Sky, the interactive planetarium of the Web. You can produce maps in the forms described below for any time and date, viewpoint, and observing location. Each map is accompanied by an ephemeris for the Sun, Moon, planets, and any tracked asteroid or comet. A control panel permits customization of which objects are plotted, limiting magnitudes, colour scheme, image size, and other parameters. Moon Basics. Learn about the Moon from the National Maritime Museum of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich England. Que tal in the Current Skies. Online guide to what is viewable for each month. Good resources and reprints of space-related articles from NSTA publications. Space Flight Now. An excellent source of space-related news, covering astronomy and the manned/robotic exploration of the solar system. Space Calendar. The Space Calendar covers space-related activities and anniversaries for the coming year. Included are over 1,800 links to related home pages. Shapes In the Sky 5

6 Finding Shapes Name: Shapes In the Sky 6

7 Making Shapes Can you put the dots together make one of each of these shapes? Use a pencil or crayon to connect the dots to make your shapes. Name: Shapes In the Sky 7

8 Name: Directions: Use a paper fastener and fasten the Shapes Circle onto this page. Shapes In the Sky 8

9 Name: Directions: Use your scissors and cut the Shapes wheel out along the dark line. Cut out area inside the rectangle and the circle. Shapes In the Sky 9

10 Name: I am the constellation, the Flying Horse. My star shape is a. I am visible in the evening during the season. Follow these directions: 1. Trace the square shape in my body with a dark colored crayon. 2. Color my picture. Shapes In the Sky 10

11 Name: I am the constellation, the Hunter. My star shape is a. I am visible in the evening during the season. Follow these directions: 1. Trace the rectangle shape in my body with a dark colored crayon. 2. Find my belt stars. 3. Color my picture. Shapes In the Sky 11

12 Name: I am the constellation, the Lion. My star shapes are a, and a. I am visible in the evening during the season. Follow these directions: 1. Trace the backward question-mark and the triangle shape in my body with a dark colored crayon. 2. Color my picture. Shapes In the Sky 12

13 Name: I am the constellation, the Swan. My star shape is a. I am visible in the evening during the season. Follow these directions: 1. Trace the cross shape in my body with a dark colored crayon. 2. Color my picture. Shapes In the Sky 13