Conceptual Physics: Astronomy Units
Astronomy (literally, "law of the stars") is the science of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere, such as stars, planets, comets, galaxies, and cosmic background radiation. It describes the physical and chemical properties of celestial objects with calculations of their motions. Astronomical observations provide essential information for the verification of fundamental theories in physics and to explain astronomical phenomena.
Astronomy Resources For the High School Classroom (14)
Lesson Plans:
Impressive set of modules on astronomy appropriate for the advanced high school level. Interactive web-based concept questions promote active group discussion. Each topic is accompanied by animations and/or simulations. This is a work in progress at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Level: Grades 9-12
Ten standards-aligned lesson plans developed for grades 7-12 on space science and the evolution of the universe. Topics include the electromagnetic spectrum, satellite image data analysis, the origin of the elements, supernovae, and gamma-ray bursts. Look for the printable student guides.
Activities:
In this activity students will explore orbital shapes and properties.
A terrific interactive tutorial on the evolution of stars. It integrates activities, graphs, quizzes, and animations to trace a star's life from protostar stage through "old age" and death.
Explore both the Ptolemaic (geocentric) and Copernican (heliocentric) models of the solar system in this module that features two simulations, comprehensive student guide, pre-test, post-test, and content support for teachers.
Level: Grades 9-12
In this module, you'll find simulations for introducing terrestrial coordinates (latitude/longitude), celestial equatorial coordinates, and how Earth's seasons are related to its axial tilt. It will help build a foundation for understanding obliquity, the angle between an object's rotational axis and a line perpendicular to its orbital plane. Knowledge of obliquity is crucial for astronomy calculations and Earth-based observation. Includes detailed student guide, assessment materials, and background information.
Level: Grades 9-12
Here you'll find a rich array of visualization tools for a 3D exploration of our cosmic neighborhood. The website uses actual data and images generated from past and present space missions. Students can zoom, change lighting, "ride-on-board", do scale comparisons, and replay events in real or accelerated time. Adaptable for a range of grade bands and ability levels.
Level: Grades 9-12
References and Collections:
Easy-to-navigate reference material that explains how astronomers use spectra to understand star composition, structure, and evolution. Contains multiple drawings and photos.
A well-constructed guide to non-technical books, articles, and web sites about black holes. Don't miss the sections on the large black hole at the center of the Milky Way and links to animations that model the black hole phenomenon. All resources are appropriate for high school level.
Level: Grades 8-12
Beautifully organized website offers a wealth of information about the objects in our solar system, recent technology used to explore these worlds, space missions, and stories about the people behind the missions. Browse image galleries, explore multimedia resources, find lesson plans, or download videos and animations. Look under the sections on "Missions" and "Technology" for materials designed for high school learners.
Level: Grades 9-12
Content Support For Teachers:
This set of materials pertaining to Kepler's laws includes equations and properties of conic sections, scale of the solar system, the energy equation for Keplerian motion, and Newton's "Universal Gravitation". It is part of a larger collection that offers lesson plans, lecture materials, and historical background. No calculus is introduced.
Student Tutorials:
Impressive set of modules on astronomy appropriate for the advanced high school level. Interactive web-based concept questions promote active group discussion. Each topic is accompanied by animations and/or simulations. This is a work in progress at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
This website, sponsored by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is a cost free online workbook/tutorial on the fundamentals of radio astronomy. It would be appropriate to augment a unit on electromagnetic radiation, and includes a unit exam. Available in Adobe pdf format.
Assessment:
This is an assessment guide for STEM instructors. Learn about research-based assessment design and view examples of varied classroom assessment techniques (CAT's). Diagnostic pre-tests are included for both astronomy and physics learners.
*NOTE* Difficulties have been reported using this resource in the Firefox browser.
Astronomy Activities (12)
Lesson Plans:
How to measure mass in a weightless environment
This learning module introduces the search for planets outside of our solar system using the radial velocity and transit methods. Planets around other stars proved very elusive to find until 1995, when astronomers in Geneva detected an exoplanet using the radial velocity (or Doppler) technique. Since that time, hundreds of exoplanets have been discovered in this manner. A second detection technique (the transit method, used in The Kepler Mission) is also explored in this module.
Level: Grades 9-12
Duration: 1-2 Class Periods
A collection of standards-based lesson plans for K-12 developed to help teachers integrate astronomy into the physical science classroom.
Level: Grades K-12
Activities:
Learn about space and the objects in it.
A unique method to gauge and evaluate astronomical distances
Hands-on activity that shows the scope and shape of the magnetosphere
This java applet models the motion of planets in the solar system, demonstrating Kepler's Second Law.
A terrific interactive tutorial on the evolution of stars. It integrates activities, graphs, quizzes, and animations to trace a star's life from protostar stage through "old age" and death.
A lesson plan on the topic of periodic motion. Students analyze data from satellites of various binary stars' orbital periods, then construct their own pendulum. Animated instruction clips help students through each step of the process.
A great simulation to help students understand that stars are not moving in the night sky......our planet's rotation on its axis just makes it appear so. This sim features Polaris as the focal point for investigating moving reference frames.
Level: Grades 5-12
This learning module introduces the search for planets outside of our solar system using the radial velocity and transit methods. Planets around other stars proved very elusive to find until 1995, when astronomers in Geneva detected an exoplanet using the radial velocity (or Doppler) technique. Since that time, hundreds of exoplanets have been discovered in this manner. A second detection technique (the transit method, used in The Kepler Mission) is also explored in this module.
Level: Grades 9-12
Duration: 1-2 Class Periods
Content Support For Teachers:
Supporting materials for astronomy and physics teachers
Astronomy: An Historical Perspective (12)
Lesson Plans:
Kepler's Laws explained and illustrated
Appreciate the origins of astronomical objects.
Weather in Space? How can that be?
Activities:
A history and appreciation of the development of calendars
How did we find them and what this discovery meant to understanding the Earth's mechanics.
These simulations explore the universe as envisioned by early thinkers. Explore the Ptolemy's Model (geocentric) and Copernicus' Model (heliocentric). Contains student guide, pretest, post-test, and background info.
References and Collections:
Looking for books and articles on Galileo written at the level of middle/high school? This resource guide will point you to book lists plus some excellent web sites and videos on the legendary scientist.
This gem of a resource lets students explore the background of 32 key women who have overcome prejudice and exclusion to make significant contributions to the field of astronomy. In addition, look for the annotated links to author-recommended web sites on the topic.
Content Support For Teachers:
Using a simulated telescope online
History of space exploration.
Student Tutorials:
Understanding orbital mechanics for students.
Assessment:
How NOT to teach astronomy
Astronomy: Special K-12 Collections (7)
Lesson Plans:
More than 20 interactive Java science labs with downloadable simulations. Half of the simulations are related to Astronomy and half pertain to general topics in physical science. Each interactive lab is attractive and fun, yet mentally challenging for adolescents. Materials include complete lesson plans which were authored collaboratively by teachers and research scientists.
Level: Grades 6-10
Activities:
This website, sponsored by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is dedicated to keeping the public updated about recent discoveries of extrasolar planets. You'll find information on exploratory missions, technology used to detect extrasolar planets, images and videos, and vignettes about the people involved in discovering other planets. Don't miss the Extreme Planet Makeover and the PlanetQuest Timeline.
Level: Gradres 6-12
Here you'll find a rich array of visualization tools for a 3D exploration of our cosmic neighborhood. The website uses actual data and images generated from past and present space missions. Students can zoom, change lighting, "ride-on-board", do scale comparisons, and replay events in real or accelerated time. Adaptable for a broad range of grade bands and ability levels.
Level: Grades 3-12
References and Collections:
K-12 classroom activities and educational resources on infrared astronomy. Sponsored by NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, find lesson plans for elementary and secondary teachers, games, image sets and videos of infrared and UV phenomena.
Level: Grades K-12
See virtual images of each planet and its moons as seen from Earth, the Sun, or from any other planet in the solar system. Time parameters may be set from 1990-2025 to enable virtual viewing at certain dates.
Level: Grades 5-12
This comprehensive NASA website, intended for adolescent learners, provides timely news and information about space exploration and space science. Included are many creative resources, such as "Ask an Astrophysicist", "You Be the Astrophysicist", "Satellite Showcase", and the Cosmic Times newsletter.
Level: Grades 7-12
NASA's Solar System Exploration website offers a wealth of information about the objects in our solar system, recent technology used to explore these worlds, space missions, and stories about the people behind the missions. Users will find image galleries, multimedia resources for teachers and learners, videos, animations, and other interactive features to explore the planets, comets, asteroids, the history of robotic exploration, and future missions.
Level: K-12
Astronomy Resources for the K-8 Classroom (1)
Activities:
Build your own system of heavenly bodies and watch the gravitational ballet! This orbit simulator lets users set initial position, velocity, and masses for up to 4 planets. It was designed to help students form deeper understanding of how a planet's orbit is affected by its mass, speed, and distance from its sun.
Level: Grades 6-12
Duration: One Class Period
