ALEX | Alabama Learning Exchange

What's in Space?

Classroom Resource Information

Title:

What's in Space?

URL:

https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/buac18-35-sci-ess-whatsinspace/whats-in-space/

Content Source:

PBS

Type:

Informational Material

Overview:

Observe and read about Earth’s cosmic neighborhood and objects found in space with this annotated slideshow of NASA images. This slideshow can pique students’ interest and provide opportunities to ask questions about various objects found beyond Earth’s surface as they consider what telescopes have revealed. This is a great activity to introduce objects in the solar system before students make their own models.

Support materials include Background Reading, Teaching Tips, and Discussion Questions. This resource was developed through WGBH’s Bringing the Universe to America’s Classrooms project, in collaboration with NASA.

Content Standard(s):

Science
SC2015 (2015)
Grade: 6
Earth and Space Science

3 ) Develop and use models to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system (e.g., scale model representing sizes and distances of the sun, Earth, moon system based on a one-meter diameter sun).

Unpacked Content

Scientific And Engineering Practices:

Developing and Using Models

Crosscutting Concepts: Scale, Proportion, and Quantity

Disciplinary Core Idea: Earth's Place in the Universe

Evidence Of Student Attainment:

Students:

Develop models to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.
Use models to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.

Teacher Vocabulary:

Model
Scale
Scale model
Properties
Size
Distance
Diameter
Solar system
Planet
Moon
Sun
Asteroid
Asteroid belt
Celestial body

Knowledge:

Students know:

A (scale) model is a representation or copy of an object that is larger or smaller than the actual size of the object being represented.
Measurements may be multiplied or divided to correctly scale objects in a model.
Charts and data tables may be analyzed to find patterns in data.
Patterns can be used to describe similarities and differences in objects in the solar system.
Systems and their properties may be described using more than one scale.

Skills:

Students are able to:

Develop a model of objects in the solar system and identify the relevant components.
Describe that different representations illustrate different characteristics of objects in the solar system, including differences in scale.
Use mathematics and computational thinking to determine scale properties.
Describe that two objects may be similar when viewed at one scale but may appear to be quite different when viewed at a different scale.

Understanding:

Students understand that:

The solar system consists of the sun and a collection of objects, including planets, their moons, and asteroids that are held in orbit around the sun by its gravitational pull on them.
Space phenomena can be observed at various scales using models to study systems that are too large or too small.

AMSTI Resources:

AMSTI Module:
Researching the Sun-Earth-Moon System
Exploring Planetary Systems

Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards

AAS Standard:
SCI.AAS.6.3- Use a model to compare the relative sizes of objects in the solar system (e.g., sun, Earth, moon).

Tags:

Earth, moon, solar system, space, telescope

License Type:

Custom Permission Type
See Terms: https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/help/terms-of-use/#permitted
For full descriptions of license types and a guide to usage, visit :
https://creativecommons.org/licenses

Accessibility

Comments

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This resource provided by:

Author:

Stephanie Carver

ALEX Classroom Resource

What's in Space?