Curriculum Map for Life Science & the Stars

Units / Content / Skills for student Achievement
Students will be able to… / Assessment / Performance Standards Addressed / Essential Questions
1 / History of Astronomy /
  • Understand the way new scientific knowledge is gained
  • Discover some of the main people behind some important contributions in astronomy
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  • Debunk Astrology
  • Our Place in the Universe
  • Ancient Astronomy
  • Fakebook Page
  • Timeline Activity
  • Timeline Poster
  • Planetarium Visit
  • Astronomer Timeline
/
  • Science is about understanding the natural world. Characterized by empirical criteria, logical argument, & skeptical review.
  • 9.1.1.1.1-4
  • Historical contributions.
  • 9.1.3.2.1
/
  • What is Astronomy? Astrology?
  • Who helped us to discover what we know about the cosmos today?
  • How did they determine what they knew?
  • When were some of the important astronomical events?
  • Where do we live in the universe?

2 / Measurements & Units /
  • Use conversions
  • Determine the difference between some astronomical units
  • Convert things into & from scientific notation
  • Use metric conversions
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  • Space Math
  • Conversions Practice
  • Math Quiz
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  • Describe how values & constraints affect science & engineering.
  • 9.1.3.3.1
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  • Why do we use the metric system in science?
  • How do you measure precisely?

3 / Moon /
  • Identify the phases of the moon
  • Explain what the various types of eclipses are & how they are formed
  • Describe the role the moon plays in tides
  • Provide an explanation to lunar landing hoax ideas
  • Describe the best theory for how/when the moon formed.
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  • Phases Animation
  • Eclipse Worksheet
  • Tides Packet
  • Lunar Landing Hoax Research
  • Interactive Moon Map
  • Moon Quiz
/
  • Use the predictable motions of the Earth around its own axis and around the sun, and of the moon around the Earth, to explain the length of a day, phases of the moon, tides & eclipses.
  • 8.3.3.1.5
/
  • What are the phases of the moon?
  • Why do phases occur?
  • How do tides occur? How do they change?
  • What creates an eclipse?
  • Why do people think we have not landed on the moon?
  • What are some of the features of the moon?
  • How as the moon formed?

4 / Planets & Moons /
  • Explain the location of the 8 planets in our solar system.
  • Provide some background information about each planet.
  • Describe the formation of our solar system.
  • Estimate how many planets we have discovered outside our solar system.
  • Name a few moons orbiting planets in our solar system
/
  • Solar System Wiki
  • Solar Walk App
  • Terrestrial & Jovian Planets WS
  • Scale Solar System Model
  • Solar System Scale Activity
  • Solar System Formation Video
  • Solar System Quiz
/
  • The solar system formed from a nebular cloud of dust & gas 4.6 billion years ago.
  • 9.3.3.2.1
  • Magnetic Fields interacting with electromagnetic waves.
  • 9P.2.3.3.1
/
  • How did our star & planets form?
  • What are the 8 planets in order?
  • What are some of the moons in our solar system?
  • What makes each planet different from the rest?
  • How do we detect planets outside our solar system?
  • How many planets have we discovered?
  • What is the difference between a planet & a moon?

5 / Stars /
  • List the various star types & describe the differences between them.
  • Discuss the differences in star life cycles.
  • Understand the layers of the sun.
  • Use an H-R diagram to plot stars.
  • Recognize some star constellations & where they are located.
  • Explain the various types of strange stars
/
  • The Sun Diagram
  • H-R diagram WS
  • Constellation Observation Guide
  • Constellation Review
  • Star Brochure
  • Star Life Cycle WS
  • The Universe Episode
  • Classroom Observation App
  • Constellation I.D.
/
  • Gravitational clumping leads to nuclear fusion, producing energy & chemical elements of a star.
  • 9.3.3.3.2
/
  • What is a star?
  • How are star life cycles different? Similar?
  • What is an H-R diagram used for?
  • What is a constellation?
  • Where are the constellations?
  • What do they look like?
  • What are some strange star types?
  • How does a black hole form?

6 / Galaxies & Beyond /
  • Understand the universe has a finite lifespan & beginning
  • Describe the key shapes & sub shapes to galaxies.
  • Discuss the possible futures of the universe.
  • Understand the dark matter & energy effects.
  • Understand the evolution of galaxies
/
  • Galaxy Type I.D.
  • Big Bang Activity
  • The Universe Episode
  • Galaxy WebQuest
  • Active Galaxies WS
  • Black Hole Formation WS
  • Galaxy evolution Poster
/
  • The big bang theory states that the universe expanded from a hot, dense chaotic mass, after which chemical elements formed & clumped together to form stars & galaxies.
  • 9.3.3.3.1-2
/
  • What is a galaxy?
  • How did galaxies form?
  • What is an active galactic nucleus?
  • How did the universe begin?
  • When?
  • How do we know?
  • How do we measure cosmic distances?
  • What are the various shapes galaxies come in?

7 / Astrobiology /
  • Define the characteristics of life.
  • Apply the char. Of life to other planets & possible species.
  • Determine what habitability is & how we define its boundaries.
  • Explain how life could’ve originated here & other planets.
  • Describe the extreme environments that life can thrive here on Earth.
  • Explain what the Drake Equation is & a few of the variables it considers
/
  • Astrobiology Research
  • The Universe Episode
  • Extremophiles Packet
  • Habitability WS
  • Life in the Universe Debate
  • Astrobiology Quiz
/
  • Compare & contrast the environmental conditions that make life possible on Earth with conditions found on other planets.
  • Compare how life developed on Earth.
  • 9.3.3.2.1-3
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  • What is life?
  • What is habitability?
  • What is an alternative biochemistry?
  • How does life begin?
  • How likely is other life in the universe?
  • What type of life could we find?
  • How are we looking for ETs?

8 / Rockets /
  • Safely launch a rocket.
  • Understand the physics behind rockets.
  • Create a rocket from a pre-designed kit.
  • Measure & calculate the altitude of a rocket.
  • Measure & calc. the velocity of a rocket.
/
  • Assembly of the rockets
  • Rocket Safety
  • Safety Quiz
  • Launching rockets
  • Taking the data from the rocket launches
  • Analysis of Data
  • Rocket Quiz
/
  • Forces & inertia determine the motion of objects.
  • 9P.2.2.1.1-3
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  • How do you make a rocket?
  • How high does a rocket fly? How fast?
  • How do you know?
  • What are the parts to a rocket?
  • What laws are associated with rocketry?
  • What role does physics & math play in rocketry?