The following objectives were taken from
Benchmarks for Science Literacy
(1993)
As a result of this unit, students will understand the following:
Some scientific knowledge is very old, yet is still applicable today.
Important contributions to the advancement of science, mathematics and technology have been made by different kinds of people, in different cultures, at different times.
We live on a relatively small planet, the third from the Sun.
Everything on or anywhere near the Earth is pulled toward the Earth’s center by gravitational force.
Life is adapted to conditions on the Earth, including the force of gravity.
Nine planets of very different size, composition and surface features move around the sun in nearly circular orbits. Some planets have a great variety of moons and even flat rings of rock and ice particles orbiting around them. Some of these planets and moons show evidence of geologic activity.
The Earth is orbited by one moon, many artificial satellites and debris.
The Sun’s gravitational pull holds the Earth and other planets in their orbits, just as the planet’s gravitational pull keeps their moons in orbit around them.
Nothing in the Universe can travel faster then the speed of light, which is the same for all observers, no matter how they or the light source happens to be moving.
Additional objectives:
Students will understand about the vastness of space and the time it would take to travel to various objects in the Universe.
Students will be able to understand and demonstrate Newton’ Laws.
As a result of this unit, students will be able to separate fact from fiction when it comes to living and working in outer space.
Students will gain more experience with open-ended problems, performance-based labs, writing across the curriculum and cooperative learning.