Waltrina D. Kirkland-Mullins
(Note: One or two questions per day serve as daily topics of study. Lessons should be implemented 3 days per week at 45-50 minutes per session; the time frame can be extended or lessened as required.)
Week 1 – Questions 1-3
Objectives
Students will speculate the attributes of our Sun.
Students will learn the general attributes of a star, recognizing that our star is the Sun.
Students will examine non-fictional and fictional literary works to learn more about our star.
Select Reading:
Our Solar System
by Seymour Simon
Recommended Closing Activities
Sing Along: Oh Mr. Sun/Zipadeedoodah!
View Eyewitness Film – 1st half - The Planets
Independent Research Project – Celestial Bodies in
Our Solar System
Week 2 – Questions 4-6
Objectives
Students will conceptualize the distance of our Sun from planet Earth.
Students will grasp that distance impacts our perception of size.
Students will conceptualize differential rotation.
Students will recognize that the Sun is the center of our solar system.
Select Reading
:
Our Solar System
by Seymour Simon
Recommended Closing Activity
View Eyewitness Film – 2nd half - The Planets
Continue Independent Research Project – Celestial Bodies in Our Solar System
Week 3 – Questions 7 - 10
Objectives
Students will conceptualize the causes of night and day.
Students will conceptualize why the Sun appears to disappear on cloudy days.
Students will learn about Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Galileo and prevailing thoughts about Astronomy during their era.
Students will compare and contrast Ptolemy's and Galileo's views.
Select Reading:
The Starry Messenger/Any of the three Folkloric Tales
Recommended Closing Activities
Open-Ended Writing Prompt - Summarize This
Independent Research Project – Astronomers Past and Present
Venn Diagram (to compare Ptolemy versus Galileo's lives and view of solar system
Week 4 – Questions 11-14
Objectives
Students will learn about the Sun's inner region and outer atmosphere, with emphasis on the core and radiative zone.
Students will recognize that the Sun's temperature varies throughout.
Students will conceptualize the convection process.
Select Reading
:
The Sun
by Seymour Simon
Recommended Closing Activity
Create 3-D Diagram of our Sun
Sun Puzzle Quiz (see Enchanted Learning website) and Sun Questionnaire (see Appendix B)
Week 5 – Questions 15 -19
Objectives
Students will learn about the photosphere and chromosphere.
Students will conceptualize the transferal of heat and light energy.
Select Reading: Any of the three folkloric tales noted herein.
Recommended Closing Activity
Trip to the Yale Observatory
Open-Ended Writing Prompt – Rename It
Week 6 – Questions 20 - 24
Objectives
: Students will continue study the Sun's atmosphere, particularly the corona.
Students will conceptualize the transferal of heat and light energy.
____
Select Reading
:
The Sun
by Seymour Simon
Recommended Closing Activity
Open-Ended Writing Prompt – You're The Expert
Week 7 – Questions 25 - 28
Objectives
Students will continue study of the Sun's atmosphere, with emphasis on the corona, sunspots, and solar flares.
Students will observe, chart, and statistically record the Sun's rotation.
Select Reading
:
The Sun
by Seymour Simon
Recommended Closing Activity
Monitor and graph movement of sunspots.
Refer to
http://solar-center.stanford.edu/solar-images/solar-images.html#need
website. Sun image contained herein will be observed daily.
Week 8 – Questions 29 -32
Objectives
Students will conclude study the Sun's atmosphere.
Students will observe, chart, record, and conclude observation of Sunspot movement.
Select Reading
:
The Sun
Recommended Closing Activity
Graph movement sunspots. Create final report concerning monitored observations. Refer to http://solar-center.stanford.edu/solar-images/solar-images.html#need
Use this website image to complete graphing/monitoring activity.
Week 9 – Excursions
Objectives
To conclude our study with an experiential activity.
Select Reading
:
Planetarium
by Barbara Brennar
Recommended Closing Activities
Culminating visit to the Rose-Hay Planetarium in NYC, providing an interactive, hands-on experience for our young stargazers
.
"Thank You Letter" to Rose-Hayden Planetarium contact
Week 10 – Optional Additions
Objectives
To convey our understanding of the Sun through fictional storywriting.
To share our literary creations with others.
Select Reading:
Revisit previously read folkloric and non-fiction selections.
Recommended Closing Activities
Narrative Writing Prompt # 6 – My Trip To The Sun!
Author's Tea (to showcase our final narrative product)