Students will be able to obtain and communicate information to model the position of the Sun in the Universe, the shapes and composition of galaxies, and the measurement unit needed to identify star and galaxy locations. 8.E.4A.1
Content Knowledge Support
- Read and compete interactive science workbook pages 266-271.
Discussion Topic
- When you look up into the night sky and see the light from a distant star explain what that light's journey may have been like and discuss how and why you are actually looking into the past and what this may mean.
Recommended Exercises
(Level 2) Application
Research your favorite image of our Milky Way Galaxy and using Google Draw or any other drawing application/tool accurately mark and label the location of our Sun and Solar System and answer the reflection questions using this assignment TEMPLATE. |
(Level 5) Creation
Create a scale model of our Milky Way Galaxy using this assignment TEMPLATE. |
Additional Exercises & Extensions
(Level 1) Comprehension
- Complete the Galaxy Types Quizlet set.
- Complete Our Universe and the Milky Way Galaxy EDPuzzle.
- Using 25 - 50 words accurately explain why a light year measures distances in space rather than time.
- Accurately explain the difference between a solar system and a galaxy using 25-50 words.
- Using the image below accurately identify a nebula, solar system, a galaxy and the Universe.
(Level 2) Application
- Research your favorite image of our Milky Way Galaxy and using Google Draw or any other drawing application/tool accurately mark and label the location of our Sun and Solar System and answer the reflection questions using this assignment TEMPLATE.
(Level 3) Analysis
- Research and identify how many light years across our Milky Way Galaxy is. Then research how many miles are in one light year. Calculate how many miles across our Milky Way Galaxy might be and report your work and calculations on a piece of paper and submit a photograph of your work.
- Using the image below research and explain the difference between a planet, solar system, galaxy, and the observable Universe using 100-150 words. Be sure to use light years in your response.
- A student missed the first day of a lab, but has to help his group accurately measure and model the location of the Sun in the Milky Way galaxy model pictured below. Using 75-100 words what would be the best suggestion to help his group accurately complete their model?
(Level 4) Evaluation
- Check out the video, How Do We Know What the Milky Way Looks Like? Evaluate whether or not we actually can know our own galaxy is a spiral using 3 or more specific details from the video.
- What is the best method for measuring vast distances in our Solar System and in space - miles, astronomical units (AU), or light years? Explain why using 2 or more specific details about why your choice is better than each of the other two choices.
- Using the image below research and explain the difference between a planet, solar system, galaxy, and the observable Universe using 100-150 words. Be sure to use light years in your response.
(Level 5) Creation
- Create a scale model of our Milky Way Galaxy using this assignment TEMPLATE.
- The closest known galaxy to us is the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy, at 25,000 light years from the Sun. The Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy is the next closest , at 70,000 light years from the Sun. Therefore, even the closest galaxies to our own are remarkably far away even in light years! Can you image how many light years away other galaxies are!? Create your own method of measuring vast distances in space and explain why this method would be better than light years.
Lab Exploration
Additional Explorations
- Research and summarize how each of the following historical figures that have contributed to our current understanding of the Sun's location in the Milky Way.
- Johannes Kepler
- Galileo Galilei
- Tycho Brahe
- Light travels 9.46x10^12 km (5.88 x 10^12 miles) in a year. This means that the light we are seeing for objects in the sky is from the past! The further away an object is, the older the light is that we are receiving form it. Find out how old the light we are observing is from the following objects:
- Our Sun
- Andromeda galaxy
- Most distant celestial object ever observed...so far.
- Research and find out how the shapes of galaxies can change over time as a result of various factors
- Research and find out how astronomers use a method called parallax to determine how far away stars are.
Future Learning Connections (9-12)
- Construct explanations for how gravity and motion affect the formation and shapes of galaxies including the Milky Way Galaxy.
English Language Learners
Module Review Resources
Vocabulary Practice
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