Astronomy/Space Science
Curriculum Ideas for Grades 9-12
Space Science Curriculum for 6-8 weeks

This course is designed to add a semester of science to the existing curriculum or to have these materials integrated into an existing curriculum.  Prerequisites: Physical Science and Biology I

• I. Introduction: Astronomy and Space Science

  • A. History – Early Astronomers
    1. Copernicus - http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Copernicus.html 
    2. Tycho - http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Brahe.html 
    3. Kepler - http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Kepler.html
    4. Galileo - http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Galileo.html
    5. Newton - http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Newton.html
    6. More Astronomers (not all-inclusive) -http://cnr2.kent.edu/~manley/astronomers.html

  • B. Group Activity – (Groups of Three)
    1. Life of an Astronomer - Report Writing, Poster, and/or PowerPoint
    2. Discovery or Contribution of an Astronomer - Report Writing, Poster, and/or PowerPoint
     

• II. Our Solar System

  • A. PowerPoint Universe Model - http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/powerpoint_universe_models.pdf

  • B. Scale Models of Solar System – Stardust Activity Guide: Think Small in a Big Way - http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/scale_models_of_solar_system.pdf

  • C. Our Solar System Lithograph Set - http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Our_Solar_System_Lithograph_Set.html

  • D. Terrestrial Planets
    1. Mercury -
    http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Mercury_Lithograph.html
    2. Venus -
    http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Venus_Lithograph.html
    3. Earth -
    http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Earth_Lithograph.html

    • a.) Weather – Atmosphere – Educator Guide: Planetary Geology –
      http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Planetary.Geology.html
      Exercise 7 Coriolis Effect
      Exercise 8 Storm Systems
      Exercise 9 Aeolian Processes

    • b.) Seasons – http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/time/seasons.html

    • c.) Moon – Lunar Missions - http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/history/timeline/info/timetex.html

    • d.) Moon – Impact Craters – Exploring the Moon Educator Guide –
      http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Exploring.the.Moon.html
      Unit 2: Lunar Surface, Differentiation, Impact Craters, Clay Lava Flows

  • 4. Mars - http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Mars_Lithograph.html

    • a.) Satellite Missions to Mars - http://history.nasa.gov/marschro.htm

    • b.) Mars Exploration – Educator Guide: Is There Water on Mars?
      http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Is.There.Water.on.Mars.html

    • c.) Surface of Mars – Earth/Mars Comparison Cards - http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/pdf/lesson_6.pdf

    • d.) THEMIS Images Observation
      http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/THEMIS_id_chart.pdf
      http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/THEMIS_Images.pdf
      http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/THEMIS_Images_Worksheet.pdf

    • e.) Marsbound Mission to the Red Planet -
      http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/marsbound_student_guide.pdf
      http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/marsbound_teacher_guide.pdf
      http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/marsbound_cards.pdf
      http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/marsbound_design.pdf
      Science Goals: Activities 1 & 2
      Engineering Constraints: Activity 3
      Building Your Spacecraft: Activity 4

    • f.) Remote Sensing: Topographic Boxes – Where to Land a Spacecraft?
      http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/educators/venus_s.html 
      (Premade Topographic Mapping Boxes at WSGC Office)

  • 5. The Jovian Planets

    • a.) Jupiter Lithograph - http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Jupiter_Lithograph.html

    • b.) Saturn Lithograph - http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Saturn_Lithograph.html

    • c.) Uranus Lithograph – http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Uranus_Lithograph.html

    • d.) Neptune Lithograph - http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Neptune_Lithograph.html

  • 6. Space Debris

    • a.) Asteroids Lithograph - http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Asteroids_Lithograph.html

    • b.) Meteors Lithograph - http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Meteors_Meteorites_Lithograph.html

    • c.) Comets Lithograph - http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Comets_Lithograph.html

    • d.) Man-Made Junk - http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/artificial_satellites_worldbook.html

  • 7. Sun, Stars, Galaxies

    • a.) Starry Night Computer Exercise for Constellation
      Non-NASA Computer Program – on-line product for purchase - http://www.starrynighteducation.com/
       

• III. History of Space Exploration

  • A. Ideas and Possible Examples for Oral Reports, Short Papers, or Posters
    1. Military Missiles (ICBMs)
    2. Sputnik and the Cold War
    3. NASA History
    4. New Countries in the Space Race
    5. Rockets
     

• IV. NASA and International Space Missions

  • A. Past Mission Examples
    1. Vanguard I - http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1958-002B
    2. Pioneer - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/pioneer/index.html
    3. Luna I - http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1959-012A
    4. Mariner - http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/mars/mariner.html
    5. Surveyor - http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/surveyor.html
    6. Apollo - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/index.html
    7. Viking - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/viking/index.html
    8. Magellan - http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/magellan/
    9. Galileo - http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo/
    10. Other Past Missions - http://www.nasa.gov/missions/past/index.html

  • B. Present Missions Examples
    1. Voyager - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/voyager/index.html
    2. Hubble Space Telescope - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/index.html
    3. Cassini/Huygens - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/main/index.html
    4. Deep Space I - http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1998-061A
    5. Chandra Space Telescope - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/chandra/main/index.html
    6. International Space Station - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
    7. Mars Exploration Rover: Spirit and Opportunity -
    http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/mer_main.html
    8. Spitzer Telescope - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/spitzer/main/index.html
    9. New Horizons - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html
    10. Phoenix Mars Lander - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/main/index.html
    11. Dawn - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/main/index.html
    12. Other Present Missions - http://www.nasa.gov/missions/current/index.html

  • C. Activity – Students to give reports (oral, written, poster) on missions to include:
    1. Timeline of Mission
    2. Purpose of Mission
    3. Success of Mission
     

• V. Ideas for Further Study: Tools for Space

  • A. Telescopes
    1. Visible Light
    2. Infrared Light
    3. Radio Radiation

  • B. Robotics

  • C. Cameras

  • D. Computers

  • E. Satellites (types in current orbit)
    1. Research
    2. Weather
    3. Communication
    4. Navigation
    5. Earth Observing
    6. Military
     

• VI. How NASA Helps All of Us
  NASA Spinoff Magazine (publication available free from NASA)
  Order at http://tco.gsfc.nasa.gov/Spinoff/index.php