OVERVIEW: A Hot Beginning Leads to a Cold Ending

AUTHOR(S): Sharon Athey and Mary Weyant

VITAL INFORMATION We are teachers at Wildwood Middle School, 1209 Shenandoah Junction Rd. Shenandoah Junction, WV 254442. (304) 728-1988

sathey@access.k12.wv.us or mweyant@access.k12.wv.us

Subjects:

Science (Stars and Life Cycles of Stars) and Math (Coordinates)

Grade/Level:

7tn

Time Required:

2 hours

Objective(s):

The students will be able to:

• create a crossword puzzle using star vocabulary
• place different stars in their life cycle sequences
• use Dictionary.com to locate star vocabulary
• navigate at a very basic level through VRML in a TextPad screen
• make changes in VRML code
• create a concept map

Summary:

The first lesson will use guided questioning to review the properties of a star. This will lead to a discussion of different stars and how they are categorized by mass. The students will view a web site to lookup star vocabulary, create a crossword puzzle using EclipseCrossword.com, and complete each others puzzles. The students will also use enchantedlearning.com to arrange teacher made pictures of a star’s life cycle in the proper sequence.

The second lesson in this unit will review the basic parts of a graph using virtual whiteboard software that will allow the use of a graphing background along with the images of the stages of star life. Using pre-made TextPad screens, students will view the VRML code that specifically delineates the X and Y axis values as it relates to the pictured images of the star stages on the VRML preview screens. Next, students will change the X axis values so that they make their pictured star stages resemble the teacher-made sequences of star life cycles that are hanging in the room. Students will complete the first two sets of star life cycles in this manner. Then, to address the third star stage students will be asked to change the Y axis values in order to make the progression of star stage images appear vertically along the Y axis from top to bottom.

The class will explore how to create a concept map in Inspiration 8, and will create areas of the concept map, link them together with arrows, and add pictures and words. Finally, students will create a concept map focusing on one of the types of star life cycles.

IMPLEMENTATION

Learning Activities:

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Resources and Unit Handouts:

Sun VRML file

VRML files which depict star stages in both correct life cycle form and mixed-up stages form

Teacher-made star life cycle pictures (see “Star Image Sources” below)

LCD projector

Lap top

Screen

White Board and dry erase markers

Internet Access

Vocabulary Word List

TextPad 4

Cortona Viiewer

EclipseCrossword.com

Dictionary.com

Virtual whiteboard file with graph background for easy illustration of movement of star stage images along X axis

Inspiration 8 software

Numonics whiteboard software

Enchanted Learning star life cycle images available at www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/stars/lifecycle/

Pencils

Blank graphs

Markers

Star Image Sources:

White dwarf http://www.williamsclass.com/EighthScienceWork/ImagesEighth/WhiteDwarf.jpg

Supernova http://plus.maths.org/issue38/outerspace/Keplers_supernova.jpg

Sun-like star http://img.qj.net/uploads/articles_module/104078/hp56948sun-01_qjgenth.jpg

Red giant http://physics.ship.edu/~mrc/pfs/108/star_red_giant.jpg

Red supergiant http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/images/2007/08/08/red_giant_4_3.jpg

Planetary nebula http://66.49.141.227/Hubble%20Universe/Planetary%20Nebula%20Mz%203.jpg

Neutron star http://stardate.org/images/gallery/neutron_star.jpg

Nebula http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10/Brianne_A9/nebula.jpg

Huge star http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Blue_star.jpg

Giant star http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC063368/GiantStar.jpg

Black hole http://www.bassani.net/wawa/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/black-hole.jpg

Black dwarf http://naasbeginners.co.uk/MESSIEROBJECTS_files/M57.jpg

STANDARDS

WV CONTENT STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVES:

SCIENCE

SC.S.7.2

Students will demonstrate knowledge, understanding and applications of scientific facts, concepts, principles, theories and models as delineated.

· SC.O.7.2.33
Students will trace the life cycle of a star.

• SC.S.7.2
  Students will demonstrate knowledge, understanding and applications of scientific facts, concepts, principles, theories and models as delineated in the objectives.

· SC.O.7.2.33
Students will trace the life cycle of a star

TECHNOLOGY

21C.S.5-8.2
The student will demonstrate the ability to explore and develop new ideas, to intentionally apply sound reasoning processes and to frame, analyze and solve complex problems using appropriate technology tools.

21C.O.5-8.2.TT2
Student collaborates with peers, experts, and others using telecommunications and collaborative tools

to investigate curriculum related problems, issues, and information, and to develop solutions or products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

USA - 21ST CENTURY LEARNING SKILLS & ICT LITERACY

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

• Exercising sound reasoning in understanding

• Framing, analyzing and synthesizing information in order to solve problems and answer questions

• Accessing information efficiently and effectively, evaluating information critically and competently and using information accurately and creatively for the issue or problem at hand

NATIONAL STANDARDS

NS.5-8.4 EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE

As a result of their activities in grades 5-8, all students should develop an understanding

• Earth in the solar system