10.+Lesson+Plans+and+Examples

Electromagnetic Spectrum Unit with focus on international collaborative nature of science.
The lessons associated with this unit are below and include a brief description. The are in order according to the progression of the unit.

Lesson 1. Why are some telescoped on land while others are in Orbit?
Students will watch a YouTube video as a class or individually and answer some basic introductory questions about the purposes of telescopes.

Lesson 2. What is the EMS and what does it allow us to "see"?
This lesson focuses on deepening understanding of the EMS and looks at how the basics of our understanding has been an international undertaking that has spanned centuries. Two power point presentations accompany this lesson. After these presentations students will make a foldable (mini-book) that summarized what they know so far about the EMS and how we know this.This first Power Point is a very basic introduction. Students will view this first and then design the basics of their foldable. More information can be added as they learn more about the EMS. Foldable Instructions

[[file:Foldable instructions EMS.docx]]


After the basic EMS data above is explored have students look at the relatively new field of Gravitational waves and add this information to their foldables.

Lesson 3. Instrument Survey
Each student chooses three telescopes to do basic research over. The goal of this is for students to realize the vast array of astronomical instruments and how integrated world cultures are as they explore space. These instruments are often too expensive for just one county to sponsor them. A half page typed, is sufficient for each.Instructions are below.

Lesson 4. Research Report
Students choose one of the instruments they found most interesting while doing their preliminary research. They can choose an instrument they have not yet researched if they want. The information they have already gathered is built on and additional elements are added. This is displayed in a Prezi presentation that each student presents to the class. This can be done in groups of two.

Lesson 5. Galaxy Zoo
In this activity students will be able to participate in citizen science. Galaxy Zoo is a resource astronomers use for research. Everyday people can take a brief tutorial and learn hot to categorize galaxy types. This is a task best performed by the human eye and not by a machine. Because of the vast amount of data to be looked at astronomers rely on people to analyze and record data. Have students go to [] and read "The Story So Far" then do the tutorial in the "How to Take Part" section. Students will need to register and then they can begin identifying galaxy types.

Lesson 6. Conclusion
After completing this unit have students write a paragraph about why humans put such effort into understanding the universe. Why do they thing think astronomy acts to transgress borders and cultures and unite all humans in a common quest for understanding. This should take 5 to ten minutes. After that students get into groups of 4 and share their opinions with each other. Each group elects a representative to explain their ideas to the class. This in an informal opinion and information sharing exercise. Students will be graded on participation.