Unit

How Far Is The Sun?--LAB

Local Objective

At the end of this lab, students will be able to...

a.  Create a solar-distance measuring device.   

b.  Calculate the Earth's distance from the sun.

Objective used to evaluate students


Yes

Assessment Activity

Informal Evaluations-Teacher will observe during class discussion and questioning.  Teacher will also observe during the making of the solar-distance measuring device.

Independent Practice-Students will be following the procedure for this activity on their own.  Teacher can make a formal assessment on their work and ability to read/follow directions as they create solar-distance measuring devices and calculate the Earth's distance from the sun.

Assessment-A final assessment can be made of students final project and their answers to analyzing their results and drawing conclusions.

Level of Expectation

95%

List of concepts and Evaluation Types


ConceptEvaluation Type
QuestionsCR
Solar-distance Measuring DevicePE

Learning Activity

The Students will:

1.  Review all safety cautions and icons before beginning the lab activity.  Caution:  Never to look directly at the sun. 

2.  Follow the procedure outline listed on page 84-85 of the Holt Science & Technology (J) for creating their solar-distance measuring device. 

3.  Take notes during the activity of their process, findings, and final step. 

4.  Conclude this activity by analyzing their results and drawing conclusions.

Instructional Method

The teacher will:

1.  Guide students during the review of all safety cautions and icons before beginning the lab activity.  Continuously remind students not to look directly at the sun.

2.  Guide students in following the procedure outline listed on 84-85 of their textbook.

3.  Guide students in taking notes during the activity of their process, findings, and final steps.

4.  Guide students in analyzing their results and drawing conclusions about their activity.  Show students how to use their notes to analyze and draw conclusions.

Content Standards

MA 1, SC 7, CA 4, SC 6, MA 2

Process Standards

1.2, 1.1, 4.1, 2.3, 4.6, 4.7, 3.7, 3.5, 3.3, 3.2, 3.1, 1.3

Equity/Workplace Readiness


MSIP CodeMSIP Indicator
R/IResearch/Information Skills

Resources

Holt Science & Technology "Astronomy" (J)

Materials:  aluminum foil, index cards, meterstick, poster board, metric ruler, scissors, masking tape, and thumbtacks

Correction Exercise

Trial and Error

Enrichment Exercise

How can the measuring device be more accurate?

Special Needs

Peer Assistance

GLEs v1.0


GLE CodeDisciplineStrandBig IdeaConceptGrade Level/CourseGLE
SC/6UN/1/C/07/aScienceComposition and Structure of the Universe and the Motion of the Objects Within ItThe universe has observable properties and structureMost of the information we know about the universe comes from the electromagnetic spectrumGrade 7Scope and Sequence  Objects and Their Motion in the Solar System Recognize stars are separated from one another by vast and different distances, which causes stars to appear smaller than the Sun
SC/7IN/1/A/07/aScienceScientific InquiryScience understanding is developed through the use of science process skills, scientific knowledge, scientific investigation, reasoning, and critical thinkingScientific inquiry includes the ability of students to formulate a testable question and explanation, and to select appropriate investigative methods in order to obtain evidence relevant to the explanationGrade 7Scope and Sequence - All Units Formulate testable questions and hypotheses
SC/7IN/1/B/07/cScienceScientific InquiryScience understanding is developed through the use of science process skills, scientific knowledge, scientific investigation, reasoning, and critical thinkingScientific inquiry relies upon gathering evidence from qualitative and quantitative observationsGrade 7Scope and Sequence - All Units Use a variety of tools and equipment to gather data (e.g., microscopes, thermometers, analog and digital meters, computers, spring scales, balances, metric rulers, graduated cylinders, stopwatches)
SC/7IN/1/B/07/bScienceScientific InquiryScience understanding is developed through the use of science process skills, scientific knowledge, scientific investigation, reasoning, and critical thinkingScientific inquiry relies upon gathering evidence from qualitative and quantitative observationsGrade 7Scope and Sequence - All Units Determine the appropriate tools and techniques to collect data
SC/7IN/1/B/07/aScienceScientific InquiryScience understanding is developed through the use of science process skills, scientific knowledge, scientific investigation, reasoning, and critical thinkingScientific inquiry relies upon gathering evidence from qualitative and quantitative observationsGrade 7Scope and Sequence - All Units Make qualitative observations using the five senses
SC/7IN/1/D/07/bScienceScientific InquiryScience understanding is developed through the use of science process skills, scientific knowledge, scientific investigation, reasoning, and critical thinkingScientific inquiry includes evaluation of explanations (hypotheses, laws, theories) in light of scientific principles (understandings) Grade 7Scope and Sequence - All Units Analyze whether evidence (data) and scientific principles support proposed explanations (hypotheses, laws, theories)
SC/7IN/1/E/07/aScienceScientific InquiryScience understanding is developed through the use of science process skills, scientific knowledge, scientific investigation, reasoning, and critical thinkingThe nature of science relies upon communication of results and justification of explanationsGrade 7Scope and Sequence - All Units Communicate the procedures and results of investigations and explanations through: -oral presentations -drawings and maps -data tables (allowing for the recording and analysis of data relevant to the experiment, such as independent and dependent variables, --multiple trials, beginning and ending times or temperatures, derived quantities) -graphs (bar, single line, pictograph) -equations and writings
SC/7IN/1/B/07/eScienceScientific InquiryScience understanding is developed through the use of science process skills, scientific knowledge, scientific investigation, reasoning, and critical thinkingScientific inquiry relies upon gathering evidence from qualitative and quantitative observationsGrade 7Scope and Sequence - All Units Compare amounts/measurements
SC/7IN/1/B/07/fScienceScientific InquiryScience understanding is developed through the use of science process skills, scientific knowledge, scientific investigation, reasoning, and critical thinkingScientific inquiry relies upon gathering evidence from qualitative and quantitative observationsGrade 7Scope and Sequence - All Units Judge whether measurements and computation of quantities are reasonable
SC/7IN/1/B/07/dScienceScientific InquiryScience understanding is developed through the use of science process skills, scientific knowledge, scientific investigation, reasoning, and critical thinkingScientific inquiry relies upon gathering evidence from qualitative and quantitative observationsGrade 7Scope and Sequence - All Units Measure length to the nearest millimeter, mass to the nearest gram, volume to the nearest milliliter, force (weight) to the nearest Newton, temperature to the nearest degree Celsius, time to the nearest second
SC/7IN/1/C/07/aScienceScientific InquiryScience understanding is developed through the use of science process skills, scientific knowledge, scientific investigation, reasoning, and critical thinkingEvidence is used to formulate explanationsGrade 7Scope and Sequence - All Units Use quantitative and qualitative data as support for reasonable explanations (conclusions)
SC/7IN/1/C/07/cScienceScientific InquiryScience understanding is developed through the use of science process skills, scientific knowledge, scientific investigation, reasoning, and critical thinkingEvidence is used to formulate explanationsGrade 7Scope and Sequence - All Units Recognize the possible effects of errors in observations, measurements, and calculations on the formulation of explanations (conclusions)
SC/7IN/1/D/07/aScienceScientific InquiryScience understanding is developed through the use of science process skills, scientific knowledge, scientific investigation, reasoning, and critical thinkingScientific inquiry includes evaluation of explanations (hypotheses, laws, theories) in light of scientific principles (understandings) Grade 7Scope and Sequence - All Units Evaluate the reasonableness of an explanation (conclusion)

Objective Notes/Essential Questions


DateNote/Question
6/18/2007 9:42:19 AMHow far is it from Earth to the sun?      What household tools can you use to demonstrate the size of the Earth?      What does you solar-distance device explain to you?