BIG BANG THEORY
GRADE
4-6
Teacher Guidelines
Instructional Pages
Activity Page
Practice Page
Homework Page
Answer Key
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pages 1 – 2
pages 3 – 5
pages 6 – 7
page 8
page 9
pages 10 - 11
Classroom Procedure:
1. Distribute Big Bang Theory content pages. Read aloud
the first paragraph.
2. Allow students to respond and discuss the questions. In
addition, ask: Why do you think there are many questions
about the beginning of the Universe? Do any of you ever
ask yourself the question: Why are you here?
3. Allow for responses and discussion.
4. Continue with the content pages. Read and review the
remaining information with the students. Save the final
question for the lesson closing.
5. It is strongly suggested a video from the additional
resources be used to help students better understand this
often-complicated theory. Use the additional resources to
enhance understanding.
6. Distribute Activity page. Read and review the instructions.
Pair students. Give students sufficient time to complete
their plays. Encourage students to be creative, and they
may use humor, refer to imaginary characters such as
aliens, etc.
7. Once all plays are completed, students present them to
the class. Following each play, review facts which may
have been incorrectly stated. Check for understanding.
8. Distribute Practice page. Check and review the students’
responses.
9. Distribute the Homework page. The next day, check and
review the students’ responses.
10. In closing, ask: If you could create the perfect Universe,
what would it be like?
Approximate Grade Level: 4 – 6
Objectives: The students will be able to
define and explain the Big Bang Theory.
State Educational Standards*
LB.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1
LB.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1.C
LB.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.5
LB.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.1
LB.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.1.C
LB.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.5
LB.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.4
LB.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.7
LB.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.10
Class Sessions (45 minutes):
At least 2 class sessions.
Teaching Materials/Worksheets:
Big Bang Theory content pages (2), Activity
page, Practice page, Homework page
Student Supplies:
Optional Internet access, handouts
Prepare Ahead of Time:
Students will need to be paired.
Copy handouts.
Options for Lesson: Students may work
in threes for the activity. Students may
write a single paper from the perspective of
a particle from a planet or star. Following
students’ sharing or two-part plays, other
students vote for the best play. Turn some
of the two-man plays into large productions,
with scenery, action, etc.
*Lessons are aligned to meet the education objectives and goals of
most states. For more information on your state objectives, contact
your local Board of Education or Department of Education in your state.
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Teacher Notes
The lesson introduces the students to the theory of the Big Bang and the beginning of the universe about 14
billion years ago. The students may have a hard time grasping the enormity of the universe and the amount
of time that has passed since its inception. Nevertheless, the lesson helps students become aware of the
theory and the ever-expanding universe relative to matter and energy. There are numerous Internet sites
with Big Bang Theory information. It is a lesson that can be used in conjunction with other lessons related
to matter, stars, the solar system, etc.
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Big Bang Theory
How did the Earth, moon, planets, stars, and
galaxies form? This is a question that has
baffled many scientists over the years, and the
question is researched continuously by many
different experts, and will be forever. Have you
ever wondered about the same question?
The Big Bang Theory is the answer many scientists agree with and is the most popular theory related to the
beginning of the universe. It is a theory first suggested by a priest named Georges Lemaître in the 1920s.
His theory stated that the universe began from a single atom at the beginning of time.
In short, the theory states that nearly 14 billion years ago, the universe began with not necessarily an
explosion, but actually the expansion of the universe. The occurrence produced two things needed to make
just about anything: matter and energy. This all took place in a fraction of a second. The matter was very
dense, meaning it was extremely packed into a small area, as well as incredibly hot.
From this small start, the universe then expanded in size very quickly, but the expansion began to slow
down. However, matter continued to be destroyed and the energy produced created new particles. The
leftover matter is what eventually became the stars, planets, and other particles that can be found in space.
According to the Big Bang Theory, the expansion is still continuing today.
Prior to the Big Bang, scientists are unsure of what exactly
may have occurred. However, about 14 billion years ago the
Universe began its growth and has resulted into what it is
today, and continues to expand.
Scientists have worked backwards to help them explain the
Big Bang Theory and have gathered plenty of evidence and
information about the Universe. They know galaxies are moving
away from us today, and the further away a galaxy is, the faster
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it is moving away. This theory can be proven during a normal explosion;
the fastest moving objects end up the furthest away from the explosion.
Cosmic microwave background radiation has also been detected in
space. Speaking plainly, the CMBR is the leftover heat from the original
explosion or expansion.
Scientist have studied the light coming from far away stars and galaxies.
By studying the changes in wavelengths of faraway light, astronomers
have learned that distant galaxies are moving away from us, and as stated
earlier, the further away it is, the faster it is moving. This tells scientists
that everything in the Universe is moving away from everything else.
Formation of Stars and Planets
The objects in space, including stars, were formed when the particles
and gases from the expansion of the Universe pull together because
of gravity. When this occurs, it gets hot enough for nuclear reactions
to begin. Energy is released and the star remains hot. When smaller
amounts of dust and gas are pulled together due to gravity, planets are
formed which then begin to orbit around the star.
The Earth’s solar system was formed
this way about 4 or 5 billion years
ago, which means it formed about
9 billion years after the Big Bang.
The Earth’s Sun, which is a star, is
about halfway through its current
stable phase. Eventually, the Sun
will go through different phases and
eventually die out, but not for another
5 billion years or longer. The Sun is
just one star of more than about 100
billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy.
The formation of stars and plants did
not start immediately following the Big
Bang. The process would have taken
millions and millions of years. In fact,
there was most likely no light during
the first 400 million years following
the Big Bang.
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Astronomers are constantly observing space and seeking the furthest and oldest galaxies to understand the
properties of the early universe. The use of the Hubble Space Telescope is just one tool, among several
others, that astronomers have used for their study. The name behind the telescope, Edwin Hubble, was
the first to notice, during the 1920s, that the universe was expanding and was not staying still.
A force, called dark energy, is thought to be the cause that is pulling the cosmos apart at faster speeds today
than a long time ago. However, this dark energy is a mystery and remains undetected. Today, the existence
of this energy, which is takes up about 73% of the Universe, is debated among scientists.
The Big Bang is the most widely accepted theory for the beginning of the Universe and its present growth.
Nevertheless, there are many questions that remain unanswered, including those related to dark matter and
dark energy. Astronomers and other scientists will continue to study the Universe in hope of discovering
more answers to the many questions.
If you could create the perfect Universe, what
would it be like?
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Activity
Name __________________________ Date _________
Instructions
1. Imagine you and your partner are each a single particle and a part of the Big Bang nearly 14 billion years
ago.
2. One of you will eventually become the part of a planet of your choosing, and one of you will become a
particle of a star or the Sun.
3. You will create a short two-person play “talking to each other” as particles about the Big Bang Theory
from the particles’ perspectives.
4. The play will not include props, different scenes or action.
5. Use the content pages and other available resources for accurate information for the two-part play. This
may include the Internet.
6. Use scratch paper to take notes and to create a rough draft. Be creative.
7. Use the spaces below to write the final copy of your play.
8. Each of you should have approximately the same amount of lines.
9. Use additional paper if more space is needed.
10. Once completed you will perform the play for the class.
PP = Planet Particle
SP = Star Particle
PP
SP
PP
SP
PP
SP
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Activity
Name __________________________ Date _________
PP
SP
PP
SP
PP
SP
PP
SP
PP
SP
PP
SP
PP
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Practice
Name __________________________ Date _________
Answer each question
1. Name the man who first noticed the universe was expanding and not staying still:_________________
2. Particles and gases from the expansion of the universe pull together because of __________________
3. Approximately, how old is the solar system? ______________________________________________
4. What do scientists believe causes the pulling apart of the cosmos? ____________________________
5. What actually is CMBR? ______________________________________________________________
6. Who first stated that the universe began from a single atom? _________________________________
7. Approximately, about how many billions of years ago did the universe begin? ____________________
8. What is the most popular theory that explains the beginning of the universe? _____________________
9. True or False: The universe expanded billions of years ago, but is no longer expanding any further.
10. The Sun and about 100 billion others stars are a part of which galaxy? _________________________
11. What is the name of the telescope used by scientists to help explore space? _____________________
12. True or False: The solar system was formed about 9 billion years after the Big Bang.
13. Which two things are needed to make just about anything? __________________________________
14. What eventually became the stars and planets found in space?________________________________
15. When small amounts of dust and gas were pulled together, what were formed? ___________________
16. According to scientists, dark energy takes up about what percent of the universe? ________________
17. True or False: The Big Bang Theory is the only and correct theory for the universe’s creation.
18. Following the beginning of the Big Bang, when did light first appear? ___________________________
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Homework
Name __________________________ Date _________
Tell the meaning of each number related to the Big Bang Theory
1. 1920s
2. 9 billion
3. 73
Correctly fill in each blank
1. According to the Big Bang Theory, the universe began from a single ___________________.
2. The beginning of the Big Bang Theory most likely began in just a fraction of a _____________.
3. The universe initially began and expanded very _______________, but later slowed down.
4. Leftover _____________ eventually became the stars, planets, and other particles found in space.
5. Prior to the Big Bang Theory, scientists are _______________ of what exactly happened.
6. The further a galaxy is moving away, the _______________ the galaxy is moving.
7. CMBR stands for __________ microwave background radiation, which is leftover heat.
8. Scientists have studied changes in light _______________ to learn about distant galaxies.
9. Everything in the universe is _______________ away from everything else.
10. The Sun has about another _______________ years before it begins to die out.
11. _______________ are constantly observing space and seek old galaxies to learn about space.
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Practice
Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________
Answer each question
1. Name the man who first noticed the universe was expanding and not staying still: Edwin Hubble
2. Particles and gases from the expansion of the universe pull together because of gravity
3. Approximately, how old is the solar system? 4-5 billion years
4. What do scientists believe causes the pulling apart of the cosmos? Dark energy
5. What actually is CMBR? Leftover heat from the original explosion or expansion
6. Who first stated that the universe began from a single atom? Georges Lemaitre
7. Approximately, about how many billions of years ago did the universe begin? 14
8. What is the most popular theory that explains the beginning of the universe? Big Bang
9. True or False: The universe expanded billions of years ago, but is no longer expanding any further.
10. The Sun and about 100 billion others stars are a part of which galaxy? Milky Way
11. What is the name of the telescope used by scientists to help explore space? Hubble Space
12. True or False: The solar system was formed about 9 billion years after the Big Bang.
13. Which two things are needed to make just about anything? Matter and energy
14. What eventually became the stars and planets found in space? Particles and gases
15. When small amounts of dust and gas were pulled together, what were formed? planets
16. According to scientists, dark energy takes up about what percent of the universe? 73%
17. True or False: The Big Bang Theory is the only and correct theory for the universe’s creation.
18. Following the beginning of the Big Bang, when did light first appear? 400 million years later
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Homework
Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________
Tell the meaning of each number related to the Big Bang Theory
1. 1920s Big Bang first suggested by Georges Lemaitre, that universe began from a single atom. Edwin
Hubble discovered the universe was expanding.
2. 9 billion Years later that the solar system formed after the Big Bang
3. 73 Percent of space dark energy takes up in the universe
Correctly fill in each blank
1. According to the Big Bang Theory, the universe began from a single atom.
2. The beginning of the Big Bang Theory most likely began in just a fraction of a second.
3. The universe initially began and expanded very quickly, but later slowed down.
4. Leftover matter (particles) eventually became the stars, planets, and other particles found in space.
5. Prior to the Big Bang Theory, scientists are unsure of what exactly happened.
6. The further a galaxy is moving away, the faster the galaxy is moving.
7. CMBR stands for cosmic microwave background radiation, which is leftover heat.
8. Scientists have studied changes in light wavelengths to learn about distant galaxies.
9. Everything in the universe is moving away from everything else.
10. The Sun has about another 5 billion years before it begins to die out.
11. Astronomers are constantly observing space and seek old galaxies to learn about space.
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