At this point in time, I...
Unit A: Earth’s Place in the Universe
Primary Resource: EarthComm – Unit 1 – Astronomy...and Your Community (E1-E79)
Learning Targets
# = focus question
Don’t
know this
letters = learning targets
Know
some
about
this
Know this...
I could teach
it!
TOPIC: HISTORY OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM / EARTH / MOON
1. How do we know the age of sun, earth, and moon?
a)
b)
How does the nebular theory describe the formation and structure of the solar
system ?
Compare and contrast two or more theories of the formation of the Earth’s moon –
citing specific evidence.
TOPIC: SOLAR SYSTEM – EARTH – MOON – SUN
2. How are scale models useful in representing our solar system?
a)
b)
c)
3.
Review (8ES3 & 8ES4) - Use scale models to represent planetary diameters and
distances in the solar system.
Identify strengths and weaknesses of scale models.
Understand the place of our solar system in the Milky Way Galaxy and the universe.
How and why is the Earth’s motion changing?
a)
b)
c)
Describe the role of the Earth, moon and the sun in creating tides on Earth.
Describe how the moon’s gravitational pull affects the Earth’s motion?
Describe the earth’s changing orbit in relation to the sun and describe the forces
responsible. Identify what impact this changing orbit may have on the Earth.
(Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion)
TOPIC: SUN AS A STAR
4. How does the Sun influence the Earth?
a) Describe the structure of the sun and the processes that keep it going
(fusion).
b) Identify several solar phenomena (solar winds, solar flares, sunspots), what
causes them, and assess their impact on Earth/your community
c) Describe electromagnetic radiation and the electromagnetic spectrum in
terms of wavelength, frequency, speed, and energy
d) Identify several different instruments astronomers use to detect different
wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum.
e) Identify the benefits and hazards of various forms of electromagnetic
radiation?
f) Explain how the electromagnetic spectrum reveals the temperature (and
chemical make-up) of stars.
g) Use properties of stars to determine their life stage. Describe stellar structure
and stellar evolution.
TOPIC: IMPACT EVENTS
5. How likely is a catastrophic impact event and what is its potential impact on your
community?
a) Describe the orbits of comets and asteroids and how these might result in an
impact event.
b) Describe the energy involved in an impact event
c) Describe the local and global effects of an impact event on the earth.
TOPIC: HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE / SOLAR SYSTEM / EARTH / MOON
6. How do we know the age of the universe?
a) Analyze and Interpret Data regarding the history of the universe (solar system
/ Earth origin) using direct and indirect evidence.
Date of Self-Assessments
Check 1: _________
Check 2: _________
Check 3: _________ Check 4: _________
Prior Knowledge – 8th grade
8ES3: The Solar System is comprised of various objects that orbit the Sun and are classified based on their characteristics. [scale model, theory of solar
system formation, orbital paths, exploring solar system]
8ES4: The relative positions and motions of Earth, Moon, and Sun can be used to explain observable effects such as seasons, eclipses, and Moon
phases. [tides, eclipses, moon phases, seasons, motion over time]
Learning Targets
# = focus question
Don’t
know
this
letters = learning targets
Know
some
about
this
Know
this... I
could
teach it!
TOPIC: HISTORY OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM / EARTH / MOON
1. How do we know the age of sun, earth, and moon?
d)
e)
How does the nebular theory describe the formation and structure of the solar
system ?
Compare and contrast two or more theories of the formation of the Earth’s moon –
citing specific evidence.
TOPIC: SOLAR SYSTEM – EARTH – MOON – SUN
2. How are scale models useful in representing our solar system?
c)
d)
d)
3.
Review (8ES3 & 8ES4) - Use scale models to represent planetary diameters and
distances in the solar system.
Identify strengths and weaknesses of scale models.
Understand the place of our solar system in the Milky Way Galaxy and the universe.
How and why is the Earth’s motion changing?
c)
d)
f)
Describe the role of the Earth, moon and the sun in creating tides on Earth.
Describe how the moon’s gravitational pull affects the Earth’s motion?
Describe the earth’s changing orbit in relation to the sun and describe the forces
responsible. (Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion)
TOPIC: SUN AS A STAR
4. How does the Sun influence the Earth?
h) Describe the structure of the sun and the processes that keep it going
(fusion).
i) Identify several solar phenomena (solar winds, solar flares, sunspots), what
causes them, and assess their impact on Earth/your community
j) Describe electromagnetic radiation and the electromagnetic spectrum in
terms of wavelength, frequency, speed, and energy
k) Identify several different instruments astronomers use to detect different
wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum.
l) Identify the benefits and hazards of various forms of electromagnetic
radiation?
m) Explain how the electromagnetic spectrum reveals the temperature (and
chemical make-up) of stars.
n) Use properties of stars to determine their life stage. Describe stellar structure
and stellar evolution
TOPIC: IMPACT EVENTS
5. How likely is a catastrophic impact event and what is its potential impact on your
community?
d) Describe the energy involved in an impact event
e) Describe the local and global effects of an impact event on the earth.
TOPIC: HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE / SOLAR SYSTEM / EARTH / MOON
6. How do we know the age of the universe?
b) Analyze and Interpret Data regarding the history of the universe (solar system
/ Earth origin) using direct and indirect evidence.
Date of Self-Assessments
Check 1: _________
Check 2: _________
Check 3: _________ Check 4: _________
Prior Knowledge – 8th grade
8ES3: The Solar System is comprised of various objects that orbit the Sun and are classified based on their characteristics. [scale model, theory of solar
system formation, orbital paths, exploring solar system]
8ES4: The relative positions and motions of Earth, Moon, and Sun can be used to explain observable effects such as seasons, eclipses, and Moon
phases. [tides, eclipses, moon phases, seasons, motion over time]