In this class, students will learn about the universe including the planets in our solar system, and learn the answers to the following questions:
1. What is a solar system/galaxy/universes? What is a star? What do we know about stars? 
2. What planets exhibit in our solar system, including dwarf planets (and why Pluto is no longer a planet)
3. What are asteroids, comets, black holes,  and what other debris exists in the universe? 
4. How have we learned all of what we know about the universe and using what technology?  What major discoveries have we made?

Each week, students will participate in a series of activities to engage their learning, while also promoting interaction in the classroom. Each week, students will view an instructional video that will be posted on Monday of that week. Students will then participate in daily discussion board posts, responding to questions posed by the teacher, and have weekly activities to do. Every Friday, students will complete a digital break out room through Breakoutedu.com using information from the week's lessons.  At the end of the class, there will also be a Kahoot link provided for a quiz that will be available for review. 

Each week, students will go through the following for their lesson:

Week 1: Solar Systems, Stars, and the Universe.
-Video: students will watch the instructional video that will cover what solar systems, galaxies, and the universe are. Students will also learn about stars, including our Sun compared to that of the largest known star, UY Scuti/ Canis Majoris (debatable and we will discuss why in this class). Note Taker will be provided to be used with video.
-Activity: Students will read "Voyage to the Sun" in Superscience magazine (password will be provided) and answer questions from the article.
-Discussion Board: Students will answer questions in the classroom. Students will also be encouraged to help each other regarding the Break Out Room to help solve the problems. This can be done as a comment below the break out code link each week.

Week 2: Planets
-Video: students will watch the instructional video that will cover what planets exist in our solar system, in order from the sun, and discuss the difference between a dwarf planet and a regular plant, a moon, and about planets beyond Pluto. Students will also learn the size of each planet, how many moons it has, the chemical composition, a year versus a day on each planet, and other facts about each planet. Note Taker will be provided to be used with video.
-Activity: Students will read "Back to the Moon" from Superscience, and will complete worksheet to go with reading about explorations to take place back on the moon. 
-Discussion Board: Students will answer daily questions in the classroom. Students will also be encouraged to help each other regarding the Break Out Room to help solve the problems.  This can be done as a comment below the break out code link each week.

Week 3: Black holes, comets, asteroid, and more
-Video: Students will watch video that will discuss what are black holes, comets, asteroids, and more space objects outside of solar systems, including learn about famous comets we watch for, and asteroids. Students will learn about other space debris as well. Note Taker will be provided to be used with video. 
-Activity: Students will read "All about Halley" and read about Halley's comet and its once every 75 year visit by the Earth. Students will answer questions to go with the article.
-Discussion Board: Students will answer daily questions in the classroom. Students will also be encouraged to help each other regarding the Break Out Room to help solve the problems.  This can be done as a comment below the break out code link each week.

Week 4: Space Technology
-Video: students will watch the instructional video that will cover the different types of space technology used to learn what we know about the universe, and what happens to the ones in space once their life has ended (including recent rovers and satellites that have since finished their course and those still in space and what is to come next for them once they lose communications or power). Note Taker will be provided to be used with video.
-Activity: Students will complete  space technology webquest to learn about many different types of technology used to explore the universe.
-Discussion Board: Students will answer daily questions in the classroom. Students will also be encouraged to help each other regarding the Break Out Room to help solve the problems.  This can be done as a comment below the break out code link each week.
-Kahoot: Students will be provided a final review Kahoot to review concepts learned in class in preparation for the final quiz for mastery of concepts

Links will be provided each week for the break out rooms and will be available for the week. In addition, Kahoot will be made available in the final week for review.

Live sessions are available upon request if needed. There are no scheduled live meetings.