Middle School Science: Astronomy Unit

My name is Ms. Brooke and I am passionate about learning science - I want to make sure students are too. I have a Master of Arts degree in Teaching Science 5-9, and I am a big believer in Inquiry Science (where questioning and discussions lead to discovery of new information) and Problem-Based-Learning.

------------------------------------------

My typical video class structure consists of a video lecture with an interactive slideshow that encourages group discussion. Next we review the activity students will be working on together so they can be familiar with work before finishing the activity on their own as independent homework. For every 40 minutes of in-person class-time, students should expect 15-20 minutes of independent "homework" time, outside of class, to complete tasks and receive feedback. While each week will slightly vary based on project length, the general flow of the class will go as follows:
• Introduce concept
• Station lab
• Notes and extension
• Project / assessment
*each cycle takes 2-3 weeks to complete*

In this class I will be using Kesler Science materials including 5E lessons, projects (Elaboration), station labs, and related reading articles. No purchase of Kesler Science products is necessary when enrolling in the class (your enrollment fee covers the learner cost towards the curriculum). Please note that only enrolled students have the publisher's permission to use this material (the publisher has stated that students may not share this material outside of the classroom per the licensing agreement).

Station Lab: Students explore new concepts and answer questions to gain foundational knowledge. There are 8 stations to choose from - 4 "input" stations that give students new information and 4 "output" stations that allow students to test their understanding of this information. Station titles are as follows: Read It, Watch It, Explore It, Research It, Write It, Illustrate It, Organize It, and Assess It. Having various formats for students to choose from gives them the opportunity to discover which format they learn best in but also exposes them to the same information 8 different ways.

------------------------------------------

Topics Covered:
• Seasons: Rotation and Revolution
• Tides
• Lunar Cycle
• Eclipses (Solar and Lunar)
• Planets
• Galaxies and Light Years
• Electromagnetic Spectrum

------------------------------------------

NGSS Standards Covered:

MS-ESS 1-1 Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.
MS-ESS 1-2 Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system.
MS-ESS 1-3 Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.

------------------------------------------

Tentative Course Schedule (activities may be shifted or removed based on student needs)
Week 1: Seasons
Week 2: Tides
Week 3: Seasons and Tides Evaluation
Week 4: Lunar Cycle
Week 5: Eclipses
Week 6: Lunar Cycle and Eclipses Evaluation
Week 7: Planets and Planet Project
Week 8: Galaxies
Week 9: Electromagnetic Spectrum
Week 10: Review all material learned, Final Summative Assessment