Space Mission 2: Black Holes & Exoplanets (Semester Course)

As Space is becoming increasingly important in most countries around the world, especially given the amount of Space travel that has recently increased, it is more and more important for our children to know, at least basic knowledge about the Space around us, including all scientists have now learned about Black Holes & Exoplanets! Plus, most learners find this topic to be extremely interesting as their young minds get to explore the possibilities of Space: making it perfect for the explorer in all of us!
Note: This class is a continuation of Space Mission: Astronomy, Astronauts & Exploration & that class is a prerequisite class for this one as we learn many facts about space & key terminology which will be utilized during this course as well. 
Schedule Outline:
Week 1: During this class we will learn key terminology used when discussing black holes (matter, gravity, & mass); then, we will dive right into the Black Hole phenomena, defining black holes & discussing the theories for how they come to be. We will then learn to identify the various parts of a black hole: the Singularity, Event Horizon, Photon Sphere, Accretion Disk & the Relativistic Jet.
Week 2: For our second class, we will have a review over the information & key terms learned during our first class; then, we will build upon that with new vocabulary words (Solar Mass, Quasar). Afterwards, we will learn about the four basic types of Black Holes (Stellar, Intermediate, Supermassive & Miniature) & how each of these is formed.
Week 3: During this lesson, we will have a review time at the beginning of class, and then we will take a journey together to find out how scientists find something that is so black out in space. We will learn about the telescopes used to locate and photograph them, as well as other methods of identifying where Black Holes may be hiding in plain sight! We will then estimate, based on scientific data, how many Black Holes can be actually be found in the Cosmos.
Week 4: During this class, learners will discover the true importance of Black Holes & will discuss what scientist believe would happen if someone became caught in a Black Hole. We will have a class discussion as students will share their opinions about what we might find inside a Black Hole. Afterwards, we will play a fun review game together.
Week 5: Today we will buzz through the Cosmos to discover Exoplanets! We will define what they are and learn how scientists search for & find them from using the newest technology available to us here on Earth. We will then look at a variety of pictures of exoplanets and discuss their planetary systems as we uncover these mysterious planets found in the NASA database. We will learn various new terminology, such as: Telescope, Exoplanets, Planetary System, Orbit, Spin, Astronomical Unit, Mass, Lightyear 
Week 6: Today, we will review the definition of “Exoplanets”. As we begin our discovery of important Exoplanets, we will also learn about the different types & categories of Exoplanets. Then we will fly out past our Solar System to discover & explore the closest Exoplanet to Earth, Proxima Centauri b and its Planetary System. Today’s Key terminology learned is: Lightyear, Habitable Zone, Host Star, Radial Velocity, Super Earth
Week 7: We begin our lesson today with a review of how we find Exoplanets, as well as a quick recap of the closest Exoplanet to Earth & the categories of Exoplanets we have learned thus far. Then we will zoom out even deeper into the Cosmos, to learn all about the farthest Exoplanet from Earth, as well as its Planetary System. As we discover this Exoplanet, we will learn several additional categories of Exoplanets, and the Key terminology learned is: Hot Jupiter, Gas Giant, Transit
Week 8: On this last day, we will discuss why it is important for humans to continue space exploration & discovery, and the possible future it might help us uncover. Students will be engaged through an open, class discussion during which they can share what they think we may find in the Cosmos as we move further and further out into space! Learners will then play a fun, interactive review game together as we buzz through the Cosmos, recapping all we have learned about Exoplanets!
The teacher will use a variety of presentation & teaching tools, including videos, discussions, pictures, and interactive games, as we have fun learning all about the wonders of Space together. There will also be additional materials, notes, color pages, and activities the students can complete in the Outschool classroom, for those looking for supplemental materials.
*Recommended (but not required) Prerequisite Course: Space Mission 1: Astronomy, Astronauts & Exploration