Astronomy Unit PowerPoint / Lessons for Educators

Science from Murf .LLC

A five part 4,000 slide PowerPoint roadmap takes you
students on an amazing journey through the solar system
and beyond. Stunning visuals, hands-on activities, step by
step drawings, links to great educational websites, videos,
and much more make this a student favorite. My favorite
part is the Space Exposition project that turns your
classroom and adjoining rooms into a full space museum
for the day. This unit has lots of opportunities for student
exploration by utilizing many of the fantastic astronomy
resources that are out there. A homework bundle and unit
notes chronologically follow the entire unit. PowerPoint
review games at the end of each section provide a
fantastic review of the material / assessment. This bundle
includes everything you need to run an amazing unit of
study. Teaching Duration = 2 months +

Areas of Focus in the Astronomy Topics Unit: The Solar System and the Sun, Stellar Parrallax, Galileo, Copernicus,
Kepler, Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion, Astronomical Unit, Order of the Planets, Our Sun, Sun Spots, Fusion,
Fission, Layers of the Sun, Life Cycle of a Star, Solar System Formation, Size of Stars, Sun Dials, Solar Eclipse, Lunar
Eclipse, The Habitable Zone, Astronomical Units, The Inner Planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Axial Tilt and Seasons,
Solstice, Equinox, Earths Electromagnetic Field, Moon, Synchronous Orbit, Craters, Tides, Tidal Bores, Phases of the
Moon (w/ OROES), Lunar Calendars, Mars and Moons, Rovers and Landers, Apollo Missions, Rocketry, Newton's Law
of Gravity, Building Water Bottle Rockets, Trajectory, Space Shuttle Program, ISS, Asteroid Belt, NEO’s, The Torino
Scale, The Outer Planets and Gas Giants, Jupiter / Moons, Saturn / Moons, Uranus / Moons, Neptune / Moons, Pluto's
Demotion, The Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud, Comets / Other, Beyond the Solar System, Types of Galaxies, Blackholes,
Extrasolar Planets, The Big Bang and Evidence, Dark Matter, Dark Energy, The Special Theory of Relativity, Hubble
Space Telescope, Constellations, and much more.

The Astronomy Topics Unit includes an interactive and engaging PowerPoint Presentation with built in class notes (Red
Slides), lab activities, project ideas, discussion questions, assessments, challenge questions with answers, videos, links
to other educational websites, and much more. Text is in large print (32 font) and placed at the top of each slide so it
can be seen and read from all angles of a classroom. A shade technique, as well as color coding text throughout the
slideshow helps maintain student focus and allows teacher to control the pace of the lesson. Also included is a 13 page
assessment that chronologically follows the PowerPoint slideshow for nightly homework and the end of the unit
assessment, as well as a 10 page modified assessment. 7 pages of class notes with images are also included for
students who could benefit from assistance, as well as answer keys to both assessments for support professionals,
teachers, and homeschool parents. 50+ video and academic links are provided and a slide within the slideshow cues
teacher / parent when the videos are most relevant to play. Video shorts usually range from 2-7 minutes. Four
PowerPoint review games are included (125-170 slides each). Answers to the PowerPoint review games are provided in
PowerPoint form so students can self-assess. Lastly, several class games such as guess the hidden picture beneath
the boxes, and the find the hidden owl somewhere within the slideshow, crossword puzzles, worksheets, rubrics,and
much more are provided. Difficulty rating 7/10.

Astronomy Unit Bundled Classwork / Homework Package

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
MS.LS1.5 (Construct and present arguments using evidence to support claims that gravity attracts objects and this attractiveness depends on the mass of
interacting objects.)
•        This is described throughout the unit. The solar system, orbits of planets (speed / year) and their distance from the sun described. Gravity is also described
in Life Cycles of Stars, black holes, neutron stars and within the rocketry portion of the unit. When each planet is described, students guess how much a 100 lb.
person on earth would weigh on each planet. Part V pays specific attention to Einstein and space-time. This is one of those standards that show up continuously
throughout the unit.

MS.ESS1.1 (Develop a model of the Earth, Sun, and Moon systems to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun, moon, and seasons).
•        This standard is covered heavily in Part I, and Part II of this unit. Students read slides, see visuals, watch video links, and much more. Students create
step by step drawings of solar and lunar eclipses, as well as create sun dials. Students use OREOS among other methods to learn the lunar phases. Seasons
and axial tilt are also heavily addressed.

MS.ESS1.2 (Develop a model to describe the role of gravity in the motion within galaxies and the solar system).
•        Elliptical orbits are described with visuals, animations, and having students recreate orbits by moving around a sun in the classroom. The speed of
planetary orbits and their distance from the sun is addressed. This concept is addressed throughout the unit.

MS.ESS1.3 (Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system).
•        This standard is covered throughout. Students learn about Astronomical Units and conduct a walking distance tour of the solar system. Students learn
about layers of the sun, the relative sizes of suns, light years, distances to stars, planetary information and much more. Examples of statistical information,
drawings, animations, and much more are provided throughout.

5.PS1.1. (Develop a model that matter is made of particles too small be seen).
•        Atoms are addressed with discussion of fusion in the sun. Other references to atoms and molecules are covered throughout.

5.PS2.1. (Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed downward).
•        This standard is addressed throughout unit and goes into detail in Part III about rocketry.

5.PS2.1. (Support an argument that the differences in the apparent brightness of the sun compared to other stars is due their relative distances from the Earth.)
This is addressed in part I with comparison of our sun in the sky and relative distances to our next closest star Proxima Centauri 39,900,000,000,000 km away.

5.ESS1.2. (Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily change in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal
appearance of some stars in the night sky).
•        This is addressed in part V just before constellations. Slides with notes, questions, and neat video link that use an umbrella, doll (observer), and sticky dots
(stars) to demonstrate this standard.

HS.ESS1.1 (Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the life span of the sun and the role of nuclear fusion in the sun’s core to release energy in the form
of radiation).
•        Covered with visuals, text on slides, video links, and constant review. Several animation slides are also provided. Life cycles of stars is also addressed as
are solar flares.

HS.ESS1.2 (Construct an explanation of the Big Bang theory based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of galaxies, and the composition of matter
in the universe).
•        This is addressed in a series of slide with visuals and explanations. A video link also provided.

HS.ESS1.3 (Communicate scientific ideas about the way stars, over their life cycle produce elements.)
•        Nucleosynthesis is briefly addressed in the slideshow. Emphasis was placed on nuclear fusion. Life cycles of stars and the stages that occur is covered
with step by step visuals.

HS.ESS1.4 (Use computation representations to predict the motion of orbiting objects in the solar system).
•        Newton’s Law of Gravity is described. Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion are addressed. Emphasis placed on the Laws of ellipses and equal areas.
Activity, visuals, animations, and links are provided.

3-5.ETS1.3 (Plan and carry out fair test in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects a prototype that can be improved)
•        The rocketry unit has students build rockets from soda bottles.

Below are just a few of the typical standards that this unit addresses for those that are interested. This unit does cover many topics /
standards that are not addressed below and much more.

●Keep a journal record of observations, recognizing patterns, summarizing findings, and reflecting on the observations.
●Recognize and describe how the regular and predictable motions of the Earth and Moon explain certain Earth phenomena, such as
day and night, the seasons, the year, shadows and the tides.
●Recognize that of all the known planets, Earth appears to be somewhat unique, and describe the conditions that exist on Earth that
allow it to support life.
●Recognize how the tilt of the Earth's axis and the Earth's revolution around the Sun affect seasons and weather patterns;
●Identify and describe seasonal, daylight and weather patterns as they relate to energy.
●Explain the historical perspective of planetary exploration and man’s achievements in space, beginning with Russia’s Sputnik mission
in 1957;
●Describe man’s perception of the constellations throughout history, and explain how he has used them to his advantage, including
navigational purposes and to explain historical events.
●Recognize that of all the known planets, Earth appears to be somewhat unique; and describe the conditions that exist on Earth that
allow it to support life.
●Explain the temporal or positional relationships between or among the Earth, Sun and Moon (e.g., night/day, seasons, year, tide).
●Recognize the relationships between the tides and the phases of the moon; and use tide charts and NOAA information to describe
them.
●Recognize and describe how the regular and predictable motions of the Earth and Moon account for phenomena, such as the phases
of the Moon and eclipses.
●Identify the characteristics of the Sun and its position in the universe.
●Recognize how the tilt of the Earth’s axis and the Earth’s revolution around the Sun affect seasons and weather patterns.
●Explain how the Solar System formed from a giant cloud of gas and debris about 5 billion years ago.
●Define a light year.
●Explain that current scientific evidence supports the Big Bang Theory as a probable explanation of the origin of the universe, and
describes the theory.
●The Earth is part of a solar system, made up of distinct parts, which have temporal and spatial interrelationships.
●The origin and evolution of galaxies and the universe demonstrate fundamental principles of physical science across vast distances
and time.
●The growth of scientific knowledge in Earth Space Science has been advanced through the development of technology
●Recognize the basic patterns of the Sun, including its appearance during the daytime, and how its position in the sky changes through
the seasons.
●Recognize the basic patterns of the Moon, including its appearance sometimes at night and sometimes during the day; and how it
appears to change shape through the month.
●Recognize that the Sun, Moon and stars all appear to move slowly across the sky.
●Recognize that as the position of the Sun changes in relation to the Earth it creates shadows of varying length and direction.
●Explain that night and day are caused by the Earth’s rotation on its axis; and that the Earth rotates approximately once, every 24 hours.
●Recognize that the light and heat the Sun provides to the Earth is necessary for life.
●Recognize that the Sun provides the light and heat necessary to maintain the temperature of the Earth.
●Recognize that astronomical objects in space are massive in size and are separated from one another by vast distances.
●Recognize there are too many stars to count, and that they are unequal in their brightness.
●Recognize and describe the stars, like the Sun, as spherical in nature.
●Identify the characteristics and movement patterns of the planets in our Solar System and differentiate between them.
●Explain the effects of gravitational force on the planets and their moons.
●Explain why Earth and our Solar System appear to be somewhat unique, while acknowledging recent evidence that suggests similar
systems exist in the universe.
●Compare and contrast planets based on data provided about size, composition, location, orbital movement, atmosphere, or surface
features (includes moons).
●Explain how gravitational force affects objects in the Solar System (e.g., moons, tides, orbits, satellites).
●Explain how technological advances have allowed scientists to re-evaluate or extend existing ideas about the Solar System.