4.13
Earth, Moon, and Stars.
Reprinted with revisions. Cary I. Sneider. Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS) series. Berkeley, Calif.: Lawrence Hall of Science, 1994.
Program Overview
The Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS) series includes more than 50 teacher's guides and handbooks for preschool through grade 10. About 35 of these are appropriate for middle school. The series also includes several assembly presenter's guides and exhibit guides. New guides and handbooks continue to be developed, and current titles are revised frequently. The series is designed to teach key science and mathematics concepts through activity-based learning. The time needed to complete GEMS units varies from about 2 to 10 class sessions.
Teacher's Guide
Recommended grade level:
5-8.
In Earth, Moon, and Stars, students investigate ancient models of the universe, the earth's shape, gravity, the moon and its phases, star clocks, and star maps. They compare 4 ancient models of the earth to learn how each one explained common events seen daily in the sky, then they invent their own "ancient models" of the world. They use a questionnaire to launch a discussion about the shape of the earth and about gravity. Students observe the phases of the moon for a month; use a model to explain the moon's monthly cycle of phases and eclipses; make and use star clocks; and learn how to find constellations in the night sky by reading star maps. All of the activities can be done in the classroom or outdoors during the daytime, with a few evening homework assignments.
The 6 activities in Earth, Moon, and Stars require 6 sessions of 40 to 45 minutes each, 4 sessions of 20 to 30 minutes each, and 6 sessions of 15 minutes each. The lessons each include a materials list, preparation steps, and directions for activities and discussion. The guide also includes background information, summary outlines for each lesson, reproducible data sheets, and suggestions for related reading.
Key to Content Standards: 5-8 (see app. C)
UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES: Systems, order, and organization; evidence, models, and explanation; change, constancy, and measurement.
SCIENCE AS INQUIRY: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry; understandings about scientific inquiry.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE: Motions and forces.
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE: Structure of the earth system; earth in the solar system.
SCIENCE IN PERSONAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES: Science and technology in society.
HISTORY AND NATURE OF SCIENCE: Nature of science; history of science.
Price:
$10.50 (ISBN 0-912511-18-4).
Publisher/supplier:
LHS GEMS.
Materials:
Available locally, or from commercial suppliers.
Topic Index listings linked to this entry
Use these listings to find related entries.
Constellations, Earth Sciences: The Universe: Exploring Stars, Constellations, and Galaxies, ~ Project SPICA: A Teacher Resource to Enhance Astronomy Education, ~ The Universe at Your Fingertips: An Astronomy Activity and Resource Notebook.
Earth, Physical Sciences: Project SEED: Sourcebook of Demonstrations, Activities, and Experiments, Earth Sciences: Earth and Beyond, Project Earth Science: Astronomy, ~ Project Earth Science: Geology, ~ Blue Planet, ~ Project SPICA: A Teacher Resource to Enhance Astronomy Education, Multi & Applied Sciences: Middle Grades Science: A Problem-Solving Approach, Sixth Grade, ~ Prime Science: Level C, ~ Life: Here? There? Elsewhere? The Search for Life on Venus and Mars.
Eclipses, Earth Sciences: The Universe at Your Fingertips: An Astronomy Activity and Resource Notebook.
Gravity, Physical Sciences: Flight Lab, ~ Forces and Machines, ~ Newton's Toy Box, ~ Experiments with Motion, ~ Methods of Motion: An Introduction to Mechanics, Book One, Multi & Applied Sciences: The Nature of Science, ~ Science 2000: Science 1 (Grade 7), ~ Great Moments in Science: Experiments and Readers Theatre, ~ Science on a Shoestring.
Models, Physical Sciences: Glencoe Physical Science, ~ Matter: Building Block of the Universe, ~ Chemical Interactions, ~ Experimenting with Model Rockets, ~ Inventor's Lab, ~ Newton's Toy Box, ~ Experiments with Balloons, ~ Experiments with Motion, ~ LEGO Technic I Activity Center, ~ Machines, ~ Science Experiments: Chemistry and Physics, ~ Simple and Motorized Machines Activity Pack, ~ Soap Films and Bubbles, ~ Structures, Life Sciences: Glencoe Life Science, ~ Heredity: The Code of Life, ~ DNA--From Genes to Proteins, ~ Food, Energy, and Growth, ~ From Genes to Jeans: An Activity-Based Unit on Genetic Engineering and Agriculture, ~ The Human Body: How Can I Maintain and Care for Myself?, ~ An Introduction to Biotechnology: Book 2, ~ Life Changes through Time, ~ You and Your Body, ~ Zebra Mussel Mania, ~ The Molecular Model of DNA and Its Replication Kit, ~ Order and Diversity in the Living World: Teaching Taxonomy and Systematics in Schools, Environmental Sciences: Plastics in Our Lives, ~ Water: Can We Keep It Fit for Life?, ~ Environmental Issues: Intermediate, ~ Environmental Resource Guide: Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention, ~ Global Awareness for Students (GAS): Studies in Climate, ~ H2O Below: An Activity Guide for Groundwater Study, ~ STV: Water, Earth Sciences: Project STAR: The Universe in Your Hands, ~ Asteroid!, Earth Processes, ~ Earthquake!, ~ Earthquakes, ~ The Moons of Jupiter, ~ Project Earth Science: Geology, ~ River Cutters, ~ Stories in Stone, ~ The Universe: Exploring Stars, Constellations, and Galaxies, ~ Earthquakes: A Teacher's Package for K-6, ~ Earth Science Investigations, ~ Earthy Things, ~ Hands-On Geology: K-12 Activities and Resources, ~ Janice VanCleave's Earthquakes: Mind-Boggling Experiments You Can Turn into Science Fair Projects, ~ On the Rocks: Earth Science Activities for Grades 1-8, ~ Project SPICA: A Teacher Resource to Enhance Astronomy Education, ~ A Sedimentary Geologists' Guide to Helping K-12 Earth Science Teachers: Hints, Ideas, Activities and Resources, Multi & Applied Sciences: Models and Designs, ~ Prime Science: Level C, ~ Energy Transformations: Fourth Module in Bio-Related Technologies Unit, ~ Hot Water and Warm Homes from Sunlight, ~ How Telecommunication Works: How People Use Energy to Communicate, ~ If Shipwrecks Could Talk, ~ JASON IV Curriculum: Baja California Sur, ~ Life: Here? There? Elsewhere? The Search for Life on Venus and Mars, ~ Packaging, ~ A Sunken Ship, ~ The Teaching Tank Discovery Book, ~ The Teaching Tank Discovery Book, ~ Technology Science Mathematics Connection Activities, ~ Transformations: Science, Technology and Society.
Moon, Earth Sciences: Project STAR: The Universe in Your Hands, ~ Asteroid!, Earth, Moon, and Sun, ~ Project SPICA: A Teacher Resource to Enhance Astronomy Education, Multi & Applied Sciences: Prime Science: Level A.
Phases of the moon, Earth Sciences: Measuring Time, ~ Earth and Beyond, Project Earth Science: Astronomy, ~ The Universe at Your Fingertips: An Astronomy Activity and Resource Notebook, Multi & Applied Sciences: Prime Science: Level A.
Sky, Earth Sciences: Project STAR: The Universe in Your Hands, The Universe: Exploring Stars, Constellations, and Galaxies.
Universe, Earth Sciences: Exploring Earth Science, ~ Project STAR: The Universe in Your Hands, ~ Earth and Beyond, The Evolution of a Planetary System, ~ The Universe: Exploring Stars, Constellations, and Galaxies, ~ Project SPICA: A Teacher Resource to Enhance Astronomy Education, Multi & Applied Sciences: Science Interactions: Course 3, ~ SciencePlus Technology and Society: Level Red.
