Purpose of the Lesson: | BIG IDEA: |
To model the annual orbit of Earth around the sun, students carry a globe around a light representing the sun to observe the relative positions of the globe and the “sun” throughout a year. In addition, students become aware that different stars are visible at different times of the year. |
|
Why do the stars change with the seasons? |
Student-Led Component:
- Create a video that answers the following questions...
- What time of year can you see Scorpius?
- What constellations can you see in March?
- Why can't you see Orion in the summer?
- What evidence do you have that the earth orbit the sun?
- Explain how you KNOW that the earth revolves around (orbits) the sun using evidence from today's lesson.
- Explain that when it is day time on earth, we are facing the sun and we see no stars (other than the sun). And then show how when it is night time on earth, we are facing away from the sun and we can see stars.
- Explain how different stars are visible at different times of the year.
- Explain how as the Earth orbits the sun, the same stars become visible at the same point in that orbit.
- What time of year can you see Scorpius?