Grade 11-12 Astronomy Unit

The Pan-Canadian Science Curriculum recommends objectives for all science units in each grade as a way of unifying the science courses taught from province to province. Most provinces have adopted the objectives into their own curricula, and have designed courses around them.

Though grade 11/12 Earth and Space Science courses vary greatly across the country, presented below is a complete astronomy unit plan which covers all of the astronomical objectives in the Pan-Canadian Protocol. This unit can be used as-is to cover many (if not all) of your provincial expectations, or modified as you see fit. The reference numbers given for each lesson below refers to the Pan-Canadian specific learning outcomes.

A complete listing of the Pan-Canadian Curriculum Objectives for grade 11-12 Earth and Space Science can be found here, while provincial curriculum objectives listed by province and grade can be found here.

Finally, need an idea for a summative assessment activity? Check here!

Grade 11-12 Earth and Space Science: Astronomy

333-1: Compare and contrast a variety of theories for the origin of the universe emphasizing modern observational evidence

Lesson: The Expanding Universe

Lesson Overview: This activity is designed to help students gain a deeper understanding of cosmology. Students develop authentic models and gather evidence supporting the Big Bang theory. This lesson uses observation, interactive media, and scientific models.

Lesson: Formation of the Universe: Theories and Evidence

Lesson Overview: This activity involves having students analyze the results of a Big Bang demonstration. The teacher will use the explosion of a balloon filled with coloured confetti to model the results of the Big Bang. Students will then have the opportunity to research other origin theories before presenting their findings to the rest of the class.

Other objectives included: 215-3, 213-6, 214-6, 114-2

333-2: Describe tools and methods used to observe and measure the universe

Lesson: Construction and Workings of Telescopes

Lesson Overview: This lesson is designed to give students the opportunity to examine the workings of telescopes. Using Internet research skills, the students will seek out to briefly describe how the Refractor Telescope works, briefly describe how the Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope works, briefly describe how the Newtonian or Dobsonian Telescope works and to compare and contrast the different telescope designs and their workings. Includes an interactive applet on how different telescopes work.

Complimentary activity: http://galileo.rice.edu/lib/student_work/astronomy95/telescope_design.html

Other objectives included: 115-5, 116-6, 213-3

333-3: Identify and compare various components of the universe

Lesson: Our home in the Milky Way

Lesson Overview: This lesson has been designed to help students gain an appreciation for the vast scale of the Milky Way Galaxy by viewing an applet showing Earth's place in our galaxy. A background of the components of a spiral galaxy are included, as well as a sense of the immense distances between components on our galaxy.

Lesson: Searching for Protoplanetary Disks

Lesson Overview: Students will download NASA Hubble Space Telescope views of star-forming regions in nebulae and look for evidence of planetary systems forming beyond our own solar system.

Other objectives included: 117-11, 117-6, 213-4

333-4: Compare characteristics of various galaxies

Lesson: Galactic Inquiry

Lesson Overview: In this inquiry activity, students view NASA images of galaxies and develop a galaxy classification scheme. Students then compare and contrast their classification scheme with that developed by Edwin Hubble. Three activities are included, including visual media.

Other objectives included: 214-1, 117-11, 117-6

333-5: Describe the life cycle of stars

Lesson: Life Cycles of Stars

Lesson Overview: Students in grades 9-12 analyze characteristics that indicate human life cycles, and then apply these observational principles to various NASA pictures of stars to synthesize patterns of stellar life cycles.

Lesson: Life Cycles of Stars Webquest

Lesson Overview: In this WebQuest, students are asked to complete several small projects, reviewing and researching nuclear fusion, stellar forces, the various stages in a star's life, the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and how various types of telescopes are used to study the life cycle of stars. All projects are submitted as a portfolio at the end of the assessment.

Other objectives included: 212-8, 213-6, 212-7

333-6: Compare the composition of stars at different stages of their life cycles

Lesson: Classifying Stars by Temperature and Brightness (PDF)

Lesson Overview: The lesson introduces students to stellar properties such as magnitude and temperature, and allows them to discover the correlation between the two. A Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is created by the students, who then use it to answer questions about the life cycle of stars. Together with the complimentary website and the interactive HR diagram below, students will see how stars change as they evolve.

Complimentary website: http://outreach.atnf.csiro.au/education/senior/astrophysics/stellarevolution_hrintro.html

Interactive HR Diagram:
http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/labs/star_life/hr_interactive.html

Other objectives included: 333-5, 214-1

created and compiled by the CASCA education Webteam, (2009)