Lesson plan 1: Includes Intercultural understanding and ICT application

Catherine van Vliet

Star Lores Lesson Plan

Subject: Year 7 Science
Lesson: 4-5 (double period)
Topic: Interpretations of the night sky
Learning intentions:
1. To look at the history of astronomy and how humans understanding of the Earth, moon, Sun and stars has changed over time.
2. To compare different theories of the stars, planets and solar system.
3. To learn how a telescope works by building one.

AusVELS Curriculum Standards

Intercultural understanding:
Students develop intercultural understanding as they learn to value their own cultures, languages and beliefs, and those of others. Students learn to
appreciate the contribution that diverse cultural perspectives have made to the development, breadth and diversity of science knowledge and applications.
Science/ Science as a Human Endeavour / Nature and development of science: Scientific knowledge changes as new evidence becomes available, and
some scientific discoveries have significantly changed peoples understanding of the world (ACSHE119)
ICT Learning Focus: Students select appropriate search engines and use complex search strategies to locate information and evaluate the credibility,
accuracy, reliability and comprehensiveness of this information.

Resources

Student Netbooks
Internet access
A pair of "drugstore" reading glasses ("Weak" glassesthose with low numberswill work the best)
A magnifying glass
A flashlight
Masking tape
A piece of waxed paper or thin typing paper

Lesson plan 1: Includes Intercultural understanding and ICT application

Catherine van Vliet

ICT Resources
Traditions of the Sun: Ancient astronomy- Explore the World's Ancient Observatories. An experiential Web site exploring the cities of the ancient the Maya in
Mexico's Yucatan peninsula and Chaco Canyon in northern New Mexico. http://www.traditionsofthesun.org/
Astronomy and Space Exploration: Fact Monster: Provides information on astronomy and space exploration. http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0769132.html
Looking into space: How telescopes work- lesson plan for building telescopes http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/looking-into-space/
Exploratorium Magazine: Build Your Own Telescope- how to build a telescope http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/space/activity.html

Lesson plan 1: Includes Intercultural understanding and ICT application

Catherine van Vliet

Time
5 min

e5 stage
Engage

Teacher Activity
Begin class discussion:
How did ancient cultures interpret and share
stories of the night sky?
How did different models of the universe form?

Student Activity
Students contribute to class discussion

Resources

20 min

Explore

Teacher instructs students to pick one topic to

study and become experts on and then report
back to class..

Students to choose a topic from the history of the

scientific study of the night sky and universepossible topics include Roman, Greek, Chinese or
Inca astronomy, Copernicus or Galilei.

Student Netbooks and

internet access

Students work in groups using appropriate search

engines to explore their topic and prepare to
explain it to the class.
15 min

Explain

Teacher facilitates student teaching

Groups report back to class about what they have

learnt about their topic.

5 min

Elaborate

Teacher encourages class discussion

Students contribute to class discussion

10 min

Evaluate

Teacher instructs students to write a summary

and reflection of what they have learnt so far in
the class.

Students write in journals and in wiki.

5 min

Engage

Teacher asks what methods astronomers used

to look at the night sky

Students discuss telescopes

Teacher asks if anyone knows how telescopes

work

Some students may know and try to explain to the

class- tell them to work quietly

Student journals, netbooks

and internet access

Lesson plan 1: Includes Intercultural understanding and ICT application

Catherine van Vliet

30 min

Explore
Explain
Elaborate

Teacher provides materials for students to

build on telescopes. Teacher circulates the
room asking questions and assisting as
required.

Students build telescopes in pairs following

method provided

Printout of Make your own

telescope plus equipment:
A pair of "drugstore"
reading glasses
A magnifying glass
A flashlight
Masking tape
A piece of waxed paper
or thin typing paper

10 min

Evaluate

Teacher instructs students to write a summary

and reflection of their understanding of how a
telescope works and if they enjoyed the
practical learning experience and why/why not.

Students write in journals and in wiki.

Student journals, netbooks

and internet access

Total: 100 min

Formative assessment:
Student engagement and participation throughout the class will be used to assess student learning.
Students entries in their journals and on the class wiki will also be used to assess student learning.
Open-ended reflections allow for students of different abilities to extend themselves appropriately.
Extension activities:
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/npls12.sci.ess.eiu.toursolsys/tour-the-solar-system/
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.fund.unihist/history-of-the-universe/