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Science Home Learning Project

Year 7 Science Home Learning Project 2015

In your Science Home Learning Project you will work at developing your understanding of the scientific processes in Physics,
specifically using the stimulus of Space.
You will use your independent inquiry and research skills to complete a project about a chosen aspect of astronomy and
produce material in a format of your choosing that could be used for display and revision at a later date.
Your will need to integrate into the project a way of presenting one of the four options of the space topic using the
Creative Arts e.g. use poster and modelling materials to create art work, create a dramatic performance,
write/develop/adapt a form of music or use multimedia e.g. video/podcast/radio show/develop an app/design animations.
Help is available in this aspect of the project in the use of multimedia in the Creative Arts departments.
You should also try to carry out one set of astronomical observations during the project and record these in an appropriate
form as a clear and separate section in your project e.g. a set of star/planet/constellation observations/a visit to the school
observatory for an astronomy evening/following and recording the phases of the moon/using a telescope at home.
Your teacher will explain to you how you will be assessed regularly and explain the assessment criteria to you.
The project will culminate in a Space Event in the PHT on Wednesday 7 th October during the Science lesson in which some
students will present their projects to the audience of invited guests and peers. This will be the final deadline for the
project.

Self assessment
What have you done this week? What went well? What could you improve on? Have you been
creative? Have you carried out any astronomical observations?
Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Choose one topic from the four listed below:

The Earth
The Moon
The Solar System
Stars and Galaxies

Below are the level ladders for each topic, use them to guide you could include in your project. May the force
be with you!!!

Level
Level

The Moon
Earth Level Ladder

44

Desribethe
ways
in which scientists
can and
fnd out
Moon,
e.g.
whatday,
typeexplain
of technology
is used..
Describe
positions
of the Earth
the about
Sun atthe
night
and
in the
how we
get days and
nights
Identify
some
differences
between
the
Earth,
moon
and
the
other
planets.
Give
examples
of
using a model of the Earth and Sun. (Try to make a model using arts materials)
Recall
ways in
which
technology
helps us to fnd out more about the Earth.
luminous
and
non luminous
sources
Identify
some
differences
between
Earth and
the over
othera planets.
Describe
how
the Moon
appearsthe
to change
shape
month (try to make a model to
Give
examples
of
luminous
and
non-luminous
sources.
demonstrate)
Record a common observation, e.g. how the Moon appears to change shape over a month.

55

Explain how we get years and seasons using a model of the Earth orbiting the Sun.
Research
and
the workfrom
of a famous
astronomer
studied the
Find
evidence
ofwrite
how about
astronomers
different
countries who
collaborate
andMoon.
exchange ideas about
astronomy.
Explain in detail how we are able to see the Moon.
Describe
lunar
eclipses
occur.inYou
like to
usehappen
a model.during a year (e.g. changes in day
Describe
andhow
explain
some
patterns
themight
changes
that
Use a model of the Sun, Earth and Moon to explain how the phases of the Moon occur.

6
6
7

Explainhow
how
helped
us to fnd
about
thetomoon.
Describe
themodern
planets technology
are arranged has
in the
Solar System
and out
compare
them
Earth in terms of temperature,

year.

length).
Explain what causes the length of a day or a year.
Explain why the Sun appears to move across the sky during the day.
Explain why investigations on the Moon are difficult and describe some investigations that have taken place on
Explain how the apparent movement of the Sun can be used to tell the time or how the changes in the
the Moon.
height
of the Sun
midday
be used to
tellothers
the time
of discussing
year.
Give reasons
whyatyou
agreecan
or disagree
with
when
the arguments for and against
governments spending money on astronomy and space research.
atmosphere and other conditions.

Describe the
some
ways in which
the summer
features and
of the
mooninare
formed.
Describe
differences
between
winter
terms
of Sun angle, length of daylight etc.

Creatively
explain
how
tides
are
caused
by
the
moon.
Explain why the Sun seems to be hotter in the summer.
Explain how scientists are able to work out the position of a place on the Earth using the Sun.
Recognise that modern astronomy is based on the work of scientists from many cultures and different
civilisations, fnd an example to back this up.

Give reasons why you agree or disagree with others when discussing the arguments for and against
governments spending money on astronomy and space research.
Use models to explain patterns in Solar System data (e.g. the relationship between the distance from
Sun and length of year).
Obtain information from secondary sources to investigate the relationships in astronomical data (e.g.
between day length and latitude at different times of the year).
Use calculations to turn data into a form where it can be compared with other data and present the
data to draw conclusions.
Describe some ways in which the features of our planet are formed, such as the ocean or mountains.
Describe how the length of a planets year or its temperature depend on its distance from the Sun.

Level

Stars and Galaxies Level ladder

4
5

Explain how scientists use technology to fnd out more about the stars.
Describe why the Sun appears to move across the sky during the day,
Explain the positions of the Earth and the Sun at night and in the day. (Use a model to explain)

Research and write about a famous astronomer who studied the stars or galaxies and explain their
fndings.
Explain the causes of a solar eclipse.
Explain how the apparent movement of the Sun can be used to tell the time.

Use a model of the Sun, Earth and Moon to explain how solar eclipses occur.
Explain why investigation of Stars is difficult and fnd out how scientists gather data such as the
temperature of the Sun.
Explain why planets appear brighter than stars sometimes when we observe space.
Describe how the band of stars in the sky called the Milky Way is evidence to suggest that the
Solar System is part of a spiral galaxy.
Give reasons why you agree or disagree with others when discussing the arguments for and against
governments spending money on astronomy and space research.
Obtain information from secondary sources to investigate the relationships in astronomical data
(e.g. between brightness of a star and distance from the Earth)

Level

The Solar System Level Ladder

4
5

Describe what technologies scientists use to study the planets and stars.
Identify some differences between the Earth and the other planets.
Give examples of luminous and non-luminous sources

Research and write about a famous astronomer who studied the Solar System and explain their
fndings.
Recall one way in which our Solar System model has changed.
Make a model solar system.

Explain why it is difficult to investigate on different planets and fnd out what investigations have been
carried out on a different planet and explain the fndings. Describe how the planets are arranged in the Solar
System and compare them to Earth.
Explain why planets often appear brighter than stars.
Describe what evidence there is to suggest that the Solar System is part of a spiral galaxy
Explain why the planets appear to move across the sky.

Give reasons why you agree or disagree with others when discussing the arguments for and
against governments spending money on astronomy and space research.
Use models to explain patterns in Solar System data (e.g. the relationship between the distance
from Sun and length of year).
Describe some ways in which the features of planets (oceans, mountains etc) are formed.
Describe how the length of a planets year or its temperature depend on its distance from the
Sun.