Sun Worksheet: Sunspots and the Solar Cycle

No prior knowledge of sunspots is required, so this is great as an extension activity in any NGSS space (sun, stars, solar system) unit!

In this activity, students will:

• READ brief background information about sunspots
• GRAPH yearly sunspot data
• ANSWER analysis questions including a Claims/Evidence/Reasoning section
• PREDICT the next 15 years of sunspot data then use the internet (or provided data) to find out how close their predictions came to actual, observed sunspots for these years

We also offer a more extensive Graphing Sunspots Activity that’s done in student groups.

Teacher Notes:

• Find lots more space resources in the ASTRONOMY section of the shop!
• ANSWER KEY INCLUDED.
• Please note that this resource is not editable.
• Related NGSS Standards: MS-ESS1-1 and HS-ESS1-1
• NGSS Science & Engineering Practices: Analyzing and interpreting data; Engaging in argument from evidence