This astronomy sub plan includes both print and Google Slides options to assign!
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In this activity, students will:
- READ Top 10 Discoveries in Astronomy to learn more about ten history-changing discoveries in space – from the early astronomers to the discovery of gravitational waves.
- DEFINE vocabulary terms embedded in the text, such as elliptical, gravitational waves, exoplanet, etc.
- ANSWER text-dependent questions. No prior knowledge is required, but a basic understanding of what planets and stars are is considered understood. I am confident that any middle schooler would understand this lesson without any further explanation.
- Create a very simple TIMELINE of the 10 provided events.
Examples of the Important Discoveries:
- In 1609, Galileo used his telescope to see the largest moons of Jupiter and observed the phases of Venus.
- In 1929, Edwin Hubble established that the universe is expanding.
- in 2016, the observation of gravitational waves proved Einstein’s theory of relativity.
- Plus 7 more history-making discoveries in astronomy.
Teacher Notes:
- This astronomy sub plan is NOT editable.
- Answer key included.
- Related NGSS Standards: NGSS MS-ESS1-1, MS-ESS1-2, MS-ESS1-3
- You can also shop our TPT store!
Related Standards:
- NGSS MS-ESS1-1: Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses, and seasons.
- NGSS MS-ESS1-2: Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system.
- NGSS MS-ESS1-3: Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.
