The Immensity of the Universe - This lesson package includes the lesson (student and teacher versions of the presentation), an auto-graded Exit Ticket, THREE videos, and a student lesson handout as a document. The presentation is fun and applicable with THREE videos embedded into the slides and many opportunities for inquiry-based learning and discussion.

The minds-on inquiry activities are meant to break down student misconceptions and help guide them to the correct concepts.

In order, the lesson covers:

• Solar Systems
• Galaxies
• The Andromeda Galaxy
• Aliens
• The Drake Equation
• Alien Inquiry

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• This lesson includes both Office and Google formats for ALL resources. The presentation is in PowerPoint and Google Slides while all documents contain Word and Google Doc versions.
• Your resource is perfect for distance learning and integrates seamlessly with Google Classroom as I've included a link that will automatically create a copy of the resources and put them directly into your Google Drive with one click.
• Purchase --> Open --> Click --> Assign to your students

Having both options allows you to use either without worrying about formatting issues as all the work has already been done for you. It safeguards you in case your department or school decides to go Google 100% and allows you as well as your students to access everything no matter where you are or what kind of equipment is being used.

Included in the lesson package is:

• Google and Office versions of each resource
• The teacher version of the presentation
• The student version of the presentation
• Auto-graded Exit Ticket
• THREE videos embedded into the presentation
• Drake Equation practice problem
• Student lesson handout

The student version of the presentation contains multiple blanks that need to be filled in throughout the lesson. These blanks are conveniently underlined and bolded on the teacher copy. I have found this to be the most effective means of keeping my students engaged and active without having them write everything out. This also leaves more time for discussion and activities.

NGSS:

MS-ESS1-2 - Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system. Emphasis is on gravity as the force that holds together the solar system and Milky Way galaxy and controls orbital motions within them.

MS-ESS1-3 - Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.

HS-ESS1-1 - Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the life span of the sun and the role of nuclear fusion in the sun's core to release energy that eventually reaches Earth in the form of radiation.

Specifically, the lesson covers topics like solar systems, galaxies, the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies, and scale of astronomical objects. Developing models to explain how gravity impacts motions aligns with MS-ESS1-2. Analyzing data on scale properties addresses MS-ESS1-3. Including details on nuclear fusion in stars corresponds to HS-ESS1-1.

Overall, this lesson allows students to demonstrate understanding of size/distance concepts in astronomy and key forces/processes governing celestial phenomena, as outlined in the NGSS performance expectations listed above.

This lesson can also be found within the Space Unit by clicking here.

Lessons Included:

Lesson 1 - Space - An Introduction

Lesson 2 - Our Solar System

Lesson 3 - Life in Outer Space

Lesson 4 - The Life and Death of Stars

Lesson 5 - The Seasons and Earth's Tilt

Lesson 6 - The Moon

Lesson 7 - Eclipse - Solar and Lunar

Lesson 8 - Galaxies, Other Objects, and the Universe

Lesson 9 - The Immensity of the Universe

I also have a range of assignments and lessons/units from other grade levels at my store. Please CLICK HERE to have a look around and don’t forget to follow if you like what you see.

Also, please visit my blog Teach With Fergy for my thoughts on teaching, learning and everything in between.