Unit D: The Universe

​This year the smallest thing we studied was the atom and now we will be studying some of the largest parts of the universe. 

1. To see how everything connects and compares, explore the simulation and take time to click and read some of the areas you are interested in. 

2. When ready, rank these from smallest to biggest. You can also add screenshots if you want to help you remember what they are.

​Challenge: Find an example of moons bigger than some planets: ______________

Challenge: Find an example of a star that is smaller than some planets: _________

Explore our solar system or other stars.

Part 1: Find 1 planet, 1 moon and 1 star that you find most interesting. Once you find each one, go to Google, YouTube or use AI to learn as much as you like about each. Add as much space as needed:

​In your table groups, each person picks a different Bill Nye video from the list below. As you watch, each person will create 5 or 6 good multiple choice questions to put into a table group Blooket or Kahoot. Later the class will play each other's games.

​Come up with your own acronym to help you remember all 8 planets! Let’s see who comes up with the best one.

​In the future, try using strategies like this to memorize!

​We have evidence that the universe is expanding over time from one starting point (the big bang). Let’s practice explaining skills (level 7 - 8) by explaining how the Doppler shifts give evidence for the universe expanding using the analogy of the cars.  You can see the subtitle text here to help.

​First 16 min

​Another piece of evidence for the Big Bang is CMBR. Choose either resource below (both cover the same info) and practice writing an explanation of how CMBR gives evidence for the Big Bang.

​OPTION 1: VIDEO

​OPTION 2: WEBSITE

​Let’s practice graphing using different types of stars. In this Gizmo, we will categorize the stars according to their luminosity and temperature in an H-R diagram.

Where did the atoms that make up your body come from...

​First 16 to 30 min

​Use these pages to create a flow chart (again, practicing active note-taking) of the lifecycle of stars. You can double click to edit in Google, or just write the numbers underneath if using other software.

​Use these pages to help figure out these true/false answers. If a statement is false, practice rewriting it to be true.

​11. True

​Use this page to help make a comparison chart. Reorganizing information is a key strategy for note-taking as it is an example of active note-taking (key to success in DP/University). Let’s practice!

​Older than spiral, younger than elliptical.

​little dust

​This year, we studied normal matter (atoms) and energy (the electromagnetic spectrum). But that’s only 5% of what the universe is!