Spark, Set..Go!

Argue 4 Astronomy

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How might we justify an astronomy club in our school?

v.5

How to use this Slide Deck

SparkSetGo.org @SparkSetGo

These slides were created to scaffold an inquiry-based learning experience and designed to be completed in order. They are with a mix of content and hands-on experiences that lead to an empowering “How might we” guiding question. Each card is defined by a guiding question or statement and most include content to support the learning experience. Feel free to modify them in any way that benefits your students.

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• The sky-blue slide is an entry event,
• “Set” slides (teal) contain content with a guiding question (Knowledge and Comprehension)
• “Spark” slides (red) are hands on activities or experiments (Application and Analysis)
• The final “Go” slide (yellow and green) is the culminating guiding question (Synthesis and Evaluation.)

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The quality of the learning experience will not be defined by the content of these cards but rather by how your students respond to the guiding questions and the feedback they receive from you, fellow mentors or their peers. You can find more resources including digital tools to manage learning experiences at SparkSetGo.org.

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Other formats of this deck:

Printable Cards

One Sheet

Argue 4 Astronomy: Card 2

Pale Blue Dot

Argue 4 Astronomy: Card 3

10 Points

Spark: Size of the Solar System

Let's demonstrate the size of our solar system.

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Toilet Paper Project

Argue 4 Astronomy: Card 4

5 Points

Set: Constellations

While the Sun, Moon and Planets move, the stars we see have been in the same place for a very long time.

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Can we identify basic constellations and summarize why they might be useful for navigation?

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Star Date, Go Astronomy, Wikipedia, Natural Navigator, In-The-Sky.org

Argue 4 Astronomy: Card 5

5 Points

Set: Culture / Ancient Culture

Perhaps because the constellations have been the same for so long, they have played a part of human culture since the beginning of time.

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Can we give examples of how ancient cultures used or viewed the stars?

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StarTeach, Beginnings of Astronomy, Wikipedia, Library of Congress

Argue 4 Astronomy: Card 6

10 Points

Spark: Motion of the Sun

Let's illustrate the movement of the sun

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Motion of the Sun, Clear Plastic Hemisphere

Argue 4 Astronomy: Card 7

5 Points

Set: Deep Space

Can we outline different objects found in deep space and give examples?

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Wikipedia, Space Telescope Live, World-Wide Telescope, Google Sky

Argue 4 Astronomy: Card 8

5 Points

Set: Gravity

We are constantly discovering new things in Space, and with every new discovery, there are more and more questions about our Universe.

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Can we discuss a few topics in Astronomy that are on the edge of discovery?

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Physics of the Universe, NASA, Space.com, CERN, LHC, Curiosity.com, Wikipedia, Space.com

Argue 4 Astronomy: Card 9

10 Points

Spark: Pick One

Choosing an experiment from this page, let's experiment or demonstrate a property of Astronomy.

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Pick One

How might we justify an astronomy club in our school?

20 Points

Argue 4 Astronomy: Card 10