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Emily Scott Unit: Patterns of the Earth and Sky: Analyzing Stars on Ancient Artifacts

Unit Questions: Why do we see different stars at different times?

Anchor Phenomenon: In the daytime the sun is visible in the sky, but other stars are not.

Performance Expectations:Students will be able to answer the unit question.

Materials for the Unit:

Chapter 1 Question:Why don’t we see a lot of stars during the daytime?

1.1 Pre-Unit Assessment

Astronomer, star

1.2: Earth and Stars in Space

model

OTF

1.3: How Big is Big? How Far is Far?

Visualize, sun, solar system

OTF

1.4: Distance to the Stars

Investigation, data

1.5: Investigating Size and Distance

evidence

1.6: The Brightness of Starlight

Explanation

OTF

Chapter 2 Question: Why is the sun up sometimes, but not other times?

1.7: Explaining When We See Stars

Critical Juncture

2.1:Observing Patterns

Constellation, pattern

OTF

2.2: The Daily Pattern

Day

OTF

2.3: What We See as We Spin

2.4: Which Way is Up?

Gravity

OTF

2.5: How Does Up Change?

OTF

Created by Shannon Loyd, VPE

Q: Where are the stars in space? (1.2-1.4)

If the stars are all around us, why can’t we see them? (1.5-1.6)

Q: What causes the daily pattern of when we see the sun and other stars? (2.1-2.3)

Q: If Earth is spinning, which way is up?

(2.4-2.5)

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Chapter 3 Question: Why do we see different stars at different times of year?

2.6: Explaining the Effects of Earth’s Spin

Critical Juncture

3.1: Stars Through the Year

OTF

3.2: Modeling Earth’s Orbit

Orbit

OTF

3.3: Seeing Stars for a Year

Year

OTF

3.4: Dog Days of Summer

OTF

3.5: Modeling Constellations Over Time

Critical Juncture

Chapter 4 Question: How can we investigate why we see different stars on different nights?

3.6: End of Unit Assessment

4.1: Star Scientist

OTF

4.2: Planning Investigations

OTF

4.3: Students’ Investigations of Constellations or Stars

Assessment:3.6: 1. Students will be able to identify the missing constellation

2. Students will write a final explanation that answers chapter 3 question and demonstrates understanding of key concepts from chapters 1 and 2.

:

Created by Shannon Loyd, VPE

Q: Do we see different stars at different times of year? (3.1)

Q: What causes the yearly pattern of stars that we see? (3.2-3.5)

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Chapter 5 Question:

Assessment:

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Teacher Name Unit Unit Start Date

Unit Questions

Anchor Phenomenon

Performance Expectations

Chapter 1 Question:

Lesson 1.1

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Chapter 2 Question:

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Chapter 3 Question:

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Chapter 4 Question:

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Chapter 5 Question:

Assessment:

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