There are so many wonderful astronomy objectives for fifth grade that we have decided to cover them all in a two-part program called “Astronomy Blast!”. Come for both parts, or come for only one, as best suits your schedule. Part 1 is offered first quarter, covering PE 5-ESS1-1 and 5-ESS1-2, focusing on stellar magnitudes and constellations through the seasons. Students will use data to make claims and use the planetarium to make observations to gather evidence to support their claims. Part 2 is offered third quarter, covering PE 5-ESS1-2, focusing on observations of the Sun through the seasons and its seasonal impact on the Earth’s hydrosphere and atmosphere. Students will have the opportunity to identify atmospheric gases using diffraction grating glasses they can keep! (Planetarium Program)
Resources
Pre-Visit Materials
Lesson Plan
Post Visit Materials (updated 8/27/18)
Next Generation Science Standards
Performance Expectation
5-ESS1-1 Support an argument that the apparent brightness of the sun and stars is due to their relative distances from the Earth.
5-ESS1-2 Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows (covered in Part 2) , day and night (Part 1) and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky (Part 1).
Science and Engineering Practices
Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Analyzing and Interpreting Data
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Connections to Nature of Science
Scientific Knowledge is Based on Empirical Evidence
Disciplinary Core Ideas
ESS1.A the Universe and its Stars
ESS1.B Earth and the Solar System
Cross Cutting Concepts
Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Patterns
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Connections to Nature of Science
Scientific Knowledge Assumes an Order and Consistency in Natural Systems
Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards (MD-CCRS)
ELA/Literacy
RI.5.7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.
W.5.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
SL.5.5 Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.
Mathematics
MP.2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
MP.4 Model with mathematics