Activity Title - "Can You Believe That ... ?"

Goal/Objective

Students will analyze and evaluate new information in the field of astronomy, make predictions regarding its value, and project ideas for possible practical applications.

Lesson Outline

Students will read about advancements in the field of astronomy.

Introduction

Discuss the fact that new technology has increased knowledge, especially in the field of astronomy. To give an example of this, distribute copies of recent articles from magazines and/or newspapers about such finds. Students each read an article and make a list of at least 5 unfamiliar terms. Be ready to discuss possible meanings, based on context clues.

Activity

Students read article, make vocabulary list, and locate main idea(s) in article. Instructor calls on volunteers to share information and discuss terms and their possible meanings. Then students scan article to discover what recent technology advances made the discovery possible. Discussion will follow, based on responses. Students will then predict ways we might be impacted by this discovery and what practical applications there might be.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity

Students can evaluate other needed expenses that can occur each month.

Materials, Texts, Realia, Handouts

• Recent articles about scientific findings in astronomy
• Notebook paper and pen

Extension Activity

Ask for volunteers to tell about their experiences when they shared their article summary with a young family member or friend. Students will write a well-developed essay that answers the question:

"If you were in charge of the space program, would you support man's flights into space?"

Give specific reasons to support your opinion.

ESE Accommodations

Students will use the dictionary to simply space terms on vocabulary cards.

Real-Life Connection

Teacher elicits class discussion of "cost" versus "value of discovery."

In a paragraph answer the question: Would you feel differently if you were a scientist? Support your opinion(s) with details.

Activity Title - "Can You Believe That ... ?"

Introduction

Say: New technology is allowing us to learn new things about our universe each day. I have brought to class copies of articles from magazines and newspapers about recent discoveries in the field of astronomy. Read the article you are given and be prepared to tell about the discovery (discoveries) mentioned in your article. Make a list of 5 words with which you are unfamiliar. Jot down ideas of their meanings from context clues.

Main Activity

Students read article, make vocabulary list, and locate main idea(s) in article. Instructor calls on volunteers to share information.

Say: Scan your article again to see if a recent technological advance made the discovery possible. What ways might this new technology and/or discovery impact us in the future? What practical application might there be of this newly found knowledge?

Teacher elicits class discussion.

Closure/Conclusion

Say: Do you think the cost involved in developing new technology is well spent? Give reasons to support your opinion. Answer the question: Would you feel differently if you were a scientist by profession?

Follow-up lessons/Activities

Say: Now that you have read your article, do you understand it well enough to explain it to someone else? Before you can teach someone, you must be familiar with what it is you are trying to teach. Write a summary simple enough for a 10-yr.-old to understand. After writing your elementary-level summary, share it with a young family member or friend.