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A core learning question from the Astrobiology Learning Progressions
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7.3. How do we discover worlds around other stars?
Grades K-2 or Adult Naive Learner
Storyline
NGSS Connections for Teachers
Concept Boundaries for Scientists
Resources
We are all born scientists. We are curious. We look for patterns. We compare and contrast new things to our past experiences. For example, we all know our own homes well. We know what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like. When we visit a new place our minds naturally begin to compare and contrast to what we know. If you have ever changed homes, then you know we spend a lot of time and thought on what is similar and what is different. When we do this, we are using our scientific mind. Explorers in new lands do this in much the same way. Science is a way of thinking and learning.
Disciplinary Core IdeasESS1.A: The Universe and its Stars: Patterns of the motion of the Sun, moon, and stars in the sky can be observed, described, and predicted. (1-ESS1-1)ETS1.A: Defining and Delimiting an Engineering Problem: Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems. (K-ESS3-2)ETS1.C: Optimizing the Design Solution: Because there is always more than one possible solution to a problem, it is useful to compare and test designs. (K-2-ETS1-3)ETS1.A: Defining and Delimiting Engineering Problems: Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems. (K-2-ETS1-1) ▪ Before beginning to design a solution, it is important to clearly understand the problem. (K-2-ETS1-1)Crosscutting ConceptsCause and Effect: Simple tests can be designed to gather evidence to support or refute student ideas about causes. (K-PS2-1, K-PS2-2)Patterns: Patterns in the natural and human designed world can be observed and used as evidence. (K-LS1-1) ▪ Patterns in the natural world can be observed, used to describe phenomena, and used as evidence. (1-LS1-2, -LS3-1)
Big Ideas: Exploration and curiosity are hallmarks of being a scientist. Looking for patterns and understanding life on Earth helps in the search for life on other planets.Boundaries: At this level, students can focus on thinking about exploring and how they do it through asking questions, observing, and thinking about what they learn.
K-5 Life in Icy Places. This is a lesson (two-three 45-minute sessions) about the field of astrobiology, the study of life in the universe, and ice as a preservative for evidence of life. Learners consider the relationship between ice and life as they investigate the conditions required for life to exist and sustain itself. They study the impact of freezing on microbes and life processes and learn about extremophiles, organisms that live in extreme conditions. Activities include small group miming, speaking, drawing, and/or writing. This is lesson 8 of 12 in the unit, Exploring Ice in the Solar System. Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab/Carnegie Science/NASA. http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/Learn/pdf/ice_icy.pdfK-6 Soda Straw Rockets. In this challenging and fun 5E lesson (90 minutes), students build a paper rocket. Students investigate how a nose cone variation influences distance of flight. Aligned to standards in Science Education and Mathematics, this activity helps build 21st Century Skills in creativity, innovation, collaboration, information literacy, productivity, leadership and more and supports student exploration of planetary bodies, such as Mars, in the solar system. Arizona State University/NASA. http://marsed.asu.edu/soda-straw-rocketsK-12 Art and the Cosmic Connection. These lessons (three-eight 60 minute lessons) use the elements of art including shape, line, color, texture, value, to have students make sense of images of planets, asteroids, comets and moons to hone their observation skills and inspire them to ask questions. Learners of all ages can create a beautiful piece of art while learning to recognize the geology on planetary surfaces. The lessons begin with what we know here on Earth and then uses that awareness to help students interpret features on distant objects in the solar system. JPL /California Institute of Technology. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/art-the-cosmic-connection/
Grades 3-5 or Adult Emerging Learner
Storyline
NGSS Connections for Teachers
Concept Boundaries for Scientists
Resources
We can learn about our world by using our senses such as sight, hearing, smelling, and touching. We also investigate using measurement tools such as rulers and by using tools that enhance our senses like telescopes and microscopes. The type of tool we choose depends on what we want to learn about and how hard it is to investigate. For example, if we want to learn about a fish here on Earth, we might watch them, count them, and even catch and weigh them. When we think about learning more about our solar system, we must consider what we want to learn and what tools we could use. Also, we have to keep in mind getting to other places in our solar system can be hard because other planets are really far away.So far, we’ve only sent humans to the Moon and back, and we’ve been using robots to explore other planets. Some of our spacecraft fly past a planet and take pictures. Other spacecraft have gone into orbit around other planets and stayed there to learn more. We’ve even sent out some robots that have landed on other worlds to explore. We send along special tools on these spacecraft that send information back to Earth so we can study those other worlds. There is much to learn about the other worlds in our solar system. Some places we think might even have living things on them. For us to find out, we need to keep exploring and sending our spacecraft out to these other worlds. We all think like scientists when we ask questions, investigate, and compare and contrast new things we find to things we already know. Similarly, the scientists who are looking for possible signs of life in other places in our solar system will compare and contrast those place with what we find here on Earth. In order to understand more of the nature of our universe we must continue to explore, use our senses and instruments, and consider how similar and different …