Help needed w/Science GLE

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

MO Teachers

MEMBERS

2 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Mills College

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

Missouri Teachers Chatboard

Help needed w/Science GLE

by Jerry

Nov 29, 2009

Missouri Seventh Grade Level Expectation Strand 6.1.A.c.Describe the relative proximity of common celestial bodies (i.e., Sun, Moon, planets, smaller celestial bodies such as comets and meteors, other stars) in the sky to the Earth

Can anyone help with this? Of course the moon is closest to Earth. But SOME planets are nearer Earth than the Sun, and SOME planets are farther from Earth than the Sun is to Earth. The stars are farther away than planets -except of course, for the Sun. Meteors are parts of broken comets, and many comets are in the Oort cloud-farther than Pluto-for the most part. This sounds like a lot of facts that have "except for..." information for 7th grade. Does anyone have any idea exactly HOW or WHAT Missouri has in mind here? I will also post this on the Science chatboard.

Comment

(1)

report post

Wizzrd On 11/29/09, Jerry wrote: > Missouri Seventh Grade Level Expectation Strand > 6.1.A.c.Describe the relative proximity of common celestial > bodies (i.e., Sun, Moon, planets, smaller celestial bodies > such as comets and meteors, other stars) in the sky to the > Earth > > Can anyone help with this? Of course the moon is closest ...See MoreOn 11/29/09, Jerry wrote: > Missouri Seventh Grade Level Expectation Strand > 6.1.A.c.Describe the relative proximity of common celestial > bodies (i.e., Sun, Moon, planets, smaller celestial bodies > such as comets and meteors, other stars) in the sky to the > Earth > > Can anyone help with this? Of course the moon is closest to > Earth. But SOME planets are nearer Earth than the Sun, and > SOME planets are farther from Earth than the Sun is to > Earth. The stars are farther away than planets -except of > course, for the Sun. Meteors are parts of broken comets, and > many comets are in the Oort cloud-farther than Pluto-for the > most part. This sounds like a lot of facts that have "except > for..." information for 7th grade. Does anyone have any idea > exactly HOW or WHAT Missouri has in mind here? > I will also post this on the Science chatboard. Jerry,

I have been a 6,7,8 grade science teacher in Michigan for 14 years. I believe that one of the things that you can do is conduct an outside activity which shows the relative position of the planets to the Sun. You must calculate a scale model (light years to feet) and then take tall poles (wooden) outside with the students. Have one student hold a pole labeled, "Sun". Then count the amount of feet using 3-foot steps to the next nearest planet,(Mercury). Have another student hold a pole labeled, "Mercury". Continue this until all nine Planets are represented.

The remainder of the students can hold shorter poles to represent the asteroid belt as well as students who represent Comets and Asteroids. Those students move near the planets that you tell them to and follow a path that you assign.

Other students with smaller poles can represent the moons to the planets and those student move in the direction that you tell them to.

If this activity is done correctly, you will have your own little, "Galaxy", going. Everyone will have fun and learn about the relative proximity of the Planets to other celestial bodies in our part of the Universe.

This activity must be closely watched though. Give the poles only to students that can be trusted. Once one of the students uses a pole in an "inappropriate way", cancel the activity and go back indoors immediately.

Wizzrd

Dec 15, 2009

report post