Galaxies and the Universe
SEARCH IN ACTIVITIES FOR FINAL ACTIVITY IN GROUPS DUE JUNE 20

In this chapter students will learn what the Milky Way Galaxy looks like; how galaxies are distributed and what their characteristics are; and what astronomers know about the origin of the universe.


Lesson 1
The Milky Way Galaxy
In this lesson students will determine the size and shape of the Milky Way, as well as Earth's location within it; and how our galaxy could have formed.

Lesson 2
Other Galaxies in the Universe
The objectives of this lesson are: Describe how astronomer classify galaxies; identify how galaxies are organized into clusters and superclusters; and describe the expansion of the universe.

Lesson 3
Cosmology
In this lesson students will be able to explain the different theories about the formation of the universe; and describe the possible outcomes of the universal expansion.

Stars

In this chapter students will learn about stars, including our own: the Sun. In the life cycle of these amazing celestial bodies, is when are created the building blocks of elements in the universe.

Lesson 1
The Sun
In this lesson students will explore the structure of the Sun, describe the solar activity cycle and how the Sun affects the Earth.

Lesson 2
Stellar evolution
In this lesson students will be able to explain how astronomers learn about the internal structure of stars, describe how the Sun changes during its lifetime and how it will end up, and compare the evolutions of stars of different masses.

Lesson 3
Measuring the stars
In this lesson students will be able to describe star distribution and distance, classify the types of stars, and summarize the interrelated properties of stars.

Our Solar System

In this chapter students will learn how gravity and orbits are related, the characteristics of planets and the interplanetary bodies, and what theory is used to describe the formation of the Solar System.

Lesson 1
Overview of Our Solar System (Kepler's laws)
In this lesson you'll be able to describe early models of our Solar System, examine the modern heliocentric model, and relate gravity to the motion of the celestial bodies.

Kepler's Laws of planetary motion

Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation

Lesson 2
The Terrestrial Planets
In this lesson students will be able to describe the properties of the terrestial planets, and compare Earth with them.

Lesson 3
The Gas Giant Planets
In this lesson you'll be able to describe the properties of the gas giant planets, and understand why Pluto was degraded to a dwarf planet and its uniqueness.

Lesson 4 
Formation of Our Solar System
In this lesson you'll be able to summarize the properties of the solar system that support the theory of the solar's system formation, to describe how planets formed from a disk surrounding the young Sun, and explore remmants of solar system formation.

The Sun-Earth-Moon System

In this chapter students will learn how to identify features on the Moon, what theories are used to describe the Moon's origin, and how to analyze the motions of the Sun, Earth and Moon.

Lesson 1 
The Moon
Here the students will be able to understand the importance of the only satellite of our planet.

Origin of the Moon

What would the Earth be like without the Moon

Lesson 2 
The Sun-Earth-Moon System
The objectives of this lesson is to identify the relative positions and motions of these three celestial bodies, describe the phases of the Moon, and explain eclipses of the Sun and Moon.

Beyond Earth

The nighttime sky in this photo appears to contain only stars, which belong to the Milky Way. However, upon closer inspection we find a variety of objects, such as planets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies. Despite their distance, each of these objects impacts our existence here on Earth. Galaxies provide a place for stars to develop. Nebulae provide the materials to form stars. Stars, like the Sun, provide energy and create elements. Stars formation often results in the formation of planets.
In this unit, students are introduce to the universe beyond Earth and the relationships between planets and moons, and stars and galaxies.

Lesson 1
Introduction to Astronomy
In this lesson, based videos posted by the Physics professor Michael van Biezen, students will try to answer fundamental questions such as what makes up the Universe? What is matter? and where does all matter comes from.

Videos:

What makes up the universe?

What is matter?

Where does al matter come from?

Energy Resources

In this chapter students will learn what energy resources are found on Earth, what alternatives to traditional energy resources exist, and how conservation can extend both traditional and alternative energy resources.

Conventional Energy resources
Students will recognize the Sun as the ultimate source of most energy on Earth, will be able to describe changes from one form to another,  identify materials that are used as fuels, and how fossil fuels form.

Petroleum's origin: Students will understand in depth how petroleum was formed and why the organic hypothesis is the most accepted. See original article here.

Earth Resources

In this chapter students will learn about the materials considered Earth resources, which of those are renewable and which are nonrenewable; and how Earth resources are used. Also it will be discussed the importance of managing properly the use of these resources in order to guarantee its existence for future generations.

Home project (video)

Land Resources

In this lesson students will be able to understand why land is considered a natural resource, and will recognize the need to protect Earth's land as a resource. Also how humans adjust to the uneven distribution of land resources.

Desertification

Air Resources

All living things depend on gases in the atmosphere. All organisms depend on atmosheric oxygen for celular respiration. In this lesson students will recognize that the atmosphere is an Earth resource and the importance of clean air.

Water Resources

Of all the water of the Earth, only 3% of Earth's water is freshwater. Of this freshwater, only 0.003 is available to humans for domestic, agricultural, and industrial processes. In this lesson students will understand the importance of clean freshwater, how water is distributed and used, and will identify ways in which humans can reduce the need for increasing production of freshwater resources.