Transcript Exploring the Sun! - Millstone Township Schools

Exploring the Sun!
A WebQuest Activity created by
Ellen Osborn
Introduction
You have just received an urgent message from
NASA. The computers at the NASA Space Center
have crashed, and all of the information that the
scientists and astronomers have collected about the
Sun is lost. You have been chosen to go into space to
find the missing information about the Sun. You
must leave immediately for your mission into space
to research the Sun and report your findings back
to the NASA scientists.
The Task
Working in groups of 2 to 4 you will search
several web sites and use the information
discussed in class to answer a series of
questions about the Sun. At the end of three
sessions, you and your partner will write a
report that includes 2 or 3 pictures of the Sun,
informing the NASA scientists about your
findings from your trip to the Sun. You will
use the research information that you found
during these sessions as the content of your
report. The pictures of the Sun should be printed
from the computer or drawn by hand.
Note:
This WebQuest is set up for three class
periods. If (after working diligently) at
the end of the second class period you and
your partner(s) find there will not be
enough time to complete this WebQuest,
please see the instructor. Then and only
then, will you receive directions on your
next step.
Questions
These are the questions that the NASA scientists
would like to have answered:
o What is the distance to the Sun from the Earth in
miles?
o What type of Star is the Sun?
o How do astronomers measure the temperature of the
Sun without going there?
o What is the chemical make-up of the Sun (include
percentages)?
o What is the history of the Sun?
o What is the Sun’s surface temperature?
Questions (con’t)
o How old is the Sun?
o How many days does it take the Sun to complete it’s
rotational period?
o What is the Sun’s mass?
o How does the Earth receive heat from the Sun?
o What are the layers that make-up the Sun?
o Define the following terms: support, solar flare,
auroras, and solar wind?
You may include any additional interesting facts that
you find about the Sun in your report.
Resources
Here are some world Wide Web sites that will help
you find answers to some of your questions
Click on the colored words to go that link.
o Take a trip “through the Sun” on this Virtual Tour
o The Sun can be a very dangerous place to visit. Visit
this site to find out why.
o The sun is made up of different gases and chemicals.
Discover how these gases created the Sun.
o It may look close, but the specific type of star that
gives off energy.
Resources (con’t)
o Use these sites for interesting Sun facts and
more interesting Sun facts. These sites will
provide you with information you may have
difficulty finding in any of the above
mentioned sites.
You may also find your Applied Technology
notebook and textbook helpful in answering
some of the questions.
The Process
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Read over the entire assignment so that you understand what will
be expected of you.
Look at the questions that you are required to answer. Make sure
that you and your partner have a good idea of the type of
information that you will be searching for.
Use the resources listed on this page to search for answers to the
questions. Your AT textbook and notebook can also be used.
After all of the questions have been answered, you and your
partner will write a report to the NASA scientists that describes
your research of the Sun. Remember that you must include at
least 2 or 3 pictures of the Sun.
Type your report on the computer, and include any pictures that
you are using. Your finished product will be emailed to a “NASA
scientist” (Mrs. Osborn). The email address that you will use is
[email protected].
Some Advice to You!
• Make sure to always work with your partner(s).
You could divide up the questions that need to be
answered, and then work together to see where
you might need to search for more information
to give appropriate answers to the questions.
• Keep in mind that your purpose in doing this
assignment is to inform someone else about
your research. Do not write about something
that you may not understand.
• It might be a good idea to use some type of chart
to organize the information that you will be
collecting.
Conclusion
When you have finished writing your report
to the NASA scientists, you will be an
expert on the Sun in our solar system,
Thin about everything that you have
learned about the Sun, and about how
much more there is to learn about our solar
system.
Congratulations….and NASA thanks you!!