3rd+Quarter+Astronomy

__Tuesday 1-4-11__ introductions syllabus/expectations
 * grading scale/grading expectations (attendance)
 * wiki posting - writing
 * projects (xtranormal, prezi, glogster, animoto, etc.)

__Wednesday 1-5-11__
watch video IMAX SPACE STATION

__Thursday 1-6-11__
once you are logged on, read this article on an 11 yr old girl discovering a supernova, respond in discussion, then sit tight

Friday 1-7-11

__Tuesday 1-11-11__
read this article on a space oddity, respond in discussion, then:

This week you will be researching information about our Sun. You will need to find the information using the internet. You are to build a presentation to display your findings. You can choose your method of display for the project. Here are some choices for the project:
 * 1) xtranormal
 * 2) prezi
 * 3) animoto
 * 4) comic strip/comic creation
 * 5) chogger
 * 6) makebeliefs
 * 7) write comics
 * 8) pikikids
 * 9) pixton

Or you can find/come up with another way to display your project, if approved by Brett.

This week's topic is our Sun. The key ideas you are to research and report on are:
 * 1) internal structure of the Sun - including details about each layer
 * 2) energy production - processes, energy flow, limits/lifespan
 * 3) Sunspots/Solar Flares/Coronal Mass Ejections (include effects on the Earth)

You will have time in class on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to work on this as well as any time outside of class you wish to use. The project is due on Friday 1-14-11, and will be considered late (points deducted) if not ready before class begins.

__Wednesday 1-12-11 PLC LATE START DAY ( classes start at 9:30am for 1st period)__
continue working on project

__Thursday 1-13-11__
read this article on a giant structure in our galaxy, respond in discussion, then finish your projects and post them on the page set up for them

__Friday 1-14-11__
view projects on the Sun

Monday 1-17-11 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY NO SCHOOL

__Tuesday 1-18-11__
begin watching movie "Sunshine"

__Wednesday 1-19-11__
continue watching "Sunshine"

__Thursday 1-20-11__
FINISH MOVIE, then read this article on the Largest Color Image of the Sky, respond in discussion, then go to this site and explore/play this simulation

be prepared to discuss how the objects react to changes in mass and distance from each other

Friday 1-21-11

__Monday 1-24-11__
First read this article on water on the moon, then respond in discussion, then:

This week, you will be doing research and preparing a project on our Moon For this week's presentation, you will be required to use Prezi.com

The questions that you need to answer in your project are:
 * 1) Why does the Moon keep the same face turned toward the Earth?
 * 2) What causes eclipses of the Sun and the Moon?
 * 3) How can we predict eclipses?
 * 4) How do tides affect the Earth and the Moon?
 * 5) What caused the craters, maria, and other surface features of the Moon?
 * 6) What have samples from the Moon told us about the Moon and the origin of the solar system?
 * 7) What do we know about the interior of the Moon?
 * 8) How did the Moon form? (include previous theories and current accepted theory)

You must include at least 3 different legitimate sources, none of which may include wikipedia.

The project must be embedded/uploaded/linked BEFORE class begins on Friday (1-28-11) to receive full credit.

__Tuesday 1-25-11__
read this article on the Moon's core, respond in discussion, then continue working on your Prezi Moon project

__Wednesday 1-26-11__
read this article on a runaway star plowing through space, respond in discussion, then continue your Prezi project

__Thursday 1-27-11__
read this article on NASA's new robotic lander prototype, respond in discussion, then FINISH your project,

CUT-AND-PASTE is NOT AN ACCEPTABLE WAY TO BUILD YOUR PROJECT, IT IS CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM!!!!

__Friday 1-28-11__
view projects on the Moon

__Monday 1-31-11__
read this article on a Global Eruption on the Sun, respond in discussion, then ...

This week the topic is closest 2 planets to the Sun, MERCURY and VENUS

YOU MUST USE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SITES TO CREATE A COMIC STRIP TO PRESENT THE FINDINGS OF YOUR RESEARCH.

Witty Comics Artisan Cam SuperHero Squad Pixton PikiKids

Here are the topic for research that must be answered/discussed in your project.
 * Why does Mercury show a much wider range of temperatures than the Earth does?
 * What does the surface of Mercury tell us about the history of the planet?
 * Why is Mercury do dense?
 * Why is the atmosphere of Venus so much hotter and thicker than that of the Earth?
 * What does the surface of Venus tell us about the internal activity of Venus and of the Earth?
 * If Venus and the Earth began to evolve under similar conditions, what accounts for the large differences that exist today?
 * What have NASA and/or other agencies done to explore both Venus and Mercury? (be specific)

Tuesday 2-1-11 - NO SCHOOL due to weather Wednesday 2-2-11 PLC LATE START DAY - NO SCHOOL due to weather Thursday 2-3-11 Friday 2-4-11

__Monday 2-7-11__
This week we are continuing the topic from last week, which is the closest 2 planets to the Sun, MERCURY and VENUS

YOU MUST USE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SITES TO CREATE A COMIC STRIP TO PRESENT THE FINDINGS OF YOUR RESEARCH.

Witty Comics Artisan Cam SuperHero Squad Pixton PikiKids

Here are the topic for research that must be answered/discussed in your project.
 * Why does Mercury show a much wider range of temperatures than the Earth does?
 * What does the surface of Mercury tell us about the history of the planet?
 * Why is Mercury do dense?
 * Why is the atmosphere of Venus so much hotter and thicker than that of the Earth?
 * What does the surface of Venus tell us about the internal activity of Venus and of the Earth?
 * If Venus and the Earth began to evolve under similar conditions, what accounts for the large differences that exist today?
 * What have NASA and/or other agencies done to explore both Venus and Mercury? (be specific)

3 Legitimate Sources must be cited. You have until class starts on Friday 2-11-11 to work on this. NO COMPUTERS WILL BE USED ON FRIDAY!!!! PROJECT WILL BE COUNTED LATE AFTER FRIDAY! (points lost)

__Tuesday 2-8-11__
keep working on projects

Wednesday 2-9-11

__Thursday 2-10-11__
YOU MAY USE PREZI OR POWERPOINT TO DO THIS PROJECT

__Friday 2-11-11__
watch presentations on Mercury and Venus

__Monday 2-14-11__
read this article on a 2-timing spacecraft, respond in discussion, then begin on your next project

For this project, you will be researching the RED PLANET, MARS


 * Why is the planet called Mars?
 * What are the stats we know about the 4th planet from the Sun? (size, hours per day, days per year, atmosphere, gravity)
 * What is the famous face on Mars all about?
 * Does Mars have moons, and if so, name it/them, and tell stats on them?
 * Tell about the Martian magnetic field.
 * Talk about the existence of water on Mars (surface and underneath, including evidence to support).
 * What is the distance from the Earth to Mars (greatest, least, and time in-between)
 * how does the distance problem affect missions to Mars?
 * what is the least amount of time it would take to send a manned mission to Mars?
 * how long would they have to stay there? Why?
 * what physiological issues might there be in that length of time in space? or on a planet with less gravity than the Earth?
 * why would finding a water source be a crucial piece in the manned exploration of Mars?
 * Tell about the exploration of Mars by NASA and the USSR (failed and successful soviet missions, NASA Mariner missions, NASA Viking missions, Mars Observer, Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Pathfinder, Mars Exploration Rovers - Spirit and Opportunity, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Phoenix Mars Lander, and future planned missions)

For this project you can use any medium you choose (other than straight written report). You must include your sources (minimum of 3 legitimate sources). You will have until FRIDAY 2-25-11 to complete this project. THIS IS ONLY 6 COMPLETE CLASS PERIODS, given that we have a late start day and a 4 day weekend coming up. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. THIS PROJECT IS WORTH 2 OF THE PREVIOUS PROJECTS POINTS!

__Tuesday 2-15-11__
read this article on NASA's Nautilus spacecraft, respond in discussion, then continue working on project

here are some image sites that are not currently blocked by the district filter http://www.pics4learning.com/index.php http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/browse/ http://openphoto.net/

Wednesday 2-16-11 PLC LATE START DAY

__Thursday 2-17-11__
here is an article on a couple of video clips produced by NASA from the perspective of being on Mars, read the short articles, watch the video clips, then respond in discussion. Then continue your research on Mars! ONLY 4 IN CLASS DAYS LEFT TO WORK ON THIS!!!!

Friday 2-18-11 NO SCHOOL

Monday 2-21-11 PRESIDENTS DAY - NO SCHOOL

__Tuesday 2-22-11__
read this article on an advanced NASA instrument getting close to Mars' rocks, respond in discussion, then continue working on project, YOU NOW HAVE ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT TO WORK ON THIS!!!!!!

__Wednesday 2-23-11__
no article today, continue working on project, REMEMBER THAT IT IS WORTH 2 OF THE PREVIOUS PROJECTS

__Thursday 2-24-11__
LAST DAY TO WORK ON PROJECTS!!! NO COMPUTERS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON FRIDAY!!!

Friday 2-25-11 - projects on MARS DUE TODAY (NO COMPUTERS WILL BE OUT!)

Monday 2-28-11 Tuesday 3-1-11 Wednesday 3-2-11 **// FINAL EXAMS - (1st, 2nd, 3rd periods) //** media type="custom" key="8537578"

Thursday 3-3-11 **// FINAL EXAMS (4th, 5th) //**; Parent/Teacher Conferences (2:00pm - 8:00pm) Friday 3-4-11 NO SCHOOL - END OF 3rd Qtr