Teacher's Guide for:

Our Place in Space

OBJECTIVES:

• To realize and appreciate our place in this universe.
• To see the diversity of the planets in our Solar System (teacher option).
• To find some of the constellations in our current night sky (teacher option).
• To discover why our Moon appears to change shape or phase. 

This show conforms to the following state science standards:  12.F.1a, 12.F.1b, 12.F.2a, 12.F.2b, 12.F.2c, 12.F. 3b, 12.F.3c, 12.F.4b, 12.F.5b

As the dome darkens, we view the emptiness of space, sprinkled here and there with "small" galaxies in clusters. There is a general discussion of galaxies, their different shapes and sizes, and what they are made of. We then zoom into the Milky Way Galaxy to see the stars and examine why we see the "Milky Way" in our sky. We look at our Solar System from afar and then fly past the planets to our home, Earth. Our last activity revolves around Moon phases, with emphasis on the fact that what the Moon looks like depends on our perspective. Misconceptions are discussed and a model constructed, using the students themselves, to illustrate the phases before we view them on the dome. 

Since this is a live show, the teacher is encouraged to make requests depending on what his or her class is focusing on. Options include a more in-depth discussion of the current constellations and/or dynamic views of the planets (via laserdisk). The show thrives on interaction between the presenter and the students.

1. "Where do you live?" Possibly make a bulletin board beginning with your house, to your street, city, state, country, continent, planet, Solar System, galaxy, and even galaxy cluster (the Local Group). The Planetarium can supply more information if needed. 
2. Ascertain student misconceptions regarding phases of the Moon. You find that many will maintain that the dark part of the Moon is the Earth's shadow. A trip outside during a third quarter Moon (when the Moon can be seen in the daytime) will let the student see where the Moon is and that their shadow is behind them, away from the Sun. Similarly, the Earth's shadow is always opposite the Sun. 
3. Discuss how the planets are similar/different. A fun way might be to construct travel brochures for potential excursions to the planets. A trip to the library is a good first stop!

1. Construct a scale model of the Solar System showing the sizes and distances to the planets. You will be surprised how much empty space is out there! The Staerkel Planetarium can help out with this. 
2. Model the Moon phases by letting each student "be" the Earth. This could be done individually by constructing Moons for everyone (styrofoam balls on tongue depressors or ping pong balls glued to golf tees work nicely) or by letting one student be the Moon and one be the Earth. Use a light source in a dark room. 
3. Construct a "Lunar Log" by making drawings of the Moon noting its phase and position. 
4. Construct a mission to a nearby planet. The planet itself can be a beach ball with construction paper mountains, cities, and other landscapes attached. Place the ball far from the classroom. Look at the ball with a telescope. What questions are raised? What do we want to find out about this new world? Have students then devise a mission consisting of a student with a polaroid camera. What will the mission objectives be? How will we design the craft and supply power to it? Send the student to the planet and then examine the photographs. What new questions arise? Do you send a second mission? In this manner, students see what decisions NASA must go through in directing planetary exploration.

INTERNET RESOURCES:

"Ask Starman" send email to: dleake@parkland.edu 
Working group on astronomical education: http:www.aas.org/~wgae  
Peoria's scale Solar System model: http://bradley.bradley.edu/~dware/index.html  
Abram's Sky Calendar: http://pads1.pa.msu.edu/abrams/home.html  
Current space missions: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov  
Solar System tour: http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/pub/billa/tnp/nineplanets.html
Moon phases:  http://www.googol.com/moon