The Sun and Us

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 21.04.06

  1. Unit Guide
  1. The Marginalization of Science and Social Studies in the Classroom
  2. STEM in the Classroom
  3. Introduction & Demographics
  4. Overview
  5. Unit Content, Structure and Components
  6. The Life and Characteristics of a Star
  7. Star Classification
  8. Why are Stars important?
  9. Culminating Unit Project
  10. Teaching Strategies
  11. Classroom Activities
  12. Teacher and Student Resources
  13. Extensions
  14. Conclusion
  15. Annotated Bibliography
  16. Appendix on Implementing District Standards
  17. Endnotes

Stardust Students-Our Class Cosmos of the Stars

Taryn Coullier

Published September 2021

Tools for this Unit:

Annotated Bibliography

Administrator, NASA Content. “LL Ori and the Orion Nebula.” NASA. NASA, April 9, 2015. https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2442.html. Nasa provides an image of the Orion Nebula star nursery as well as facts about it.

Administrator, NASA Content. “The Birth of Stars.” NASA. NASA, February 27, 2015. https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_1647.html. Nasa shares the birth of stars. 

Arnett, Bill. “How Many Planets Are in the Milky Way?: Amount, Location & Key Facts.” The Nine Planets, September 29, 2020. https://nineplanets.org/questions/how-many-planets-are-in-the-milky-way/. This is a cataloged list of all the planets in our galaxy.

Asante, Molefe K. “Anansi.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, inc. Accessed July 20, 2021. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ananse. This is an article about Anansi the African God. 

Basu, Sarbani. “The Sun, the Solar System and Us.” Yale National Institute Seminar. Lecture   presented at the Yale National Institute Seminar: The Sun, The Solar System, and Us,    July 12-23, 2021. This is the seminar resource by seminar leader Sarbani Basu of Yale   University Astronomy.

Baraniuk, Chris. “Earth - It Took Centuries, but We Now Know the Size of the Universe.” BBC. BBC, June 13, 2016. http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160610-it-took-centuries-but-we-now-know-the-size-of-the-universe. This article examines recent studies on the size of the universe.

Belleville, Michelle. “Hubble Space Telescope.” NASA. NASA, September 24, 2019. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/index.html. This resource is an updated look at what the Hubble Telescope is and what it photographs. 

Berg, A., & Moore Mensah, F. (2014). De-Marginalizing Science in the Elementary Classroom   by Coaching Teachers to Address Perceived Dilemmas. Education Policy Analysis   Archives. https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.v22n57.2014. This is a data driven academic   journal on the effects of marginalizing science in the K-12 classroom setting.

By. (n.d.). Hattie effect size list - 256 Influences Related to Achievement. VISIBLE   LEARNING. https://visible-learning.org/hattie-ranking-influences-effect-sizes-learning-  achievement/. This is a data packed list of the effect sizes of every teaching strategy   implemented in the classroom.

Cartwright, Mark. “Surya.” World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, July 17, 2021. https://www.worldhistory.org/Surya/. This is an encyclopedia resource on Surya, the Hindu God of the Sun. 

Choi, Charles Q. “Earth's Sun: Facts about the Sun's Age, Size and History.” Space.com. Space, June 9, 2021. https://www.space.com/58-the-sun-formation-facts-and-characteristics.html. This resource is a list of compositional facts about the sun. 

Crocco, M. S., & Costigan, A. T. (2007). The narrowing of curriculum and pedagogy in the age   of accountability: Urban educators speak out. Urban Education, 42(6), 512-535. This   educational journal offers data into the effects of narrowing the content and curriculum in   the classroom.

Croswell, Ken. The Lives of Stars. Honesdale, Penn.: Boyds Mills Press, 2009. Ken Croswell   offers a text that can be used in the classroom with students, that takes the reader through   the stages of a star’s cycle, and the characteristics and classification of a star.

Dunbar, Brian. “How SDO Sees the Sun?” NASA. NASA, June 6, 2013.   https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/science/Sun-Wavelength-Chart.html. This NASA image resource shows the sun using   different wavelengths.  

Dunbar, Brian. “Omega Centauri.” NASA. NASA. Accessed July 21, 2021. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/multimedia/ero/ero_omega_centauri.html. NASA shares the image of the various colors of the stars in Omega Centuri.

Garner, Rob. “Discoveries.” NASA. NASA, February 15, 2017. https://www.nasa.gov/content/discoveries-highlights-exploring-the-birth-of-stars. NASA gives an in depth look at the birth of stars through images, 

Golub, Leon, and Jay M. Pasachoff. Nearest Star. the Surprising Science of Our Sun. New York,   NY: Cambridge University Press, 2014. This is a book that is all about our Sun.

Haldiman, J. “What Is the Origin of the Letters Used in Star Classification?” Astronomy.com. Astronomy.com, October 1, 2005. https://astronomy.com/news-observing/ask%20astro/2005/10/what%20is%20the%20origin%20of%20the%20letters%20used%20in%20star%20classification%20why%20didnt%20astronomers%20use%20abcd. This explains the star classification letters for spectral classes and why they are use.

Hathaway, David H. “NASA/Marshall Solar Physics.” Edited by Mitzi Adams. NASA. NASA. Accessed July 24, 2021. https://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/interior.shtml. This article outlines and explains the interior of the sun.

Hattie, J., & Clarke, S. (2019). Visible learning: feedback. Routledge. This is a data packed book of the effect sizes of every teaching strategy implemented in the classroom.

Hughes, Amanda Jane, and Stefania Soldini. “The Solar Discs That Could Power Earth.” BBC   Future. BBC. Accessed July 21, 2021. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201126-the-  solar-discs-that-could-beam-power-from-space. In this article, scientists explore the   possibility of Solar Discs in space powering earth. 

IPAC. “Ask an Astronomer.” Cool Cosmos. Accessed July 18, 2021. https://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/ask/6-Is-the-Sun-the-largest-star-. This article examines the sizes of other stars in relation to the sun. 

Krumenaker, Larry. The Characteristics and the Life Cycle of Stars: An Anthology of Current Thought. New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 2006. Krumenaker provides a book all about the characteristics and lives of stars.

Landau, Elizabeth. “Symphony of Stars: The Science of Stellar Sound Waves.” NASA. NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program, September 24, 2020.   https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/news/1516/symphony-of-stars-the-science-of-stellar-sound-  waves/. This article explores the sounds of stars.

Lotzof, Kerry. “Are We Really Made of Stardust?” Natural History Museum of the UK. The Trustees of The Natural History Museum, London. Accessed July 18, 2021. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/are-we-really-made-of-stardust.html. In this article, Kerry Lotzof explains the science behind the star stuff we are made of. 

Lynch, Tyler Wells. “How Does NASA Take Photos of the Sun?” Reviewed. Reviewed.com, May 18, 2014. https://www.reviewed.com/cameras/features/how-does-nasa-take-photos-of-the-sun. In this article, the author explains how NASA can take photos of the sun. 

Marvel, Kevin. Astronomy Made Simple. New York: Broadway Books, 2004. Kevin Marvel   provides us with a breakdown of astronomy itself and what is studied in the field. 

Muhammad, G., & Love, B. L. (2020). Cultivating genius: an equity framework for culturally   and historically responsive literacy. Scholastic. This book by Dr. Gholdy Muhammed explains the justice behind every student receiving effective literacy education and offers   a framework on which to operate in the classroom that is culturally and historically   responsive.

NASA. “How Does Our Sun Compare with Other Stars?” NASA. NASA, June 27, 2019. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/sun-compare/en/. NASA compares our sun to other stars and their characteristics.

NASA. “How Many Solar Systems Are in Our Galaxy?” NASA. NASA, March 17, 2021. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/other-solar-systems/en/. NASA explores how many planets are in our solar system.

NASA. “How Old Is the Sun?” NASA. NASA, May 25, 2021. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/sun-age/en/. NASA explains the age of the sun.

NASA. “What Is a Light-Year?” NASA. NASA, August 27, 2020. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/light-year/en/. NASA explains how we quantify a light year.

OpenStax. “Astronomy.” Lumen. Accessed July 21, 2021. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/astronomy/chapter/measuring-stellar-masses/. This text is an entire textbook resource on the field of astronomy online. 

OpenStax: Fraknoi, A., Morrison, D., & Wolff, S. C. (2017). Astronomy (Vol. 2). OpenStax Rice   University- XanEdu. This text is volume two of an entire textbook resource on the field   of astronomy.

Pasachoff, Jay M. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Sun. Indianapolis, IN: Alpha, 2003. This text is an entire simplistic explanation of the sun.

PurePoint Energy, PurePoint Energy. “Solar Mythology from Cultures Around the World.” PurePoint Energy, May 25, 2016. https://www.purepointenergy.com/blog/2016/may/solar-mythology-from-cultures-around-the-world/. This article examines solar mythology from across the globe and in different cultures.

Redd, Nola Taylor. “What Is the Biggest Star?” Space.com. Space, July 26, 2018. https://www.space.com/41290-biggest-star.html. This article shares the sizes of the largest stars. 

Richmond Public Schools. (2016). Richmond Public Schools Demographics. rvaschools.net.   http://web.richmond.k12.va.us/Portals/0/assets/HR/pdfs/CGCS21%20Recommendations/   Appendix%20C%20-%20MARCH15HRBROCHURE_B.pdf. This page contains the   demographics for Richmond Public Schools.

Sarikas, Christine. What Comes After Trillion? Names of Large Numbers. Accessed July 17,   2021. https://blog.prepscholar.com/what-comes-after-trillion. This article lists numbers   that are greater than a trillion.

Sharp, Tim. “How Big Is the Sun?: Size of the Sun.” Space.com. Space, November 1, 2017. https://www.space.com/17001-how-big-is-the-sun-size-of-the-sun.html. This article investigates the numerical size of the sun. 

Spillane, J. P., & Callahan, K. A. (2000). Implementing state standards for science education:   What district policy makers make of the hoopla. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 37(5), 401-425. This academic journal explores the topic of state standards in   science education.

STEM Jobs: 2017 Update. U.S. Department of Commerce. (2021, March 24).   https://www.commerce.gov/data-and-reports/reports/2017/03/stem-jobs-2017-update.   This document provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce provides the numerical data on the increase in the field of STEM work in the U.S.

Taylor, J. A., Kowalski, S. M., Polanin, J. R., Askinas, K., Stuhlsatz, M. A., Wilson, C. D., Tipton, E., & Wilson, S. J. (2018). Investigating Science Education Effect Sizes: Implications for Power Analyses and Programmatic Decisions. AERA Open, 4(3), 233285841879199. https://doi.org/10.1177/2332858418791991. This resource specifically outlines the effect sizes of science education and science programs. 

The Sun [Photograph found in Nasa/Goddard, Nasa]. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2021, from

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/multimedia/Sunlayers.html

A model of the sun as it relates to stars and the layers in contains.

Upadhyay, B. (2009). Negotiating identity and science teaching in a high

-stakes testing environment: An elementary teacher’s perceptions. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 4(3), 569-586. This resource examines the marginalization of science education to conform to high stakes testing.

Zell, Holly. “The Sun.” NASA. NASA, March 2, 2015. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/science/Sunlayers.html. This NASA source gives a breakdown and description of the sun’s layers.

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